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After surrendering the Army of
Northern Virginia to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9,
1865, Robert E. Lee transitioned from Confederate general to civilian advocate
for national healing. He was not arrested or tried, but he was stripped of
voting rights and the Arlington estate, which became a national cemetery. Lee signed an amnesty oath on October 2,
1865—though his citizenship was not restored until 1975.
Declining lucrative offers, Lee
accepted the presidency of struggling Washington College in Lexington, Virginia.
He modernized the curriculum, emphasizing practical education, engineering, and
journalism, while promoting reconciliation: "I think it wisest not to keep
open the sores of war." In a post-war interview, Lee expressed relief at
slavery's abolition, viewing the conflict as tied to states' rights rather than
perpetuating bondage.
His health, weakened by heart issues,
failed after an 1870 stroke. He died on October 12 at age 63. Lee's post-war
focus on unity influenced the renamed Washington and Lee University and symbolized
Southern reintegration into the United States.
The Confederate Woman: Soldier and Spy
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