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The Lost Cause: The Story of Robert E. Lee
Act One
Scene One: West Point Military Academy
(Lights up on Announcer)
Announcer: Ladies and Gentlemen, I am standing inside West Point Military Academy. Many of America’s greatest military leaders learned in this very room, including H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Colin Powell, and Ulysses S. Grant. One of the greatest, though, was Civil War General Robert E. Lee (exits stage right).
(Lights up on Young Robert at Up-Right, and Oliver Johnson, and Samuel Garrett, both at Center-Stage)
Young Robert: (crosses to Oliver and Samuel) Hey, fellas.
Samuel: (greeting) Lee.
Oliver: Hey, it’s the Marble Model. What teacher did you impress today, Robert?
Young Robert: (laughs) I wouldn’t say impress, Oliver. I just try to pass my classes.
Samuel: Pass them? This year’s almost over, our last year here, and so far you’re ahead of your class.
Young Robert: You’re not too far behind me, you know.
Samuel: Still, being the second in your class is quite the honor. Let’s see if you can keep the spot. Perhaps even make first.
Young Robert: (chuckles) Is that a challenge, Sam?
Samuel: (smiles) Not for you, it ain’t.
(All laugh and exit stage left. Lights fade.)
(Lights up. Announcer enter stage right)
Announcer: As you can see, Robert E. Lee was quite popular among students and teachers. He graduated West Point second in his class. But the years after his time at West Point were war-torn.
(Announcer stays on stage, moves stage left. Winfield Scott enters stage left, moves down-center. Robert enters stage right, crosses to Winfield Scott.)
Robert: (salutes) Yes, sir.
Winfield Scott: Lee, I called you here because I wanted to congratulate you on your fine work during our many battles. I am promoting you to Major (salutes).
Robert: (sincere) Thank you, General Scott. I won’t let you down.
Winfield Scott: (encouraging) You never have, Robert.
(Ulysses S. Grant enters Stage Right)
Winfield Scott: Yes, Captain Grant?
U.S. Grant: Sir, we have Mexican reinforcements approaching.
Winfield Scott: You know your job then, Captain. Rally the forces. Major Lee, assist him.
Robert and Grant: (both) Yes, sir.
(Robert and Grant exit Stage Right. Lights fade on Winfield Scott. Scott exits.)
(Lights up on Announcer. Moves to Down Center)
Announcer: The Americans won, and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo gave America the states of Texas, California, Nevada, and Utah, along with parts of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Wyoming. Shortly after the Mexican War, quarrels between the northern states and southern states erupted. Were these states going to be free states or slave states?
(Abraham Lincoln enters Stage Left and moves to Down Left. Jefferson Davis enters Stage Right and moves to Down Right.)
Announcer: President Abraham Lincoln (motioning to Lincoln, who tips his hat to the audience) decided that slavery was wrong, and the northern states supported him. Jefferson Davis (motioning to Davis, who shakes a fist at Lincoln) became the President of the southern, slavery-supporting Confederate States, who wanted to secede from the Union. Lincoln would not allow him to break apart from the United States peacefully…
(Lincoln exit Stage Left. Davis exit Stage Right. Union Soldiers enter Stage Left. Confederate Soldiers enter Stage Right. Stop at Center Stage.)
Announcer: …And the Civil War began. (Exits Stage Right. Union Soldiers exit Stage Left. Confederate Soldiers exit Stage Right.)
(Lights up on Winfield Scott. He is reading Lee’s resignation letter in his office. He shakes his head in disbelief. Abraham Lincoln enters Stage Right and crosses to Winfield Scott.)
Lincoln: What is it, General? You said it was urgent and I came as fast as I could.
Winfield Scott: Mr. President, my top man, Robert Lee, sent me his resignation letter. Without him, it will be difficult to win this war.
Lincoln: Indeed, Winfield, it will. I’ve seen how he does things. He is quite remarkable. In his letter (pointing to Lee’s letter), does he mention the Confederacy?
Winfield Scott: No, sir. He says, quote, “Save in the defense of my native state, I never desire again to draw my sword.” He was brought up in the south, but he was a man of his word, so there is little possibility that he would be helping them.
(Union Commander enters Stage Right. He is covered in dust and he limps badly.)
Commander: General Scott, we’ve lost again.
Winfield Scott: (throws down the letter) Damn! (Breathes heavily, but composes himself). Take the new recruits to the training ground. Be wary, though. I have a feeling those Rebels may attack when unexpected.
Commander: Sir?
Winfield Scott: Yes, Commander?
Commander: I hear that Lee himself may lead the Confederates. Word in the south is that he will command all of the Confederate armies.
Winfield Scott: I’m too old for this. I should have retired a long time ago. Why did Lee betray the Union? Why did he let me down after years of promising he wouldn’t? I knew him for a long time, and he was completely against slavery. Why, then, is he fighting to keep it?
Lincoln: The answer to that question may be in his letter (pointing to a specific line in the letter, which Scott sees).
Winfield Scott: “Save in defense of my native state, I never desire again to draw my sword.” I don’t get your meaning.
Commander: I do.
(Lincoln and Winfield Scott turn their heads to Union Commander.)
Commander: It means, sir, that he is not fighting because he supports slavery, rather that he supports his native state, Virginia, which happens to be Confederate.
Lincoln: Very good, Commander.
Winfield Scott: So we are doomed.
Lincoln: Doomed, General?
Winfield Scott: There is no way that we can stop Lee now.
Lincoln: I beg to differ. (Seriously) General Scott, I’ve noticed a certain soldier who may be able to match Lee. He’s not as strategically keen, but he will fight to the end.
Winfield Scott: Tell me who, sir. I’m desperate.
Lincoln: Your very own Ulysses S. Grant. (Slowly walks Down-Center) Promote him to General, and have him take your place. I assure you, you will not be sorry.
Winfield Scott: I shall do so at once, Mr. President. Commander, you may be dismissed.
Commander: Yes, sir.
(All exit Stage Right. Lights fade)
(Lights up on Jefferson Davis, who is reading battle maps. Robert E. Lee enters Stage Left)
Lee: President Davis, the Army of North Virginia won another battle.
Davis: (looks up) Excellent, Lee. You’ve served the Confederacy well these four years.
Lee: (tired) Thank you, sir.
(Davis moves from behind his desk and crosses to Lee, who is at Center Stage.)
Davis: You sound fatigued, Lee. Please, sit down (motions to a chair. Lee sits). Lee, I know you have a family, and that you wish to end this war. Believe me, so do I. But the Confederate armies need a smart, strategic leader. They need you, Robert. I am handing over all control of the Confederate armies to you, and you will be my advisor.
Lee: Yes, sir.
Davis: (puts a reassuring hand on Lee’s shoulder) I’m an old man, Robert, though I don’t look it. With each battle, my heart aches as I hear the casualties. Frankly, my heart can’t take much more. What I’m trying to say is that being the General-in-Chief of the Confederacy may seem like a big task for you, and I’m sorry to say it is, but the sooner this war is over, you and I can go home free from the Union. This is all I ask. End the war.
(Davis exits Stage Left. Lee drops his head in his hands and exhales deeply. Lights fade.
(Lights up. Mary Custis Lee walks in Stage Right with a letter from Robert. She sits down and begins to read aloud.)
Mary: “Mary, I have recently been promoted to General-in-Chief of the Confederate Armies. I now control every soldier, every troop in the Confederate States. How I long for this war to end.
(Robert’s voice joins in; now both are speaking)
Mary and Robert (together, Mary starts pacing the room): President Davis made another raid today. (Chuckle) He dresses himself as a woman and raids Union camps. Lincoln has made a bold move.
(Mary’s voice slowly fades out)
Robert (voice-over): Union soldier Ulysses S. Grant, a former comrade of mine during the Mexican War, has been promoted to General in order to counter my tactics. We lost yet another battle to his armies. I must admit I underestimated him. I am planning to invade Union territory while most of his armies are in the south. Until I write again, my love, Robert.”
(Mary folds up the letter. Lights fade.)
Scene One: Union Encampment
(Lights up. Union Solider runs in Stage Left. Stops at Center Stage)
Union Soldier: (while running) General Grant! General!
Grant: (runs in Stage Right) What is it? What’s wrong?
Soldier: Confederates are coming! About a hundred an’ fifty of ‘em!
Grant: Where are they now?
Soldier: They’re marching into Gettysburg. Coming up the hill.
Grant: Send all soldiers to meet them. Immediately. I want the Rebels stopped. I will join you shortly.
Soldier: Yes, sir. (Runs off stage left yelling orders).
(Grant runs off stage right.)
(Lights up. Lee and Confederate soldiers enter Stage Right. Lee commands a stop at Center Stage. Grant and Union Soldiers enter Stage Left. Grant stop at Center Stage. Grant and Lee go almost nose-to-nose).
Grant: You can surrender now, or after all your men have fallen. Which will it be?
(Lee turns, draws his sword, and walks behind his men.)
Grant: So we’ll settle this the hard way then?
Lee: Seems so. Gentlemen, ready your weapons.
(Confederates stand in attack position. In response, Union Soldiers do so as well. Grant and Lee step behind their respective troops)
Lee and Grant: (Raise their swords) Fire!
(A bunch of ruckus and screaming, soldiers die. Eventually, Lee and the remaining Confederates run off Stage Right. Grant and the Union soldiers follow.)
(Lights up on Announcer)
Announcer: Grant’s army trapped Lee and his group in Richmond, Virginia for the next six months of the war. In April of 1865, General Lee made a decision that changed the course of American history.
(Lights up on Lee and Confederate soldiers at Stage Right)
Lee: I suppose I must go see General Grant now, and I would rather die a thousand deaths.
Confederate Soldier: What do you mean, sir?
(Confederate soldiers talk among themselves.)
Lee: Gentlemen. Gentlemen!
(Talking ceases)
Lee: Commander.
Commander: Yes, sir.
Lee: Write President Davis. Inform him that I am surrendering to General Grant.
Commander: Why, sir?
Lee: (tears in his eyes) Don’t question me, commander! (Wipes tears) It is for our own good. The Confederacy may be demolished, but at least we can hope Lincoln will spare us death.
Commander: (salutes) Yes…yes, sir.
(Lee exits Stage Left. Lights fade)
(Lights up. Grant and Union soldiers are gathered at Stage Left. Lee enters Stage Right and crosses to Grant.)
Lee: You received my letter then?
Grant: Yes, I did. Come, we will discuss our terms.
Lee: They are tired of war, and so am I.
(Lee and Grant sit down at adjacent desks, each writing down their terms. Eventually they pass their papers to one another.)
Lee: This will have a very happy effect on my army.
(Each signs their names.)
Lee: Agreed.
Grant: Agreed.
(Both rise and shake hands)
Lee: (offering his sword) My sword, General Grant.
Grant: (raises his hands in refusal) No, General Lee. I bid you keep it.
Lee: (Sheathing his sword) I don’t know if you remember this, but you and I were comrades once.
Grant: The Mexican War. I remember it well.
Lee: What happens now?
Grant: President Lincoln isn’t going to pardon you, but if you follow the laws and the federal government, than there will be no punishment.
Lee: (Walks Stage Right.) Then all is well?
Grant: All is well.
(Grant salutes a Lee, an action that causes the Union soldiers to salute as well. Lee salutes back. Lee exits Stage Right.)
(Lights up. Lee enters Stage Left, tired and fatigued.)
Lee: (to the Confederate soldiers) It is over.
Confederate soldier: What now, General?
Lee: (wiping tears) I am no longer your general. I’ve failed you. It’s my fault we lost this war. Go back home and think no more of it. Good-bye, men. You made me proud.
(Lee exits Stage Left. Confederate soldiers start crying and reaching out to touch their former general.)
(Lights up on Announcer, at Center-Stage.)
Announcer: Robert E. Lee was a symbol of the Lost Cause, the Confederate States. A few months after Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, President Lincoln was assassinated and soon after, Jefferson Davis was captured. Lee later became President of Washington College, now known as Washington and Lee University, and held that position until he died in 1870. Lee established a national legacy in the military. His tactics are still used today. A good man, even in defeat. That is why even the Union respected him.
(Cast makes their individual and group bows, as follows: Confederates move stage left, Union move stage right, move downstage to bow, all move up stage.
Lee and Grant bow, move opposite directions
Lincoln and Davis bow, move opposite directions
Mary Custis Lee and Winfield Scott bow, opposite directions
Confederate soldiers bow, move stage left
Union soldiers bow, move stage right)
(Then, cast moves up center, in a straight line, does two simultaneous bows.)
