Abstracts History

Chain of Command: An Analysis of Robert E. Lee and His CorpsCommanders in the Civil War

by Aaron Lewis

Robert E. Lee remains a mythical figure within the culture of the southern United States. Proponents of the Southern “Lost Cause of the Confederacy” argued that he embodied the idea of Southern morality and toughness. Lee’s accomplishments on the battlefield are what brought him such admiration in the south. The Confederate cause of “freedom,” Southerners believed, was still attainable as long as Marse Robert commanded the Army of Northern Virginia. Lee frequently led his undersized and under-equipped army to victory over the Union armies of the Eastern Theatre during the first half of the Civil War.Using a wide variety of primary sources, from the Official Records to the personal letters and memoirs of Civil War commanders, I argue that Lee directly benefitted from the abilities of Stonewall Jackson, and once he died, Lee’s ability to win on the battlefield greatly diminished. Victories at Antietam and Chancellorsville were the product of Lee’s quick-thinking, boldness, and a clear explanation of what he expected of his commanders, as well as the incompetence of the Union commanders he faced. Lee’s defeat at Gettysburg, however, is the product of poor clarification by Lee as to what he expected of his commanders, and his inability to consider the input of his subordinates. Advisors/Committee Members: Greene, Benjamin P. (Advisor).