General Grant had different views on Lee's sense of honor
"Nor have I ever felt that the surrender at Appomattox was an absolute military necessity. I think that in holding Richmond, and even in consenting to that surrender, Lee sacrificed his judgment as a soldier to his duty as a citizen and the leader of the South. I think Lee deserves honor for that, for if he had left Richmond when Sherman invaded Georgia, it would have given us another year of war." US Grant - as quoted in Travels with Grant Volume 2, page 627, by John R. Young, 1879. A very beautiful book with many engravings.If Winik can explain this, I'll buy a copy of his book for everyone in my family - 7 copies.