Despite his highest rank in the Confederate Army, it is interesting that Lee always wore only the uniform of colonel. By this modesty he was similar to Napoleon Bonaparte and Adolf Hitler.
On this day the famous Robert E. Lee was promoted to the supreme commander of the Confederate Army. This rank was created solely for him and was named “General-in-Chief of the Confederate States Army”.
Robert E. Lee is probably the most famous general of the South. Some even consider him to be one of the best military strategists in the entire history of warfare. It is interesting that, despite his highest rank in the Confederate Army, Lee always wore only the uniform of a colonel. By this modesty he was similar to Napoleon Bonaparte (he mostly wore a colonel’s uniform even though he was higher in rank to marshals) and Adolf Hitler, who wore the insignia of an ordinary corporal).
At the time Robert E. Lee became “General-in-Chief of the Confederate States Army” the South was near defeat. He proposed to arm and train slaves in Confederate uniform for combat. He also insisted these slave soldiers would be emancipated in return for their service, which was contrary to typical southern principles.
The President of the Confederate States, Jefferson Davis, opposed to appointing anyone to the position of General-in-Chief because he was afraid that such a person could lead the army with no regard to the civil authority. It is quite interesting that Robert E. Lee, despite of the fact that he was a southern general, actually advocated the abolition of slavery. This is one of the reasons why he is still extremely appreciated in the USA, even though he was on the losing side in the Civil War.
