Lee was fully aware of the serious nature of the conflict in which
the country was about to engage. Americans were to be pitted
against Americans and he knew what that meant. Wise men, both North
and South, were prophesying that the war would not last more than
ninety days, and foolish ones were bragging of their own powers and
questioning the courage of their opponents, quite oblivious of the
adage that when Greek meets Greek there comes a tug of war. But Lee
did not concern himself with such childish exhibitions of judgment
and temper.

"Do not put your faith in rumors of adjustment," he wrote his wife
before serious fighting had begun. "I see no prospect of it. It
cannot be while passions on both sides are so infuriated. MAKE
YOUR PLANS FOR SEVERAL YEARS OF WAR. I agree with you that the
inflammatory articles in the papers do us much harm. I object
particularly to those in the Southern papers, as I wish them to
take a firm, dignified course, free from bravado and boasting. The
times are indeed calamitous. The brightness of God's countenance
seems turned from us. It may not always be so dark and He may in
time pardon our sins and take us under his protection."

Up to this time his son Custis, who had graduated first in his class
at West Point, was still in the service of the United States as
a lieutenant in the Engineers and of him Lee wrote to his wife in
the same comradely spirit that he had always shown toward his boys.
"Tell Custis he must consult his own judgment, reason and conscience,
as to the course he may take. The present is a momentous question
which every man must settle for himself, and upon principle. I do
not wish him to be guided by my wishes or example. If I have done