Robert E Lee

[Odinbreaker]

How long would the war had lasted if the best General In the United States before the war had fought for the North 2 years maybe.  With the resources of the North and manpower I think He would have made a great difference.

[Ga.windbreak]

It's hard to say, first of all, because Lee never wanted it to get that far to begin with. Could he have talked Lincoln, along with Gen. Scott into Anaconda there by bringing the South back into the Union without firing a shot. Who knows but I feel with all the radicals in charge wanting War (and they did get it) the finger that pulled the trigger really didn't matter all that much. Besides Jeff Davis might have been just as good though we'll never know, will we?

[gwindrider1]

The same question could be asked in regard to Grant.  If Lincoln had not relied on McClellan for the early years of the war, I do not believe the war would have spanned as many years as it did.  McClellan, Burnside, and a host of other inept Northern Generals very nearly won that war for the South.

[williamlayton]

Besides the fact that the war was lost before it began---
I agree with the last point.
The beginning of any war is a shamble of mistakes, the South only benefited by fighting a defensive war.
Sherman and Grant finally were allowed too fight a war.
Blessings