5 0 The American Civil WarRobert Edward Lee in 1862. A robust man with dark hair
and moustache in May 1861, Lee grew a beard that quickly
turned gray and then almost white. Just before the Seven
Days, a member of Jefferson Davis's staff disagreed with
those who considered Lee timid, describing him as the 'one
man in either army. Federal or Confederate, who is, head &
shoulders, far above every other one in either army in
audacity.... Lee is audacity personified.' (Author's collection)
Virginia out of the Union in April 1861. He
began the war as a figure from whom much
was expected, before plummeting in the
public's estimation following his activities in
western Virginia and along the South
Atlantic coast during the autumn and winter
of 1861-62 - service that lacked what the
Confederate people considered a suitable
offensive component. Diarist Catherine
Edmondston responded unfavorably to
reports of Lee's assuming command of the
army after Seven Pines. In words echoed in
many quarters across the Confederacy,
Edmondston stated, '1 do not much like him,
he "falls back" too much. He failed in
Western Va owing, it was said, to the
weather, has done little in the eyes of
outsiders in S C. His nick name last summer
was "old-stick-in-the-mud" ... pray God he
may not fulfil the whole of his name.'