Having just read "Lee at The Alamo" by everyone's faaaaaavorite Turtledove I am curious at how Lee's actions on the Union side may have impacted the Civil War.
The base premise of course being Lee stays longer as Commander of the Department of Texas and does his duty in defending Federal property in San Antonio against Confederate Texan Militas. We don't really hear how much his stand had on the local German and Mexican populations. Regardless, he eventually turns over things to the Texans and is exchanged along with his men and is regarded a hero by the Union. Recently sworn in Lincoln manages to convince him to fight for the Union in the Missisippi campaign. After that nothing is covered.
So how would things have gone for the Civil War with Lee on hand? I imagine that his loyalty becomes a propaganda victory in itself as he becomes a symbol of loyalty to the Government despite Virginia's secession. It might even galvanize Pro Union elements within the Confederacy.
The base premise of course being Lee stays longer as Commander of the Department of Texas and does his duty in defending Federal property in San Antonio against Confederate Texan Militas. We don't really hear how much his stand had on the local German and Mexican populations. Regardless, he eventually turns over things to the Texans and is exchanged along with his men and is regarded a hero by the Union. Recently sworn in Lincoln manages to convince him to fight for the Union in the Missisippi campaign. After that nothing is covered.
So how would things have gone for the Civil War with Lee on hand? I imagine that his loyalty becomes a propaganda victory in itself as he becomes a symbol of loyalty to the Government despite Virginia's secession. It might even galvanize Pro Union elements within the Confederacy.