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The Beginning of a Legend
Robert Edward Lee was born on January 19th 1807 in Stratford Virginia. He had two Sisters and one brother. The Lees were a well respected family in Virginia. Once one of the wealthiest families in Colonial America, Lee's father squandered the family wealth and abandoned Lee at a young age. -
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The Life of Robert Edward Lee
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Becoming a Soldier
After graduating from high school, Robert E. Lee decided to follow in his late father's footsteps and pursue a military career. Young Robert was accepted into West Point Military academy in 1825 and later that year began his studies. In his 4 years there he never accumulated a single demeret and was 2nd in his class. -
Lee's Career
After 4 years at West Point Military Academy, Cadet Lee graduated and became lieutenant Robert E. Lee. Lee was assigned many engineering assignments from 1829 up to the Mexican war in 1846. -
Marriage
In the middle of his hectic military career, Lee fell in love with a distant cousin while on duty in Alexandria, Virginia. Mary Custis and Robert Edward Lee were married on June 30th 1831 while still on duty. Shortly after though Lee was reassigned to a different position. -
Lee's First taste of Combat!
When the Mexican war broke out in 1846, Lt. Lee was assigned to Tyler's Division in Northern Mexico, but was soon reassigned to General Winfield Scott's Staff as the Chief Engineer. As the Chief Engineer Lee placed artillery batteries and helped position Scott's vital infantry force. Also Lee was assigned to very dangerous scouting missions which included sneaking near enemy pickets. -
The Siege of Vera Cruz
Lee placed Scott's seige cannon that bombarded the city of Vera Cruz. By placing the guns in the Correct Spot Lee helped avoid a bloody and long siege. After 20 days Vera Cruz Surrendered and Scott's campaign was under way and would eventually win the Mexican war. -
John Brown's Raid
John Brown, along with a group of men, took over the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry. With the weapons he would have stolen, he would have started a slave rebellion, but instead he was trapped in the arsenal by federal militia. Robert Edward Lee was told to take command of Marines and Capture the arsenal. On the 19th of October Lee's men stormed into the Arsenal and captured Brown. One of the Men Lee commanded was John Wilkes Booth. -
The Civil War Begins!
On December 20th, 1860 South Carolina secedes from The United States of America. Shortly after Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Lousiana, and Texas join in. The make an independant nation, The Confederate States of America. After the bombardment of Fort Sumtor, Virginia, North Carolina, Arkansas and Tennesse join the Confederacy. In March Lee Resignes from the United States Army at the rank of Colonel and joins his native state, Virginia. -
A legend Begins!
After the Confederate succes at the Battle of Bull Run in 1861, the union forces pulled back there men and encamped for the Winter, but in summer of 1862 they were back. . With the union army 6 miles from Richmond something had to be done. In June the commander of the Army of Virginia was wounded and Lee took his spot. Lee went on the offensive, attacking the Union forces for seven days. The Union men routed and the Confederate Capitol Saved, for the time being. -
A Desperate Defence, The Battle of Antietam
In Late September 1862, Lee, having one great victories near Richmond, decided to move his army forward and invade the north hoping to end the war. Soon after crossing the Potomac river, Lee's battle plans were found by the Union forces. Knowing this, Lee gathered his forces and set up a defensive line, with his back to the flooded Potomac. On September 17th, Lee was attacked. From 6:30 Am to 10:00Pm Lee's men were attacked. The Next Day Lee crossed the Potomac and the invasion was over. -
"It is well that war is so terrible- lest we grow too fond of it" The Battle of Fredricksburg!
After his near defeat at Antietam, Lee prepared is Army for winter camp, the Union had other ideas. In November the Union army made another offensive move, this time against Fredricksburg. Lee quickly moved and made a defensive line against the Union. On December 11-15 the Union army made attack after attack against the Confederates, but failed. Fredricksburg is concidered one of the worst Union defeats in the Civil War. -
"He has lost his left arm, but I my right" The Battle of Chancelorsville
After the defeat at Fredricksburg, the Union went on the offensive, again. Lee qucikly move his forces, 60,000, men in an offensive move against the Union army numbering 120,000! Lee took the initiative and sent "Stonewall" Jackson with 30,000 on a flanking march around the union right. On May 2nd Jackson attacked and routed the union forces, but in night when he was coming back from a scouting mission, he was mortally wounded by his own troops. "He lost his left arm, I my right." said Lee. -
A Crushing Defeat at Gettysburg
In June 1863, Lee invades the North again. On July 1st, in the slpeepy town of Gettysburg, Lee's 3rd Corps smack into Union Cavalry under John Buford. As the day goes on, more troops get onto the field, by 2:00 pm, union forces are outnumbered and fall back to high ground south of town. On July 2nd Lee attacks the Union flanks, but the union hold by the skin of their teeth. The final day, July 3rd, brings complete disaster to the Confederates. Soon, Lee retreats and the invasion is over. -
The End has come.... The Siege of Petersburg
In June 1864, U.S. Grant had pushed Lee back to richmond by flanking his men after each battle he lost. Lee made his final stand outside of the rail station of Petersburg, VA. Lee's depleted army held for 9 months against the union attacks. But on March 25th, they couldn't hold any longer. The Confederate Capitol was ordered to be evacuated and a few days later Lee's men were routed by the union army. The end was near. -
After four years of arduous service marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources..... The Surrender of the Army of Northern Virgnia
On April 9th, 1865, Lee's army was encircled. With no other options, Lee surrendered to U.S. Grant. This effectively ended the American Civil War. Soon After all othe Confederate Armies Surrendered. The War was over. -
Lee's Last Years
Shortly After the Civil War, Lee took a position as the President of Washington College (Now Washington and Lee Univsersity). This is where he spent his last years alive. -
Becomming Immortal
At the age of 63, Robert E. Lee dies of heart disease that has effected him since the beginning of the Civil War. He is buried in Washington and Lee college. A few years later his beloved horse ,Traveler, is buried next to him.He will become a hero of the south, representing what could have been. He is known for upholding duty and honor over anything else. His last words "strike the tent" are an example.
