Robert E. Lee's Failure During The Civil War

Robert E. Lee was an American general known for commanding the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War from 1862 until his surrender in 1865. Robert E. Lee was born on January 19, 1807 at Stratford Hall in Virginia. He then died on October 15, 1870, Lexington,

The geography of the North destroyed the chances that the South had of winning. The number of casualties for the South was about the same as the North, but it affected the South way more because they had a way smaller amount of men. As a result, the south lost all of its morale and confidence in winning this war. Both armies, exhausted, held their positions until the night of July 4, when Lee withdrew. The Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point in the Civil War, costing the Union 23,000 killed, wounded, or missing in action. The Confederates suffered 25,000 casualties. The South had won most battles before the Battle of Gettysburg because they were fought in the South. Unfortunately, for the South, the Battle of Gettysburg was fought in the North and the North's geography was totally different from what they are accustomed to. Robert E. Lee wrote letters to Jefferson Davis saying he cannot fulfill his position as General. He states, “I cannot even accomplish what I myself desire. How can I fulfill the expectations of others?...”(Document C) His morale and confidence in these letters have been diminished. Abraham Lincoln on the other hand wrote the Gettysburg address. This speech made the south lose more of its morale and hope in the war. h In this speech he gave a new meaning to the war. The Battle of Gettysburg was a major turning point in the Civil War due to geography,

The impact it had on the Civil War and on the future of the United States is unprecedented. The number of casualties were staggering and so many people were affected including the friends, family, and each army had gotten a huge dent in them. The Confederate had to treasure each and every soldier they had because so much less than the Union and they got hit hard by the battle due to the number of casualties they suffered. The geography of Gettysburg had a role to play as well. Since the Union had the higher ground during the battle, this gave them the advantage they needed to beat the Confederate army. The impact the battle had on each army had a lasting impact on the rest of the war. The loss of important figures in the Confederate army and the loss of Robert E Lee’s confidence in him being a leader. On the Union side, the soldiers were rallied by Abraham Lincoln’s speech, The Gettysburg Address, to fight for the cause that their comrades had died for. The Battle of Gettysburg was a very important battle in the Civil War and in American history as a whole. It was a turning point in the Civil War in the Union’s favor and it caused the Union to win the entire Civil

From 1861 to 1865, a gruesome war was fought in the United States between the Northern Union states and the Southern Confederate states. The causes of this war are differing opinions on state’s rights and slavery. This war between the Union and the Confederates is known as the Civil War. The death toll of this war is still the highest of any United States war, with a death toll of over 620,000 people. On January 19th, 1807, in Stratford Hall, Virginia, Robert E. Lee was born (https://www.civilwar.org/learn/ biographies/robert-e-lee). He was son to the popular Revolutionary War veteran, Henry Lee. He bravely led the Confederacy, and is the reason that they had so much success in the war. He managed to do so with the odds stacked clearly against him; but how? What was the impact of Robert E. Lee on the Civil War?

Lee had given the Confederacy its greatest victory, and was now an idol of the southern people. Lee was one of the most supremely gifted men produced by our Nation. One of the four “greatest Americans” was none other than Robert E. Lee. His picture hung in President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s office. A New York dentist told Eisenhower that Lee helped the United States Government. Lee was a heroic role model to the nation that he has shown when he went to the war. Lee is a bit complicated, but he was extraordinary in what he does. Lee was there to serve the south and protect them. He made sure that they were safe and that the Union would not get in the way of that. His maneuvers were even better.

Robert Edward Lee was born in Stratford, Virginia on January 19, 1807 to an aristocratic family. His parents both played a major role in Lee’s success. His mother Ann Hill Carter descended from a wealthy family while his father Colonel Henry Lee, served as a cavalry leader during the Revolutionary War. At a young age his father passed away, and his leadership roles were challenged. He was one of the six men in his family and had to help support the household. At eighteen he attended West Point MIlitary Academy, where he excelled in artillery, infantry and cavalry. Shortly after his mother’s passing in 1829, Lee was appointed to second lieutenant in the U.S. Military Corps of Engineers. He began courting Mary Curtis who is a member of the Virginia’s aristocracy. After getting Mr. Curtis’s approval they get married and have seven children together.

When Lee headed North and started invading he had been checked again at Gettysburg. The assault was called Pickett's Charge that had a wide spread which cost the South badly. The musket was replaced by the rifle which made attacks much more hopeless. Lee had failed to notice how well the effect was. Lee fought again to try and regain power back but could not succeed. President Davis wanted Lee to become general in chief in the confederate armies. By that time had come around the Confederates had lost the war. Many people had thought that Lee was to bloody minded for wanting to keep fighting and keep putting his army on the line. Lee did not want to accept that he had lost. People say what the mind knows the heart might not except. He was not alone when he was fighting, his crew was fully ready to fight with him until they ended up having to surrender. After the war was all over he became president of Washington College. “He applied to have his application restored but his application was [lost]” (History www.history.com). Lee had died in 1870 of heart disease. His last words were “strike the

What was so important about the Battle of Gettysburg was that during the Civil War General Lee attempt to penetrate northern boundaries so he could draw the attention away from the Union defenses. He wanted to manipulate his way around the Yankees so he could have a final battle on s ground of his choosing on Northern territory. Lee's Army as well trained as he believed they were could not outdo the Union Army and their numbers.

Because of this, Lee wanted to use Gettysburg to bring the fighting up to northern soil to prove that the Confederacy could win in the north. While this was a good thought, this backfired because he gave the Union home court advantage; they were more familiar with the land. Gettysburg was the farthest north battle fought in the Civil War (Document A). This showed that the Confederate loss was detrimental enough to send them back to the south with their tails between their legs. After the Battle of Gettysburg, in a letter to the president of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, Lee attempted to resign: “I therefore, in all sincerity, request Your Excellency to take measures to supply my place” (Document C). Lee was discouraged by the loss to the point that he no longer wished to lead the Confederate soldiers. Although President Davis did not accept Lee’s request to resign, this was an amazing example of how the battle chipped away at the South’s confidence. How was the Confederate army supposed to keep their morale if their general’s faith in himself was in

and taken over the Union capital and win the war. But because of the amount of men lost on the Confederate side, the Confederate officials agreed to not invade the North again to avoid any more significant losses. This forced the Confederates to move back down to the South and try and set up a good defense. It was a challenge for the South to make a good defense and regain a good stand against the Union because of the number of men lost, including high ranking officers killed, wounded, or missing in action, and the lack of supplies of the soldiers. This lack of supplies was a result of the Union attacks on the European supply ships sailing towards the South for trade. As a result of these tough times, the motivation and passion to keep fighting was steadily decreasing in the South. This loss of motivation can be felt through a letter written by General Lee to the Confederate President Jefferson Davis where he tries to resign from the army as he fears it is coming to an end. (Document C) Most of the battles from then on ended up in a Union victory which led to General Lee surrendering causing the North to win the war. While the Confederates were trying to recover from the Battle of Gettysburg, this victory gave the North a huge boost in

Both sides used Geography to their advantage in some way. In the Confederate’s plan of attack, Gettysburg is very close to Washington D.C.(The heart of the Union). If General Lee had been successful at Gettysburg, he would have had

The Battle of Gettysburg is considered a turning point. For the rest of the war Lee was on the strategic defensive, forced into the war of attrition he feared and eventually cornered in an unwinnable siege around Richmond. The Battle of Gettysburg was a decisive victory for the Union. Tactically it may have seemed about even. Both armies lost about the same number of men, and Lee kept his army on the field until the evening of the day after the battle, waiting for a counterattack by Meade which never came. But Meade's larger army could better afford the losses. All eight of Lee's Infantry Divisions lost about a third of their strength, while Meade's largest Army Corps was virtually untouched. Lee was almost out of Artillery ammunition, while Meade had enough for another battle. Also Meade had no need to throw himself into a dangerous counterattack; time was on his side as Union reinforcements moved to surround Lee, deep in enemy territory with no hope of

Robert E. Lee was necessary towards the Confederates cause. Without the many wins Robert E. Lee helped get the Confederates. They wouldn’t have lasted nearly as long as they did, against the Union Army. Robert E. Lee was destined for greatness after growing up in greatly recognized military family, Robert E. Lee’s father being the well known, Light Horse Harry. Due to his service in the American Revolution as a cavalry officer, in the Continental army. Commander of George Washington’s cavalry. And, governor of the most powerful state in the new American republic. While on the other side of the family Robert E. Lee’s mother, Anne Hill Carter Lee was a great granddaughter to one of America’s earliest men of wealth. Not to mention being wife to a military legend,

Robert E. Lee was a general for the Confederates during the American Civil War, who led the Army of Northern Virginia from June 1862, till the end of the war. Robert is a descended from the first families to set foot on Virginia soil. Robert E. Lee was a successful general even before the American Civil War. One of the best at the time in United States Army.

On January 19th, 1807, Robert Edward Lee was born in Stratford Hall, Virginia. He was the son of Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee III, a general in the Revolutionary War who was friends and served with George Washington. His father being a general, and being there for the War of 1812 influenced the young Robert E. Lee to pursue a career in the military. Lee attended West Point to get his career started. He graduated second in his class and became a Brevet Second Lieutenant. After West Point, Lee became a member of the Corps of Engineers. He would travel around to build forts, bridges, roads, and trench works. Soon Lee would help divert the Mississippi River away from St. Louis to prevent any serious damage to the city. Being in the military, Lee was called to action when the United States went to war with Mexico in the Mexican American War. During the war, Lee would prove vital as he would go on reconnaissance missions. After the war, Lee was highly recognized for the role he played in defeating Santa Ana and the Mexican Army. Lee would then return home and become the superintendent of the United States Military Academy.