Читать книгу American Civil War For Dummies - Keith D. Dickson - Страница 84

While the rookies jumped at the chance to play soldier, the professional soldiers were far less enthusiastic. For many of them, the army was all they had known. They had served where the country had sent them, often to desolate places with poor pay and little to do. But the secession of their states forced many to make a choice they never had thought would be necessary. The following facts help to tell the story of painful decisions made in the crush of events no one ever dreamed would happen:

 Of the 1,098 officers in the U.S. Army in 1860, 286 resigned to join the Confederacy.

 Of the 824 West Point graduates serving, 184 joined the Confederacy.

 Of the 900 West Point graduates who were civilians in 1860, 99 joined the Confederacy.

 Over 200 officers and midshipmen serving on U.S. naval ships resigned when their states seceded.

One of these officers who faced this terrible decision was Colonel Robert E. Lee. He had served his country all his life. Lee was a graduate of West Point and served as its superintendent. He was an officer on General Winfield Scott’s staff in the Mexican-American War, whose intrepid gallantry led to major U.S. victories. He had commanded a cavalry regiment and in 1860 was in charge of the military department of Texas just before the state seceded. He was in Washington when Fort Sumter surrendered.

Lee opposed secession and mistrusted the motives of the cotton states. But when Virginia left the Union, he saw (like many others) that his duty lay with his native state. He did not make his decision lightly; he knew it would cost him greatly. General Scott, who knew Lee well and admired his skills, offered him the opportunity that any professional soldier with talent covets — wartime command of the nation’s armies. Scott knew Lee’s sympathies but hoped the offer of command would change his mind. Lee’s answer was firm and eloquent: “I cannot raise my hand against my birthplace, my home, my children.” He offered his resignation from the army and sadly abandoned his wife’s family estate, Arlington, overlooking Washington. He never saw it again. The property was later confiscated and today is the site of Arlington National Cemetery. His decision made, Lee traveled to Richmond and, facing an uncertain future, offered his services to Virginia.