Romel is traditionally romanticized as an honorable (at least in the sense of military chivalry) figure who fought for a bad cause, and seemed to realized it.

The thing about Lee is that he was only so loved and remembered because of lost cause myths. People wouldn’t care about him enough to trash him if it wasn’t for lost cause romanticism which really was connected to pernicious politics.

I appreciate your point, I just think Lee isn’t a great example.