The Confederate President instructed General Robert E. Lee to move the troops into Maryland, which was Union territory. This decision was a strategic move to potentially threaten the Union's capital and gain a foothold in the North. By moving into Maryland, Lee aimed to shift the momentum of the war and potentially secure a significant victory for the Confederate forces.
Another possible directive could have been for General Robert E. Lee to go further south and make the Union chase them. This strategy, known as a "retreating maneuver," would involve leading the Union forces away from key Confederate territories and resources, potentially causing the Union army to overextend itself and creating an opportunity for the Confederacy to strike back effectively.
Building a navy might not have been a specific order from the Confederate President to General Robert E. Lee. While the Confederate Navy played a role in the Civil War, Lee's expertise and focus were primarily on leading ground forces rather than naval operations.
Additionally, the instruction to lay low and wait until the Union attacked them would have been a defensive strategy. This approach could have been used to conserve resources, assess the Union's movements and intentions, and potentially exploit defensive advantages when engaged in battle.
Overall, the decision made by the Confederate President regarding General Robert E. Lee's actions would have been based on strategic considerations to achieve military objectives and secure Confederate interests during the Civil War.
