Lee did not own slaves and much disliked it.  He was in the process of
freening the slaves of his father-in-law (and did in fact complete this
process)while on leave from his posting in Texas after his father-in-law
died and left provisions in his will to free the slaves.

M. Westbrook

--- paul finkelman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Lee came from a long line of slaveowners and was one himself at the
> start of
> the war.  If he was in the process of manmitting his slaves, why didn't
> he
> finish the process. I assume, however, there are people more familiar
> with
> Lee's life than I am who can deal with the specifics of his
> slaveholding.
>
> Richard Dixon wrote:
>
> > " the officer
> > corps, on the otherhand, was made up to the sons of great slaveowners,
> or
> > great
> > slaveowners themselves. They were clearly fighting for their way of
> life."
> >
> > This is an interesting comment. Robert E. Lee, who immediately springs
> to
> > mind, as executor of his father in law's estate, was in the process of
> > manumitting the slaves at Arlington at the time Virginia voted to
> secede.
> > Are there references to the slave holding status of the Confederate
> officer
> > corps?
> >
> > Richard Dixon
> >
> > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the
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>
> --
> Paul Finkelman
> Chapman Distinguished Professor of Law
> University of Tulsa College of Law
> 3120 East 4th Place
> Tulsa, OK  74104-3189
>
> phone 918-631-3706
> Fax   918-631-2194
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>
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