Little remembered American history regarding April 23rd.
Robert Edward Lee was the most famous general of the Confederate Army during the War Between the States and fought with distinction.
In the immediate days leading up to the American Civil War, Lee was appointed Colonel of the First Regiment of Cavalry (March 1861).
Abraham Lincoln signed the papers. Just three weeks later Lee was offered the rank of Major General in the US Army and given command of Fort Mason in Texas, a state that had seceded from the Union in February 1861.
In a letter written by Lee to his son in early 1861, it is clear that he had no faith in the Confederacy: “I can anticipate no greater calamity for the country than a dissolution of the Union.”
However, when pressed, Lee did admit that he would take up arms to defend Virginia. When Virginia seceded from the Union, it became obvious and clear to Lee that he would become involved in a military campaign against his own state. He asked the head of the US Army, Winfield Scott, if he could stay at home for the duration of the war. Not surprisingly, Scott refused his request.
As a result, Lee resigned his commission in the US Army on April 20th 1861 and took command of the forces in Virginia on April 23rd 1861.
The order was given by Commandant Charles Macauley for the destruction of the navy yards in Norfolk, Virginia, to stop them falling into Confederate hands. Though great damage was done after the order was carried out, the Confederacy still managed to salvage much that was of value including the hull and mechanism from the ‘USS Merrimac’, a powerful steam frigate. She was to later appear as ‘USS Virginia’.
Riots in support of the Confederacy continued in Baltimore. This cut off the rail links the Union wanted to use for the movement of troops and they had to use sea routes instead, which were slower and more vulnerable to poor weather. A meeting took place in western Virginia in support on the Union and Lincoln’s power.*
(*See the Tales From The Deep State post referencing the questionable legality regarding the creation of the State of West Virginia.)
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