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Robert E. Lee's Birth
Robert E. Lee is born at Stratford Hall Plantation in Virginia, and was son of Revolutionary War hero Henry "Lighthorse Harry" Lee and his wife, Annie Hill. Social -
Lee Moves To Alexandria, Virginia
His father passes away and this forces the family to move to Alexandria Virginia. Lee attends Alexandria academy and gets a good education. He is a top student and excells at mathematics. His mother teaches him religious education. Social -
Mexico gains independence
Mexico gained independence from Spain on this date. Without Mexico's independence, The Mexican-American War, which Robert E. Lee participated in and learned many battle strategies from, would not have happened. Political -
Lee enters the US Military
Lee's entering the military was important for several reasons. For one, he learned many battle strategies and techniques. Social -
Lee is stationed at Fort Monroe
In 1831, Lee was stationed by the US Military at Fort Monroe, the largest stone fort ever built in the US. Lee stayed for 3 years and helped with the fort's design. Social -
Lee marries Mary Anna Randolph Custis
Lee married Mary Anna Randolph Custis while at Fort Monroe. She was actually the great-granddaughter of Martha Washington. They got married on June 30, 1831, and had 3 boys and 4 girls together. This is disputable, but it appears that they were a pretty happy family.
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Telegraph
Not a very defined date on this one, but the telegraph was created and it was used to send messages to oter people. Technological -
Treaty of Guadalupe HIdalgo is signed
While Lee was not present in the signing, this treaty ended the Mexican War. It granted the US territories that became states like Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Alto California. This was important because it ended all fighting and allowed Lee to go home. Political -
Lincoln's Inaguration
Abraham Lincoln was officially put into office as president and he began his crusade to reunite the nation. Politcal -
Winfield Scott offers Lee command of the Union army
General Winfield Scott thought Lee was the perfect leader for the Union Army. After all, he was opposed to slavery (although he owned slaves?) and believed in many principle of the North. However, he opted to follow his home state of Virginia and joined the Confederacy. Political -
Civil War begins
This was the turning point of Lee's career. The Civil War began on April 12, 1861 and was the beginning of Robert E. Lee's legacy. Political -
Virginia secedes from the Union
If this event had not happened, Robert E. Lee would have been the Union general because he only fought for the Confederacy due to Virginia seceding. It was his home state. He personally voted to stay in the Union (he was anti-slavery) but Virginia elected to secede. So, he followed Virginia to the Confederacy and Ulysses S. Grant was named Union general. Political -
Gatling Gun was invented
The Gatling gun was the first easily usable, and reliable machine gun to be designed and put into use; and it got its first taste of action during the Civil War. Inventions -
Jefferson Davis puts Lee in command of the Army of Northern Virginia
Confederacy president Jefferson Davis put Lee in charge of Northern Virginia in the war. It was his home, so he knew the terrain very well. It was also a very important spot, home to the Confederate capital, Richmond. Lee was put in charge of this army to defend the capital. Military -
Battle of Antietam occurs
Before the battle of Antietam, Lee gathered his troops and had an apparent advantage. However, a Union scout found a copy of Lee's battle plan. The Union analyzed it and came away with a bloody victory (this is disputable; some say it ended in a draw). It was considered an awful fight. Military -
Union defeats Confederates at Petersburg, VA; Richmond falls
This seige, beginning on April 2, 1865, was monumental in the Union's victory. Lee, outnumbered by a 2 to 1 ratio, never stood a chance and the Confederate capital of Richmond soon fell to the North. After this, the war swung in the Union's favor and the south never recovered. Military -
Lee becomes president of Washington University
Lee accepted this position because he thought it would be the best way to reconcile the country. He believed in higher education and held the position for many years. Social -
Economics
The North had a very large advantage economically compared to the South. The North had the railroads to transport supplies and troops throughout the North. The South had close to no railroads and less food. The longer the war dragged on, the more likely the North would succeed. No Date Economic -
The 13th Amendment
This amendment outlawed slavery in the United States. Political -
Robert E. Lee dies
On September 28, 1870, Lee had a stroke that left him without the ability to speak. Sadly, he died from pneumonia on October 12, 1870, in Lexington, Virginia. He was buried underneath Lee Chapel at Washington and Lee University. His body is still there today. Social