I don't really know much about Lee, and I have avoided study of the U.S. Civil War (although I did read most of Grant's memoirs, which likely paint a very biase

I don't really know much about Lee, and I have avoided study of the U.S. Civil War (although I did read most of Grant's memoirs, which likely paint a very biased picture). However, if Lee was in a state militia, would he not have pledged loyalty to the governor, and not to the president? This in no way atones for what the Union would see as crime.