Regarding Lee's loyalty to Virginia, I don't believe we today can really know the depth of feeling which held one to that loyalty. It had only been 80 years since the revolution, followed by the Confederation, then the Constitution. All those involved were tied to their home states far more than we can comprehend, despite the Southerners' love of the land. Lee did not hold with slavery. He knew it was ultimately wrong. There had been proposals for doing away with the institution before. But Lee's roots were deep; his family had fought for Virginia and independence. He thought the Southern states had acted precipitately, and should have spent more time in negotiations, but he could not raise his sword against his family, friends, and state. Finally, he chose to defend those ties against invasion. Had Virginia not seceded, he would not, I believe, have fought. Stan