Final answer:
Robert E. Lee's choice to side with Virginia during its secession from the Union despite his loyalty to the U.S. exemplifies the conflicting loyalties of the Civil War era. Virginia's strategic and symbolic importance to the Confederacy is highlighted, along with the significant addition of General Lee to their cause.
Step-by-step explanation:
Robert E. Lee's reaction to Virginia's secession from the Union in April 1861 demonstrates the complex loyalties at play during the outbreak of the Civil War. Despite being fiercely loyal to the United States, Lee could not bear to take up arms against his home state of Virginia, a state rich in heritage and pivotal to the Confederacy's military and logistical strength due to resources such as the Tredegar Iron Works. His decision reflects a broader sentiment among Southerners who, despite reservations about leaving the Union, felt compelled to defend their homes and states when pushed to choose sides.
This pivotal event also underscores the strategic significance Virginia's secession posed, given its proximity to Washington, D.C., and its influence, as reflected by it being the birthplace of three presidents and the site of historic settlements. The joining of Virginia not only brought hope to the Confederacy but also added a significant military leader to their ranks, General Robert E. Lee, further underlining the gravity of this decision and its impact on the course of the war.