While General Lee was acting on the defensive did he engage in and successfully execute any strategic movement that can be compared with Grant's campaign of May, 1863, through Mississippi and to the rear of Vicksburg?
Boutwell challenges the effectiveness of General Lee's defensive strategies compared to Grant's offensive campaigns.
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There was never in his career any ostentatious display of power, never any exercise of wanton or unnecessary authority.
But our cause being almost lost something decisive and great must be done.
The spirit of philanthropy animated his politics, and the doctrines of peace controlled his public policy.
But General Grant was destitute of the war spirit, and he chose to exhaust all the powers of negotiation before he would advise a resort to force.
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