General Lee's Timeline By Jackchm Jan 19, 1807 General Lee's Birthday Jan 1, 1829 General Lee's Graduation from Westpoint Jan 1, 1831 Lee Marries Mary Custis Jan 1, 1847 Lee Serves On The Staff Of General Winfield Scott Jan 1, 1852 Lee Becomes Superintendent Of West Point Oct 18, 1859 Lee Leads Troops In Putting Down John Brown’s Raid On Harpers Ferry Jan 1, 1861 Lee Accepts Command Of The Military And Naval Forces Of Virginia Apr 1, 1861 General Winfield Scott Offers Lee Command Of The Union Army Apr 22, 1861 Lee Resigns From The United States Army Jun 1, 1862 Lee Is Given Command Of The Army Of Northern Virginia Jan 1, 1864 Lee faces Grant in the Wilderness, at Spotsylvania Courthouse, and at Cold Harbor. Jan 1, 1865 Lee is made general-in-chief of Confederate Forces. Apr 9, 1865 Lee surrenders to Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia. Oct 1, 1865 Lee becomes president of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia. Oct 12, 1870 The General dies after suffering a stroke at age 63.