Part 5/10:
In the summer of 1865, after persistent requests, Lee was appointed president of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia. Addressing the educational needs of the war-ravaged South became his new mission as he sought to build a community dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and the reformation of Southern society. Under his leadership, enrollment at the college grew exponentially, reflecting both public support and Lee’s own commitment to education.
However, this transition was not without challenges, as Lee navigated the political tensions of Reconstruction while insisting on the necessity of gentility and respect among students. He championed an honor system based on mutual respect, delineating a clear standard of conduct that resonated with his own ideals of duty and civility.