h tyranny. The soldiers of the Confederacy were not traitors. Some historians have branded any man who fought for their home state in 1861-1865 as a traitor including General Robert E. Lee. This is a Yankee political point of view, which is quite narrow. Many of the leaders, both Union and Confederate were educated at West Point. Men, who resigned their union commission to join the Confederacy, did so because they believe and were taught that home (state) duty, honor, loyalty came before federal issues. It is slander to call them traitors based on the education received by the Federal government of that time. Many of the best-trained and highly skilled officers decided to side with the Confederacy. Probably, the most famous was General Robert E. Lee. He seemed nearly perfect in all aspects of life. He had great morals, was extremely religious, and his men showed proper respect. In a conversation with Confederate General James Longstreet, Lee knew old Virginia held a large spot in his hart. “There was a higher duty to Virginia. That was the first duty. There was never any doubt about that” (191). The respect for Lee shined through George Pickett and his division at Gettysburg. The idea that Lee was fighting for Virginia inspired Pickett’s men to charge at Cemetary Ridge, while the Union troops sat behind walls. Before the heroic run at Cemetary Ridge, Pickett and his men expressed Lee’s idea, “…and let no man forget today that he is from old Virginia.” If you investigate through diaries and other first hand accounts the reasons that these men fought for their homes, farms county and state, you may find many different answers to the reason why they fought. The citizen soldiers who fought for the Confederacy personified the best qualities of America. The preservation of liberty and freedom was the greatest motivating factor in the South’s decision to fight for independence. They resigned...
