Robert E. Lee

Robert E. Lee is the character with the most chapters devoted to him and the book begins and ends with him. Lee has spent his entire adult life in the army. He graduated from the military academy at West Point and then fought in the Mexican War, becoming well known to the commander of the US forces there, Winfield Scott.

Before the war, Lee is conflicted. As a loyal soldier he sincerely hopes that a war will not come, or if there is a war that his home state of Virginia will not be a part of it. He is asked by Winfield Scott to be second in command of the United States forces but declines when the war begins. Virginia secedes and Lee takes command of the state's military.

Lee becomes increasingly frustrated with how the war is being handled but is unable to do...