GDG- RE: Pipe Creek

[Tom Ryan]

>>Lee, however, also wanted to use deception, and proposed to Davis that the
> South pretend they were interested in peace for the purposes of
restoration
> of the Union, when if fact the South had no such intention of reuniting
with
> the Northern states. This, he believed, would mislead the Northern faction
> that was demanding peace together with reunification, causing them to
> support an end to the war. <<

<<Sort of makes one wonder if someone will someday write a biography or
study: "Robert E. Lee: Marble Man or Machiavelli in Gray?">>

Margaret,

It does have a Machiavellian flavor to it, and, Lee's phrasing of how it
should be done is so matter-of-fact, you hardly notice he is proposing a
duplicitous activity.

As I mentioned earlier, the new book by Elizabeth Brown Pryor titled
"Reading the Man" provides a much more in depth look at Lee's personality.
My review of it will be published in the Washington Times soon.

Regards, Tom