LEE says, "Not us"

"No greater disgrace could befall our army, and through it our whole people, than the perpetration of the barbarous outrages upon the innocent and defenseless that have marked the course of the enemy in our own country. It must be remembered that we make war only upon armed men, and that we cannot take vengeance for the wrongs our people have suffered, without lowering ourselves and offending against Him to whom vengeance belongeth, and without whose favor and support, our efforts must all prove in vain.

The commanding general, therefore, earnestly exhorts the troops to abstain with most scrupulous care from unnecessary or wanton injury to private property; and he enjoins upon all officers to arrest and bring to summary punishment all who shall, in any way, offend against the orders of this subject."

-R. E. Lee, General.

This response surely made Lee seem like the "better" person, but was it the right military decision? Who was the better General? Who was the better man?

RETURN to the decisions