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General Robert E. Lee. He was asked by President Abraham Lincoln if he would command the Union forces but he declined, with much difficulty, saying that he could not fight against his state, Virgina.

While Robert E. Lee was still a colonel in the US Army, it's clear he was offered a commanding position in the Union army, however, the actual US general making this offer was probably Winfield Scott. Nevertheless, President Lincoln would have approved of this. Also, Lee's position in the Confederate army at first was a minor commission. Later he would advance and become the leading, most highly regarded Confederate general.

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9y ago

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