Lee in the Shadow of Washington (Conflicting Worlds: New Dimensions of the American Civil War)

While most scholars agree that Robert E. Lee’s loyalty to Virginia was the key factor in his decision to join the Confederate cause, Richard B. McCaslin demonstrate that, beyond that loyalty, Lee’s true call to action was the legacy of the American Revolution viewed through his reverence for George Washington. In this thematic biography of the commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, McCaslin locates the sources of Lee’s devotion to Washington and shows how this bond affected his performance as a general in battle.