Robert E. Lee, a complex and beloved general, made a series of decisions that would alter the course of his life and history. He rejected command of the Union Army and resigned from the military, citing his inability to raise his sword against his native state of Virginia. However, Lee's motivations were more nuanced, and he was driven by a desire to preserve his family's property and protect his relatives in Virginia. As the war progressed, Lee became a key figure in the Confederate Army, leading his troops in a series of battles, including the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg. Despite his military successes, Lee's ultimate defeat at Gettysburg marked a turning point in the war, and the Confederacy's fortunes began to decline.
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