The Statistic That Dampens Robert E Lee’s Reputation As A Great Commander

You can’t ignore the numbers

Lee’s Surrender (Public domain)

Robert E Lee is considered the best southern general of the Civil War. Lee headed a ferocious war effort in the Virginia theater that ultimately prolonged the war. His military prowess is still considered legendary, especially in the south. Lee frequently outmaneuvered, surprised, and defeated armies that were much larger and better equipped than his own. But few people remember the costs of Lee’s successes.

Robert E Lee had a Napoleonic vision of warfare. He frequently demanded that his armies pursue a persistent attack. He never wanted to be on defense. His main goal was always to destroy the enemy army, even if that meant engaging in large scale battles that he had little hope of winning. The result was casualties and a lot of them.

Lee’s Fatal Flaw

Battle of Malvern Hill (Public domain)

There is no doubt that Robert E Lee managed to scrounge out an impressive list of tactical and strategic victories over a superior force, but it came at a startlingly high cost. Robert E Lee’s armies suffered the highest rate and highest number of casualties in the entire…