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I found much of the info for this blog from the Civil War medicine (and writing) site. blog #18 “BROKENHEARTED” by James Schmidt.
August 1863, Letter written from Gen. Robert E. Lee to Confederate president Jefferson Davis:
“I have not yet recovered from the attack I experienced this spring. I am becoming more and more incapable of exertion, and thus am prevented from making the personal examinations and giving the personal supervision to the operations in the field which I feel to be necessary. I am so dull that in making use of the eyes of others I am frequently misled. Everthing, therefore points to the advantages to be derived from a new commander.”
Davis would refuse to except Lee’s resignation. On whom else could he possibly bestow command?
~Lets rewind the timeline back 4 months~
Just prior to the battle Chanscellorsville, Lee comes down with a severe case of laryngitis and experiences crushing chest pains. Dr.’s soon diagnos Lee with pericarditis (inflamation of the pericardium; the membrane covering the heart), often caused by infections. Lee recieves the best medical treatment available for the times. However, modern Dr’s now believe that Lee was miss diagnosed…
In “Lexington physicains of General Robert E Lee”, Southern Medical Journal. aug. 2005, Dr. Mariwaring of UV describes Lee’s symptoms as being classic and unmistakable for the diagnosis of angina pectoris.”
According to Tabor’s medical dictionary, angina pectoris is caused by poor suppy of oxygenated blood through the coronary arteries to heart muscle. This condition is caused by atherosclerosis, or clogging of the arteries. Symptoms include crushing tightness in the chest which my radiate to the back, jaw, neck ,and arms. Condtion becomes worse with increased exertion or psychological stress.
In short, Lee’s Dr.’s may have underestimated the severity of his condition. I wonder if they realised the true peril in which Lee’s condition placed him? They commented on his color returning to a “ruddy” or reddish hue which they assosiated with good health. However, Mariwaring points out it is now known this can be a sign of serious health complications!
Lee wrote his wife,”…I perceive no change in the stricture in my chest. If I attempt to walk beyond a very slow gait, the pain is always there.” Lee would seem to make a recovery of sorts in a few more months (the condition would kill him 7 years later). Dr. Mariwaring explains that Lee’s diagnosis was missed because this type of heart desease was actually rare in the 19th century, and much more common now.
Of course I’ve heard of Lee’s heart dease. However, I never realized the extent of his complications. The info is available, I just never thought to study this before. Perhaps my attention was distracted by the “real drama” of the shooting war. I contemplate this evidence truely for the 1st time, and find myself astonished. The lives of thousands of soldiers, freedom of millions, and independence of an entire country rested on the shoulders of a one very sick man. Lee suffered a heart attack and quite possibly had one foot in the grave throughout the spring and summer of 1863. In modern times this man would having by-pass surgery, not leading an army into the greatest battle in North American history.
So in the end what were the possibe costs of Lee’s heart attack? A lost war…a lost country? It clearly took months and likely half a year @ least for the general to recover from his initial attack. In that time great battles were fought and countless skirmishes. Plus, one must also wonder of a possible minor stroke. Lee clearly suffered one shortly prior to his death in 1870. Whatever the case may be, Robert E. Lee left the clues in his letters to his wife and Jefferson Davis. But, how could a man expect to compensate for such handicaps…I believe Lee clearly had absolute faith in his generals and soldier!
Lee clearly depended on his officers more then ever before (or after for that matter), as he was physically unable to quickly transverse the battlefield. I remember reading reports of Lee’s inactivity at Gettysburg. His not conferring with his generals for hours and uncharacteristically waiting on reports. The weakened Lee now seems to have been, ”…making use of the eyes of others…” What helplessness he must have felt, as his battle plans constantly seemed to go awry on July 2nd and 3rd; the enemy staving off defeat by such by a narrow margine!
Finally, I contemplate Jackson. I have never truely felt convinced history would have been different if Jackson was had survived his wounds. However, with knowledge of Lee’s true state in the summer of 1863, Jackson’s absence seems even more palpable. I believe Lee must have been leaning on Jackson’s strenght to a large degree after his appearent heart attack. Jackson could have very nicely filled any leadership void. It was Jackson who implemented the very ill Lee’s plan at Chancellersville. And possibly the officer he needed to implement his plans at Gettysburg. Jackson’s forte was a crushing blow on an enemy flank. The attack that would elude Lee’s army at Gettysburg. The attack that all Lee’s other corps commanders would fail to deliver!
Note: I’ve read posts on this site wondering in Lee’s dysentery (which the poor man also suffered from at Gettysburg) was treated by morphine. The thought is that Lee could have been under the influence of medicinal morphine when he ordered Pickett’s charge. I’ve found no evidence for this and personally I dont credit this assumption. However, morphine is used (according to Tabor’s medical dictionary) for patients in modern times with agina pectoris if symptoms are not alleviated by modern tx like nitroglycerin tablets etc. So…perhaps you could look for referrences of Lee being lethargic, for clues of morphine use for pain. However, in fairness the general may have seemed lethargic anway due to his exhausted condition. Um….so there is something else to think about, Lol! Happy 4th of July everyone :)
