Lee, Robert E. (Edward) 1807 -- 1870 General in chief of the Confederate armies in the American Civil War. Born in Virginia's Westmoreland County on January 19, 1807, the third son of Henry ("Light Horse Harry") and Ann Hill Carter Lee. Declining fortunes forced the family's removal to Alexandria, where Robert distinguished himself in local schools. His father's death in 1811 increased responsibilities on all the sons; Robert, especially, cared for his invalid mother.
Lee graduated number two in his class from the U.S. Military Academy in 1829. Commissioned a brevet lieutenant of engineers, he spent a few years at Fort Pulaski, Georgia, and Fort Monroe, Virginia. At Fort Monroe on June 30, 1831, he married Mary Ann Randolph
…show more content…
He could do neither. Painfully, Lee resigned his army commission in April 1861.
Appointed commander of Virginia forces, Lee devoted himself to building an effective state army. He was so efficient that the new president of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, asked him to become a full general in the Confederate Army and serve as presidential military adviser. The Confederate Senate confirmed this appointment.
A bad brush with field command in western Virginia-in a campaign marked by military rivalries, lack of supplies, wretched weather, and overly ambitious strategy on Lee's part-tarnished the new general's reputation. Davis still regarded him highly and sent him to organize southern Atlantic coastal defenses. Lee pursued this task efficiently until recalled to the Confederate capital, Richmond. In his role as presidential adviser, he tried to smooth the abrasive personalities of Davis and General Joseph E. Johnston and to utilize the daring of General Stonewall Jackson to frustrate Federal plans for sending aid to General George B. McClellan's army, which was approaching Richmond.
When Johnston was wounded in May 1862, Davis gave Lee command of Johnston's army. Lee renamed his force the "Army of Northern Virginia." The new commander looked the part: 5 feet 10 1/2 inches tall, robust at 170 pounds, Lee had graceful, almost classic features. He attracted men and women alike, was easy in manner, courteous and kind as a friend,
He finished second in his class of 1829. He had experience early in his life, serving as a captain under General Winfield Scott in the Mexican-American War. He made himself most prominent in the wars of Veracruz, Churubusco, and Chapultepec. Lee’s general claimed that he was “the very best soldier I ever saw in the field (https://www.civilwar.org/learn/biographies/robert-e-lee). Due to his engineering background at West Point, Lee could use easily strategize against his opponents in war with mathematics and precision, making sure that his plans were very likely to succeed. These skills were later taken into the Civil War, which is a considerable reason of his
A Mexican War Veteran, General Robert E. Lee was stationed in San Antonio, Texas until 1861 When President Lincoln asked him to lead the United States Army. Being a Virginian, Lee declined the offer and resigned from the United States Army. He then led the North Virginian Army. He won the battle of Bull Run, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville and moved on to Gettysburg. After the loss at Gettysburg, Lee started a downward movement of losing until surrendering at Appomattox. He then became the leader of the Washington and Lee University until he died in
Robert E. Lee only held the rank of Major General for two days. After Virginia joined the Confederacy its army was transferred to the Confederacy’s main body army. The Confederate Congress decided to make Robert E. Lee their army’s third full General ranking behind Samuel Cooper and Albert Sidney Johnston. Confederate President, Jefferson Davis had Lee become his military advisor. The newly formed Confederate Army was too new and found Lee’s military plans too difficult to carry out. The Confederate Army started losing battles and calling Lee “Granny Lee” (“Robert
Robert E. Lee was born in January 19, 1807 and is known for being a general of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the Civil War. After General Joseph E. Johnston was wounded in battle the Battle of Seven Pines, Lee became commander in his place. In June 1863, Lee started an invasion of the North, meeting the Union at the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. For three days General Lee attacked the Federal army under in what would later become the most famous battle of the Civil War, because it had the biggest casualties. However after all of Lee’s successful battles, he would later face defeat. April 9, 1865, General Lee would be forced to surrender his army to Ulysses S. Grant. This would cause the ending the of Civil
Lee to take control and become General for the battle since General Joseph E. Johnston got injured in a battle before the Seven Day’s battle. Robert E. Lee accepted and right away started commanding his men to build protection around Richmond, Lee knew that he couldn’t protect the Confederate capital for long but he was not going to give up. He wrote a letter to the President expressing his feelings and his concerns on the protection and how it might not last long. Once he saw McClellan’s army he prepared to strike at them; McClellan and his army struck first breaking up his army into divisions and sending them at different
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.
Lee was and confederate soldier , he was best known as an commander of the confederate states. He commanded the Army of the Northern virgina in the American civil war the took place in 1862 until he surrendered in 1865. Robert was born in stratford hall on january 18 ,1807. Robert died october 12, 1870. After their army surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, the defeated Confederates returned to their homes to face an uncertain future. The postwar prospects of Robert E. Lee, beloved commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, were no clearer than those of his men. He was best known as the army commander of the Confederate States of
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,
Robert E. Lee had many successes in leading the United States Army. What made Lee so remarkable was he carried a lot about what the United States government was doing and believed in a good relationship with the personal that are working for the government. We know that Lee held high standards. He was big on honor, and held people to high standards. He graduated West Point as a military commander. Lee was considered one of the bluest of Virginia blue bloods. Lee was a full blown southerner who would give anything he could to get a southern victory. Lee would be the general of the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Lee first will take over and will be in charge from 1861-1865. What Lee’s first task will be to take his army at Second Bull Run and lead them to a Confederate victory.
Robert E. Lee served as the commanding general for the Battles of Anteitem,Fredericksburg,Chancellellorsville,Gettysburg and Appomattox Court House.
We know for Robert E. Lee his major success leading up to this was success in the United States Army. What made Lee so remarkable was he carried a lot about what the United States government was doing and believed in a good relationship with the personal that are working for the government. We know that Lee held high standards. He was big on honor, and held people to high standards. He graduated West Point as a military commander. Lee was considered one of the bluest of Virginia blue bloods. Lee was a full blown southerner who would give anything he could to get a southern victory. Lee would be the general of the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Lee first will take over and will be in charge from 1861-1865. What Lee’s first task will be to take his army at Second Bull Run and lead them to a Confederate victory (Eilenberg).
The Commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia was General Robert E. Lee. General Lee graduated second in his class from West Point in 1829 and served throughout the country, but is best known for his leadership during the Mexican-American War. General Lee believed in unity but when the state of Virginia decided to secede from the Union in April 1861, Lee decided to stay with Virginia. Confederate president Jefferson Davis asked Lee to serve as his senior military adviser and General Lee took command of the Army of Northern Virginia on June 1, 1862.
Throughout history, there have been people whose names and faces have become synonymous with the time periods in which they lived. For example, Julius Caesar is synonymous with the late Roman Republic and George Washington is synonymous with the American Revolution. Just like these two men, the name Robert E. Lee has become synonymous with the American Civil War. Not only did Lee rise to become the most important and recognizable person in the Southern Confederacy, but his honor and virtuous acts during and after the war made him a hero to modern-day Americans. Even though he fought for what many consider the morally erroneous side of the war, the virtues of his character have made him a figure in American history
Lee was the Confederate Army leader in Northern Virginia. General Lee had just come out of a huge victory for the Confederates over the army of the Potomac in Chancellorsville on the Union side. General Lee decided to invade the north for a second time. In May 1863, General Lee planned to divert northern troops from Vicksburg where the Confederates were under siege and he hoped to gain the recognition from Britain and France.
The southern states although far less populated and without initial means to manufacture war supplies did have the strengths to be very competitive. Strong, experienced Confederate leadership in their practiced military, and the overall will power to protect their way of life would prove to be their greatest assets. Jefferson Davis became the president of the Confederacy and was a model leader. He developed a distinguished political career with many years served in the senate, he was a West Point graduate, the former Secretary of War, and a veteran of the Mexican American War. He was the ideal candidate for a president in war times. He had the advantage of having General Robert E. Lee commanding his army after Joseph Johnston was injured in The Battle of Bull run. Robert E. Lee due to strong respect, character and performance in the Mexican American war was Lincoln’s first choice as the Union general but Lee’s patriotism to his home state