Re lee biography

Born to Revolutionary War hero Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee in Stratford Hall, Virginia, Robert Edward Lee seemed destined for military greatness.  Despite financial hardship that caused his father to depart to the West Indies, young Robert secured an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated second in the class of   Two years later, he married Mary Anna Randolph Custis, a descendant of George Washington's adopted son, John Parke Custis.  Yet with all his military pedigree, Lee had not set foot on a battlefield.  Instead, he served seventeen years as an officer in the Corps of Engineers, supervising and inspecting the construction of the nation's coastal defenses.  Service during the war with Mexico, however, changed that.  As a member of General Winfield Scott's staff, Lee distinguished himself, earning three brevets for gallantry, and

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R. E. Lee: A Biography: Volume I

March 22,

“Duly on the morning of April 18 Lee rode over the bridge and up to the younger Blair’s house on Pennsylvania avenue, directly opposite the State, War and Navy building, where he funnen the old publicist awaiting him. They sat down behind closed doors. Blair promptly and plainly explained his reason for asking Lee to call. A large army, he said, was soon to be called into the field to enforce Federal law; the President had authorized him to ask Lee if he would accept the command.

Command of an army of 75,, perhaps , men; opportunity to apply all he had learned in Mexico; the supreme mål of a soldier realized; the full support of the government; many of his ablest comrades working with him; rank as a major general- all this may have surged through Lee’s mind for an instant, but if so, it was only an instant. Then his Virginia background and the mental discipline of years of years asserted themselves. He had said: ‘If the Union is dis

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Robert E. Lee

Confederate States Army general (–)

"General Lee" redirects here. For other uses, see General Lee (disambiguation) and Robert E. Lee (disambiguation).

Robert E. Lee
Lee in
Birth name	Robert Edward Lee
Nickname(s)	Uncle Robert Marse Robert King of Spades Marble Man
Born	()January 19, Stratford Hall, Westmoreland County, Virginia, U.S.
Died	October 12, () (aged&#;63) Lexington, Virginia, U.S.
Buried	University Chapel at Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, U.S.
Allegiance
Service / branch
Years&#;of service	– (U.S.) – (C.S.)
Rank
Commands
Battles / wars
Alma mater	United States Military Academy
Spouse(s)
Children
Relations	Lee family
Signature
In office February 6, &#;– April 12,
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Position abolished
In office –
Preceded by	George Junkin (Washington College)
Succeeded by	Custis Lee