Great Americans and their noble deeds; containing the lives of almost fifty of our nation's heroes and heroines .. . iet years at home. Meanwhile trouble was brewing in the country. Difference of in-terest and opinion between theNorth and the South were fastleading to blows. Virginia soonagreed with the other SouthernStates to leave the Union andwith them fight for StatesRights. Lee was obliged eitherto take up arms against his na-tive State or resign his positionin the Union Army. It was farfrom his wishes to do either, buthe decided to cleave to his Stateand sent in his resignation. Inwritin
Great Americans and their noble deeds; containing the lives of almost fifty of our nation's heroes and heroines .. . iet years at home. Meanwhile trouble was brewing in the country. Difference of in-terest and opinion between theNorth and the South were fastleading to blows. Virginia soonagreed with the other SouthernStates to leave the Union andwith them fight for StatesRights. Lee was obliged eitherto take up arms against his na-tive State or resign his positionin the Union Army. It was farfrom his wishes to do either, buthe decided to cleave to his Stateand sent in his resignation. Inwriting to General Scott he saidthat he hoped he would neverhave to draw his sword again,but if he did it would be in de-fense of his native State, sincehe could not make war upon Scott and other distinguished friends urged him to remainwith the Union. It is said that even President Lincoln offered him ahigh position in the army; but he refused all requests, although he knewthat if he joined the Southern Army there would be many to rank aboveHe was opposed to the Southern States separating from the GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE. him. He thought it was bad policy; he said that if he owned a million slaveshe would gladly give them to the Union, but his State had decided and hemust follow its lead. Soon the terrible conflict be^an. Lee was at first appointed major- ROBERT E. LEE. 103 general of the forces of Virginia, but was soon promoted to tlie third placeamong the five leading generals of the Southern army. He had no very important station during all of the first year, beingemployed chiefly to look after the coast defences of South Carolina andGeorgia. But in June, 1862, he took command of the army to defendRichmond, and succeeded in beating back the Northern army under thecommand of McClellan. He rose to chief command through the death orfailure of higher officers, and he was not long in power before he provedhimself worthy of his post. SURPRISING MILITARY ACHIEVEMENTS.
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