as part of the problem, robert e lee and the complexities, contradictions, always like mary chestnut discovered. always the? , that is the symbol of robert e lee. >> let's get into one of the questions, i have several questions from the audience were wondering if we can talk about prewar experience and getting into the civil war, let's take a pause where things could have gone differently where he decides to resign his army commission and when i scheduled this book, i didn't realize where that happened where he comes from, summarizing commission, he accepts the confederate army but in reality, there are steps in between so one question, we have insight from his own words and himself about thought process during that time that he consult with anyone about his monumental decisions to leave the u.s. army? as you say, promotion four years, the motion of the army's snails pace at that time. it would have been what is been striving for and yet he gives it up. could we talk about how he came to that what his thinking was? >> lee himself never lays out in a complete comprehensive session. th

mary chestnut first met robert e. lee just before the war at white seltzer springs in west virginia. his wife was plagued by rheumatoid arthritis, they came to you like silver springs to benefit from her baiting in the hot springs there. one of the few things that could give her a relief from the march of that disease. mary chestnut -- of course one of the famous diary papers of the confederacy, remembered that a man riding a beautiful horse joined us, wearing a hat with, somehow, a military look to it. and she said, she sat his horse gracefully and he looks so distinguished at all points that i very much regretted not catching the main. mary chestnut was intrigued by this man. who was he? we or did he come from? it was explained to her that he was robert edward lee. chestnut marveled. everything about him, she said, we so fine looking that the word had come unbidden. her mind was, not perfection. she said there was no fault to be found even if you hunted for one. and yet, mary chestnut was not entirely enchanted with

always like mary chestnut discovered. always the question mark. that, if anything, is the symbol of robert e. lee. sgla i have several questions from the audience who are wondering if we talk about his pre-war experience and getting into the civil war. let's take a pause in that moment where lee decides to resign his army and i'll say when i started reading this book, i didn't realize russia under which that happened he comes from the officer. he's been hungering for promotion for years. he talks about who he talks to. what his thinking was? >> lee himself never lays out in a complete and comprehensive fashion. lee looked back on this. did he have to resign from the army? he believe he did. if he turned down that offer of command of the federal forces, turning that down was tantment to refusing an order. they resign their commissions but don't do anything else. they stay neutral during the war. for a variety of reasons. they would back off and remain neutral. that's the first step lee takes. he takes that step after consulting with his cousin. lee