Robert E. Lee: Man of Honor
Early Life
Robert E. Lee was born in Stratford Hall Plantation in Westmoreland County, Virginia, along with 5 other children. He was born on January 19, 1807 to Major General Henry Lee III, Governor of Virginia, and Anne Hill Carter, second wife of Henry Lee. One of Lee’s great-grandparents was in fact one of the first families to come to Virginia and colonize there. Unfortunately little is actually known of Lee’s childhood. Lee’s father was thrown into a debtor’s prison in 1809, and the family moved to Alexandria, VA after his release in 1810 because of the high quality schools available, and the close proximity to extended family. In 1812 Robert’s father was injured in a political riot and traveled to the West Indies; his father never returned. When Robert was 11 his father died and Anne was left to raise six children alone. She did, however, have extended family and friends to help her.
Robert attended school at Eastern View - a school for young gentlemen, and then at the Alexandria Academy. He was admitted to West Point Military Academy in 1825 after his relative, William Henry Fitzhugh, sent a letter of recommendation to the Secretary of War, John C. Calhoun. Although the letter had little mention of Robert’s academic skills and mainly emphasized their family prominence, Robert was accepted into the Academy. His curriculum at West Point had a strong focus on engineering: the Head of the Army corps of Engineers supervised the school, the superintendent was an engineering officer, and the cadets were not permitted to leave until they had finished 2 years of study. Lee studied for four years and graduated as second in his class. After his graduation he was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers, but he momentarily returned to his home in Virginia and found his mother on her death bed; she died later in July of 1829.
Brady, Matthew. Old West Point. N.d. Photograph. Awesome StoriesWeb. 5 Dec 2013. <http://www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/United-States-Military-Academy-at-West-Point>.
Robert E. Lee was born in Stratford Hall Plantation in Westmoreland County, Virginia, along with 5 other children. He was born on January 19, 1807 to Major General Henry Lee III, Governor of Virginia, and Anne Hill Carter, second wife of Henry Lee. One of Lee’s great-grandparents was in fact one of the first families to come to Virginia and colonize there. Unfortunately little is actually known of Lee’s childhood. Lee’s father was thrown into a debtor’s prison in 1809, and the family moved to Alexandria, VA after his release in 1810 because of the high quality schools available, and the close proximity to extended family. In 1812 Robert’s father was injured in a political riot and traveled to the West Indies; his father never returned. When Robert was 11 his father died and Anne was left to raise six children alone. She did, however, have extended family and friends to help her.
Robert attended school at Eastern View - a school for young gentlemen, and then at the Alexandria Academy. He was admitted to West Point Military Academy in 1825 after his relative, William Henry Fitzhugh, sent a letter of recommendation to the Secretary of War, John C. Calhoun. Although the letter had little mention of Robert’s academic skills and mainly emphasized their family prominence, Robert was accepted into the Academy. His curriculum at West Point had a strong focus on engineering: the Head of the Army corps of Engineers supervised the school, the superintendent was an engineering officer, and the cadets were not permitted to leave until they had finished 2 years of study. Lee studied for four years and graduated as second in his class. After his graduation he was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers, but he momentarily returned to his home in Virginia and found his mother on her death bed; she died later in July of 1829.
Brady, Matthew. Old West Point. N.d. Photograph. Awesome StoriesWeb. 5 Dec 2013. <http://www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/United-States-Military-Academy-at-West-Point>.
1836- Promoted to First Lieutenant after success in New York and Missouri as a Civil Engineer.
1845- Returns to West Point as Academy’s Superintendent
1859- Success in quickly ending a slave revolt at Harpers Ferry. He ended it in under an hour and his name ended up on a list for potential union army leaders.
1862- Lee took control of Northern Virginia Army and pushed back the union army during the Seven Days Battle, this led to an important confederate victory at Second Manassas.
August 1862- Lee pushes back the union army at the Second Battle of Bull Run and puts things in the Confederacy’s Favor.
Sept 1862- At the Battle of Anaheim, with Lee refusing to retreat from the stronger Union Army, 2,108 Union and 1,546 Confederate soldiers are killed. Later the battle was declared a Union Victory despite having lost more men.
Dec 1862- Lee’s Most successful battle is fought, The Battle Of Fredericksburg, his army only suffers 5,000 soldiers dying while inflicting over 12,00 casualties.
"Maps of Second Manassas, Virginia." Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013.<http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/secondmanassas/maps/porters-attack-map.html>.
Effects on War
In battle, Robert E. Lee was a brilliant tactician, but he was accused of lacking foresight and dragging on the war. Both of his offensives into the North failed. Although he initially followed Virginia out of sectional loyalty and privately disapproved of secession, he quickly rose in the ranks of the Confederacy. He started out as a senior military adviser to Jefferson Davis before he became a war leader. His first Confederate victory during the Peninsular Campaign, the Seven Days Battle (fought against McLellan), raised troop morale. At Antietam, both sides suffered heavy losses, but the Union won strategically. That didn’t stop Lee from fighting at Fredericksburg—this was a Confederate victory, but left Lee with depleted men and supplies. His most brilliantly fought battle, Chancellorsville, was a Confederate victory. During the High Tide of the Confederacy, the Battle of Gettysburg, the Union won and Lee suffered heavy losses and exhausted men—but Meade failed to follow Lee’s troops and end the war once and for all. Lee was determined to continue fighting.
Hancock at Pickett's Charge. N.d. Painting. Civil War TrustWeb. 5 Dec 2013. <http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/gettysburg/assets/ten-facts-about/ten-facts-about-gettysburg.html>.
In battle, Robert E. Lee was a brilliant tactician, but he was accused of lacking foresight and dragging on the war. Both of his offensives into the North failed. Although he initially followed Virginia out of sectional loyalty and privately disapproved of secession, he quickly rose in the ranks of the Confederacy. He started out as a senior military adviser to Jefferson Davis before he became a war leader. His first Confederate victory during the Peninsular Campaign, the Seven Days Battle (fought against McLellan), raised troop morale. At Antietam, both sides suffered heavy losses, but the Union won strategically. That didn’t stop Lee from fighting at Fredericksburg—this was a Confederate victory, but left Lee with depleted men and supplies. His most brilliantly fought battle, Chancellorsville, was a Confederate victory. During the High Tide of the Confederacy, the Battle of Gettysburg, the Union won and Lee suffered heavy losses and exhausted men—but Meade failed to follow Lee’s troops and end the war once and for all. Lee was determined to continue fighting.
Hancock at Pickett's Charge. N.d. Painting. Civil War TrustWeb. 5 Dec 2013. <http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/gettysburg/assets/ten-facts-about/ten-facts-about-gettysburg.html>.
Nearing the End of the War
During the latter years of the Civil War, Lee continued to fight bloody battles as General Grant carried out his Overland Campaign, a campaign aimed to destroy the defensive front of the Confederate Army and capture Richmond, Virginia. A course of confusing skirmishes embellished the Confederate’s attempt to defend Richmond. Within the course of skirmishes Grant gained a series of Confederate victories at the Battle of the Wilderness, the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, and finally the Battle of Cold Harbor. Finally, the Battle of Appomatax Courthouse brought about the foreboding end of the Civil War. By this time, Lee’s Confederate Army had become exhausted with meager supplies and weakened morals. The Battle of Appomatox Courthouse, was the last attempt to defend Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy. On April 9, 1865, General Lee’s Confederate Army waved flags of surrender, signaling the end of the bloody American Civil War.
During the latter years of the Civil War, Lee continued to fight bloody battles as General Grant carried out his Overland Campaign, a campaign aimed to destroy the defensive front of the Confederate Army and capture Richmond, Virginia. A course of confusing skirmishes embellished the Confederate’s attempt to defend Richmond. Within the course of skirmishes Grant gained a series of Confederate victories at the Battle of the Wilderness, the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, and finally the Battle of Cold Harbor. Finally, the Battle of Appomatax Courthouse brought about the foreboding end of the Civil War. By this time, Lee’s Confederate Army had become exhausted with meager supplies and weakened morals. The Battle of Appomatox Courthouse, was the last attempt to defend Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy. On April 9, 1865, General Lee’s Confederate Army waved flags of surrender, signaling the end of the bloody American Civil War.
Don Troiani’s painting depicts the Union soldiers putting up their weapons to salute the Confederate Army after the surrender at the Battle of Appomatox Courthouse.
Troiani, Don. Don Troiani’s painting depicts the Union soldiers putting up their weapons to salute the Confederate Army. Digital image. Appomattox Courthouse. Historical Art Prints, n.d. Web
http://www.civilwar.org/photos/galleries/appomattox-court-house/appomattox-court-house.html
Troiani, Don. Don Troiani’s painting depicts the Union soldiers putting up their weapons to salute the Confederate Army. Digital image. Appomattox Courthouse. Historical Art Prints, n.d. Web
http://www.civilwar.org/photos/galleries/appomattox-court-house/appomattox-court-house.html
Life After War
After General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865, he was tried as a traitor. He wasn't punished; only had his civil rights suspended, which stated that he was not a citizen of the United States of America.
Lee, unable to return to his former home in Lexington, Virginia, moved to Richmond, where he and his family settled down, and started to live the civilian life. This life didn't last very long, since the Washington College at Lexington was searching for a new president, as well as to bolster the struggling financial situation, and Lee was the perfect candidate. After a length of time debating whether to go or not, Lee, after much advice from family and friends, accepted the position as the new president of Washington College at Lexington.
Arriving in Lexington in mid-September of 1865, Lee immediately set out to work. During his five years of presidency, he was fundamental to the growth of Washington College, physically and financially, such as the faculty increasing from just 4 members to 20 members, the enrollment from 50 students to 400 students, and much more financial contributions poured in from the North and South. Lee worked tirelessly, and personally, with the school and its students so that his desire in creating a new generation of Americans would be fulfilled.
The same year he arrived in Lexington, Lee signed an amnesty oath, which requested for citizenship back into the United States. This act was intended to be an active encouragement to the other confederate soldiers to rejoin as well. Unfortunately, his citizenship was only formally recognized 100 years later by President General Ford in August 1975.
Later, Lee suffered a massive stroke on September 28, 1870, and died two weeks later on October 12. A portable lap desk was found to be left behind containing a monetary record of his salary and various instruments(tools). This lap desk is a symbol of the last chapter of Lee's life, dedicated to the lives of the younger, newer generation and reuniting the nation which had been broken apart a decade ago.
Robert E. Lee after the War. N.d. Photograph. Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, Virginia. Web. 5 Dec 2013. Robert E. Lee after the War. N.d. Photograph. Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, Virginia. Web. 5 Dec 2013. <http://www.vahistorical.org/collections-and-resources/virginia-history-explorer/robert-e-lee-after-war>.