Robert E. Lee

Robert E Lee 1838

Robert E Lee 1845

Robert E Lee 1851

Robert E Lee in 1863

General R. E. Lee and Traveler

Thure de Thulstrup - L. Prang and Co. - Battle of Gettysburg - Restoration by Adam Cuerden

Robert E. Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) was an American and Confederate soldier, best known for serving as the general of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War. Lee's command of his army, strategic initiatives, and tactics are still studied by military leaders worldwide. Despite his eventual surrender to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in 1865, Lee remains a significant figure in American history, symbolizing for many the ideals of the Old South.

Early Life and Career

Robert Edward Lee was born at Stratford Hall Plantation in Westmoreland County, Virginia, the son of Revolutionary War officer Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee III and his second wife, Anne Hill Carter Lee. He entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1825 and graduated second in his class in 1829 without having incurred a single demerit during his four years at the academy. Lee's early military career involved engineering work, helping to construct the borders of the expanding United States.

Marriage and Family

In 1831, Lee married Mary Anna Custis Lee, a great-granddaughter of Martha Washington and a granddaughter of George Washington's adopted son, George Washington Parke Custis. They had seven children together, and their family connections provided Lee with a prominent position in Virginia society and the United States Army.

Service in the United States Army

Lee distinguished himself in the Mexican-American War (1846–1848), where he served as a chief engineer. He was noted for his reconnaissance missions, which helped the Americans win several crucial battles. After the war, Lee served as superintendent of the United States Military Academy and later commanded the 2nd U.S. Cavalry in Texas.

Role in the American Civil War

With the secession of Virginia in 1861, Lee faced a difficult choice between his loyalty to the state of Virginia and his oath to the United States. He resigned his commission in the United States Army and accepted a general's commission in the Confederate Army. Lee's early campaigns in western Virginia were not successful, but he soon became a top advisor to Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

Lee's most significant victories occurred during the Peninsula Campaign, the Battle of Chancellorsville, and the Battle of Fredericksburg, showcasing his military genius. However, his invasions into the North, including the Battle of Gettysburg, ended in failure and significantly weakened the Confederate Army.

Post-War Life and Legacy

After the war, Lee became president of Washington College (later Washington and Lee University) in Lexington, Virginia, where he advocated for reconciliation between the North and South. He remained a revered figure in the South and became a symbol of the "Lost Cause" movement, which romanticized the Confederacy's struggle as a noble one.

Lee's legacy is complex and subject to ongoing debate. While he is celebrated for his tactical brilliance and personal virtues, his decision to fight for the Confederacy, which sought to preserve slavery, has led to criticism and a reevaluation of his place in American history.

Death

Robert E. Lee died on October 12, 1870, in Lexington, Virginia. His death was mourned by many in the South and the North, reflecting his status as one of the most prominent figures of the American Civil War era.