Book Review

Over the years, many historians have noted the degree to which Robert E. Lee attempted to emulate his idol, George Washington. Richard B. McCaslin, however, is the first scholar to explore the matter at length, both for its detail and for its significance in Civil War history. He demonstrates conclusively that Washington's memory inspired Lee at every turn. The son of one of Washington's more noted lieutenants, Lee grew up in an atmosphere drenched in the Founding Father's memory. His mother pointed to Washington, not to his disgraced father, as a role model. Alexandria, his boyhood home, teemed with locales and memories associated with the first president. He chose the military as a career, and as nearly as possible he married into Washington's family. As an adult, he came to consider himself the guardian of the Washington relics collected by his father-in-law. Reluctant to secede from a nation created by his hero, Lee finally accepted disunion by comparing it to the lawful rebellion Washington led. As a general he wore a colonel's uniform as Washington had, named his most famous mount Traveller—Washington had a horse named Traveller—and carried one of the general's swords in his baggage. After the war, he accepted the presidency of Washington College partly because he incorrectly believed that Washington had helped to found and fund the school.

. . .