Why Robert E. Lee was so effective as a military general?

Answer 1

He had qualities that were seen as strongly Confederate - a noble bearing, a willingness to take big risks, and a bold, thrusting style of attack that appealed to the rank-and-file.

These bold thrusts, however, were mainly carried out by T.J. ("Stonewall" ) Jackson, who was very much the other half of the Lee phenomenon. Also, in his first year as an Army commander, Lee was facing Union generals who did not measure up to his calibre.

When Stonewall was killed at Chancellorsville (May 1863), Lee declared that he had 'lost his right arm', and the Army of Northern Virginia was never quite so effective after that. And when he was targeted by Ulysses Grant, from May 1864, Lee had met his match at last.

Answer 2

He had qualities that were seen as strongly Confederate - a noble bearing, a willingness to take big risks, and a bold, thrusting style of attack that appealed to the rank-and-file.

These bold thrusts, however, were mainly carried out by T.J. ("Stonewall" ) Jackson, who was very much the other half of the Lee phenomenon. Also, in his first year as an Army commander, Lee was facing Union generals who did not measure up to his calibre.

When Stonewall was killed at Chancellorsville (May 1863), Lee declared that he had 'lost his right arm', and the Army of Northern Virginia was never quite so effective after that. And when he was targeted by Ulysses Grant, from May 1864, Lee had met his match at last.