It is obviously impracticable to present the facts with reference to
each one of the prominent leaders which Virginia gave to the armies of
the Confederacy. By universal accord her five most notable generals
were, Robert E. Lee, "Stonewall" Jackson, Joseph E. Johnston, A. P.
Hill and J. E. B. Stuart—to whom may be added Fitzhugh Lee and
Matthew F. Maury, as only less prominent but no less representative of
her leading soldiers.
In dealing with these men, and their relation to slavery, we pass from
the domain of conjecture into the realm of fact.
Robert E. Lee never owned a slave, except the few he inherited from
his mother—all of whom he emancipated many years prior to the
war.[220]
"Stonewall" Jackson never owned but two slaves, a man and a woman,
both of whom he purchased at their own solicitation. He immediately
accorded to them the privilege of earning their freedom, by devoting
the wages received for their services to reimburse him for the
purchase money. This offer was accepted by the man, who, in due time,
earned his freedom. The woman declined the offer, preferring to remain
a servant in General Jackson's family.[221]
Joseph E. Johnston never owned a slave and, like General Lee, regarded
the institution with great disfavor.[222]
A. P. Hill never owned a slave, and regarded slavery as an evil, much
to be deplored.[223]
J. E. B. Stuart inherited one slave from his father's estate; and,
while stationed as a lieutenant in the United States Army at Fort
Leavenworth, Kansas, purchased another. Both of these he disposed of
some years prior to the war—the first, because of her cruelty to one
of his children, and the second, to a purchaser who undertook to
return the slave to his former home in Kentucky.[224]