In reference to Lee's uniform and insignia, the Confederacy never
upgraded its original specifications of 6 June 1861, so all generals,
regardless of specific rank (brigadier, major, lieutenant, or full
general), were authorized for the same collar and sleeve insignia. Of
course, some officers personalized and embellished their uniforms. Lee
consistently wore three stars, without the general's wreath; the
colonel's three stars represented the last rank (colonel) he had held in
the U.S. Army. For a thoughtful discussion of Lee's uniforms and
insignia, see Edward D. C. Campbell, Jr., "The Fabric of Command: R. E.
Lee, Confederate Insignia, and the Perception of Rank," Virginia
Magazine of History and Biography 98 (April 1990): 261-290.

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Sara B. Bearss
[log in to unmask]
Senior Editor, Dictionary of Virginia Biography
The Library of Virginia
800 E. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219-8000
 
Friends don't let friends split infinitives.
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-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Smith at dhova
Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2010 4:51 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [VA-HIST] General Officers Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant

[cut]
On the other hand, Robert E. Lee is continually referred to on the Web
as 'General.'  However, photos I can find of him show only three stars,
which in the old corps was Lt. General.  On the other hand, I did find
one reference that Lee was indeed promoted to full (four-star) general
at some point. 

[cut]
Any help greatly appreciated.

Randy Cabell

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