Robert E. Lee

Stratford hall habs 1

Lee Fendall House from the street

Robert E Lee 1838

Fort Monroe Map

Lee ft dm rapids 1837

Robert E Lee 1845

Confederate States Army general

Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) was an American and Confederate soldier best known as a commander of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He commanded the Army of Northern Virginia from 1862 until its surrender in 1865. A top graduate of the United States Military Academy, Lee distinguished himself during the Mexican–American War and served as Superintendent of the United States Military Academy.

Early Life and Career

Robert E. Lee was born at Stratford Hall in Westmoreland County, Virginia, to Henry Lee III and Anne Hill Carter Lee. He entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1825 and graduated second in his class in 1829. Lee was commissioned as a brevet second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers.

Mexican–American War

During the Mexican–American War, Lee served as a captain under General Winfield Scott. He was instrumental in several American victories, including the Battle of Cerro Gordo and the Battle of Chapultepec.

Superintendent of West Point

From 1852 to 1855, Lee served as the Superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point. During his tenure, he improved the curriculum and infrastructure of the academy.

American Civil War

Secession and Resignation

With the secession of Southern states and the formation of the Confederate States of America, Lee faced a difficult decision. Despite his personal opposition to secession, he resigned from the United States Army in April 1861 after Virginia seceded from the Union.

Command of the Army of Northern Virginia

Lee was appointed as a senior military adviser to Confederate President Jefferson Davis and later took command of the Army of Northern Virginia. He achieved several significant victories, including the Second Battle of Bull Run and the Battle of Fredericksburg.

Gettysburg and Surrender

Lee's invasion of the North was halted at the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863. After a prolonged campaign, he surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, effectively ending the Civil War.

Post-War Life

After the war, Lee became the president of Washington College (now Washington and Lee University) in Lexington, Virginia. He focused on education and reconciliation until his death in 1870.

Legacy

Robert E. Lee remains a controversial figure in American history. While some view him as a skilled military leader and a symbol of Southern heritage, others criticize his role in defending slavery and the Confederacy.

Related Pages

• American Civil War
• Confederate States of America
• Army of Northern Virginia
• Ulysses S. Grant
• Jefferson Davis
• Washington and Lee University

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