Contrary to this documentary (and many historians) Winfield Scott never recommended Robet E. Lee for anything more than a "significant command" nor did Lincoln offer Lee command of the Union Army.
An advisor to the President, Francis P. Blair, DID offer Lee command of the Defenses of Washington, via letter, but there are NO records that Lee. An Lincoln ever met in person.
An advisor to the President, Francis P. Blair, DID offer Lee command of the Defenses of Washington, via letter, but there are NO records that Lee. An Lincoln ever met in person.
Narrator David McCullough's claim that the Union army gained no ground at Antietam is incorrect. The Union forces gained ground on the Confederate right, center and left. That's a major reason why Lee chose to retreat after the battle.
Narrator David McCullough's claim that Lee's losses in the December 1862 battle of Fredericksburg included men on leave for Christmas is nonsense. First of all, men on leave
are accounted for, and would not be included among the missing, Second, Lee would not have granted holiday leave to any Confederate right before a massive battle. Almost all of Lee's losses at Fredericksburg were either killed or wounded. Most of the missing were captured in preliminary fighting in the town before the main battle.
Many of the establishing shots reveal condensation trails, caused by aircraft, in the sky.