The Lost Indictment of Robert E. Lee by John Reeves

As Reeves stated in his introduction, the actual indictment document was “lost” for many years (rediscovered in 1937) and many people-from scholars to the general public-either believe it is still missing or do not know about it at all. Reeves counters this memory somewhat by examining the attempt by northern leaders to indict Lee and several others for treason right after the end of the war. Andrew Johnson earned a reputation for being lenient in his handling of the South in the aftermath of the war, something that made racial Reconstruction more difficult and facilitated the growth of the Lost Cause. In the post-war period, former Confederates appeared to get off easy with little to no punishment for their role in the rebellion against the United States. The Lost Cause and the cult of Lee are prominent in America’s memory of the Civil War and remain strong in the twenty-first century. Lee is probably the most famous Confederate leaders many Americans revere him despite (or because of) his role in the Civil War and see him as the ultimate heroic gentleman. Overall, The Lost Indictment is a fascinating and enjoyable read that untangles many questions about the transition from war to peace after the destructive Civil War.

He also reevaluates Andrew Johnson’s role in punishing former Confederates, the attempt and failure to secure punishment against Confederate leaders, and the creation of the Lost Cause in the aftermath of the war. Lee after 1865, the attempted legal case against him and other former Confederates, and Lee’s views on slavery, the war, and Reconstruction. Lee” but The Lost Indictment of Robert E.

John Reeves titled his introduction to this work “Reevaluating Robert E. To read an interview with John Reeves on his new work, click here.

The Lost Indictment of Robert E. Lee by John Reeves