Robert E. Lee quote

[snopes]

Comment: Can you confirm if this is a real quotation - from Robert E. Lee:
dated 1863?

"It appears we have appointed our worst generals to command forces, and our
most gifted and brilliant to edit newspapers! In fact, I discovered by
reading newspapers that these editor/geniuses plainly saw all my strategic
defects from the start, yet failed to inform me until it was too late.
Accordingly, I'm readily willing to yield my command to these obviously
superior intellects, and I'll, in turn, do my best for the Cause by
writing editorials - after the fact."

- Robert E. Lee, 1863

[RealityChuck]

It seems waaaaaaaaaay out of character for Lee, who was always very soft spoken and reserved.

And when in 1863 was the quote? If it was after Gettysburg, Lee was very critical of his own actions afterwards and wouldn't have argued that he screwed up there. Prior to Gettysburg in 1863, Lee had just won two major victories over superior Union forces (Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville). Who would be criticizing them (Chancellorsville, especially, since it's still considered brilliant generalship)?

Lee did get criticism in the early parts of the war, before he took over the Army of Northern Virginia, but from that point until Gettysburg, it's hard to believe he was second guessed at all.

[snopes]

I wrote up as much as I could find on this one at http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/robertelee.asp

It would have been a lot easier (and better) if Bonnie had researched this and posted about it here, though.

- snopes

[Bonnie]

As General Lee often said to S.G. Tallentyre, "Oh, hush up now."

-- Bonnie