He was against it, and hoped that his home-state of Virginia would not vote Confederate. But when it did, he believed that he was a Virginian first and an American second. So he resigned his commission and joined the Confederates.
Yes - a difficult decision because Lincoln had offered him the job of General-in-Chief of the Union armies. But he decided that he was a Virginian first and an American second. So he jointed the Confederates.
Patrick Henry stated "I am not a Virginian but a American". This was said in the First Continental Congress.
Curiously, he didn't want to. He asked the elderly General-in-Chief, Winfield Scott, if he could stay neutral. The old man snarled that he didn't want fence-sitters. So Lee had to decide whether he was an American first and a Virginian second, or the other way about. He decided he was a Virginian first - and reluctantly resigned his US Army commission and joined the Confederates.
He was one of many respected senior Virginians who did not approve of secession, and as a US Army officer, he had sworn his loyalty to the Union. But when Virginia voted to secede, Lee decided that he was a Virginian first and an American second, and reluctantly threw in his lot with the Confederates.
Because he believed that he was a Virginian first and an American second.
After being offered a senior post as a Union Army General, he decided that he was a Virginian first and an American second, and resigned to join the Confederates.
Because he disapproved of secession (like many senior, respected Virginians.) But his loyalty to Virginia was deeper. He felt he was a Virginian first and an American second. That is why he joined the Confederates.
He was against it, and hoped that his home-state of Virginia would not vote Confederate. But when it did, he believed that he was a Virginian first and an American second. So he resigned his commission and joined the Confederates.
Because he was a patriotic soldier, who was sworn to defend the Union. But he believed that he was a Virginian first and an American second. So when Virginia voted Confederate, Lee felt he ought to go with his state.
He was offered this post, but turned it down because he viewed himself as a Virginian first and an American second. So he resigned from the US Army and joined the Confederates.
Because his home-state of Virginia decided to join the Confederacy. He sat up all night, trying to decide whether he was an American first and a Virginian second, or vice-versa. When the dawn came up, he decided he was a Virginian first, and resigned his US Army commission.
Because he considered himself a Virginian first and an American second.
Yes - a difficult decision because Lincoln had offered him the job of General-in-Chief of the Union armies. But he decided that he was a Virginian first and an American second. So he jointed the Confederates.
Patrick Henry stated "I am not a Virginian but a American". This was said in the First Continental Congress.
He was opposed to secession and was also anti-slavery. But he considered himself a Virginian first and an American second, so when Virginia voted to join the Confederates, Lee went with his state and resigned his US Army commission.
Curiously, he didn't want to. He asked the elderly General-in-Chief, Winfield Scott, if he could stay neutral. The old man snarled that he didn't want fence-sitters. So Lee had to decide whether he was an American first and a Virginian second, or the other way about. He decided he was a Virginian first - and reluctantly resigned his US Army commission and joined the Confederates.