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A portrait of Confederate Army General Robert E. Lee in April 1865, shortly after his surrender to Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Courthouse. The most celebrated general of the Confederate forces, Lee initially denounced secession as "revolution" and a betrayal of the efforts of the Founders. However, Lee's loyalty was to his home state of Virginia and when it became clear that Virginia would secede, Lee became commander of the Virginia state forces. His victories against superior Union forces won him fame as a crafty and daring battlefield tactician. After the war, Lee discouraged a guerrilla campaign to continue the war, and encouraged reconciliation between the North and South.

Photo credit: Mathew Brady
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