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In the spring of 1861, he was described as the most promising
officer in the United States Army. Hero of the Mexican War, superintendent
of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, capturer of the radical
John Brown, Col. Robert Edward Lee was highly thought of by old
"Fuss and Feathers" himself General Winfield Scott.
On April 18th, at the request of Abraham Lincoln, Lee was summoned
to Washington and met with Francis P. Blair, where he was offered
field command of the entire Union Army. Lee politely declined.
Virginia had voted to secede the day before.
It was at his Arlington estates that Lee confronted the greatest
dilemma of his life. He had turned down Lincoln's offer to climb
to the highest pinnacle of any man's military career thus remaining
loyal to the State of Virginia and his family ties to the South.
But the winds of war were sweeping around him and soon orders
to duty would follow. Lee spent the evening alone in his wife's
flower garden next to their home. A special place for the Lee
family, the garden served not only as an area for Mary Lee's rose
cultivation, but also as a favorite gathering place and retreat
for all members of the family. It is there where Lee would make
his momentous decision that would change the course of American
history.
At midnight Saturday the 20th of April, Lee wrote his letter
of resignation from the United States Army. On the 21st the Governor
of Virginia asked Lee to take command of the state militia. Lee
explained that he could never draw his sword against his native
state. When he was called upon to take command of Confederate
forces, Lee left his beloved Arlington behind, destined never
to return. For four years his brilliant, charismatic leadership
would inspire the Army of Northern Virginia and the people of
the South.
Artist Comments:
I am excited for the first time to depict one of the most important
moments in our nation's history. A collection of General Lee prints
would not be complete without this depiction of Lee before the
toils of war would age his appearance. Lee would never have dreamed
that night that his family's beautiful garden and estates would
soon be turned into the final resting place for thousands of soldiers,
and later would become a national cemetery, our country's most
sacred ground.
This is the Second of Four Prints in the
"Gods & Generals" ™ Series
750 Limited Edition Numbered and Signed
50 Artist Proofs Numbered and Signed
Image Size: 15" x 20".
Overall Size: 19 1/2" x 24"
This print may still be available on
the secondary market. Please call
817-560-2143 or
contact us through our website for
more information.
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