Robert Edward Lee:

3eneral in chief of the Confederate armies in the American Ci!il War, .orn *an. 19, 18?&, at )tratford, Westmoreland co., /a.@ son of %enr" 8ALightB%orse %arr"C: Lee PreCivil War Career:

After graduating second in his class from West Point in 1829, Lee was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers. Lee was superintendent at West Point from 18 2 to 18 , when he was made lieutenant colonel of the 2d Ca!alr" and sent to W #e$as. %e commanded that regiment from 18 & to 18'1. While at Arlington %ouse on an e$tended lea!e, he was called to lead the compan" of (.). marines that captured *ohn +rown at %arpers ,err" in -ct., 18 9. Civil War Leadership: +ecause of his reputation as one of the finest officers in the (nited )tates Arm", A.raham Lincoln offered Lee the command of the ,ederal forces in April 18'1. Lee declined and resigned from the arm" when the state of /irginia seceded on April 1&, arguing that he could not fight against his own people. 0nstead, he accepted a general1s commission in the newl" formed Confederate Arm". %e ser!ed as militar" ad!isor to President *efferson 2a!is until *une 18'2 when he was gi!en command of the wounded 3eneral *oseph E. *ohnston4s em.attled arm" on the /irginia peninsula. -n April 25 he too6 command of the militar" and na!al forces of /irginia, which he organi7ed thoroughl" .efore the" were a.sor.ed ." the Confederac". Lee then .ecame militar" ad!iser to Confederate President *efferson 2a!is and was made a Confederate general. After the failure of his efforts to coordinate the acti!it" of Confederate forces in the western part of /irginia 8*ul"9-ct., 18'1:, Lee organi7ed the ) Atlantic coast defenses. Lee assumed command of the Arm" of ;orthern /irginia 8*une 1, 18'2:. %is leadership of that arm" through the ne$t three "ears has placed him among the world4s great commanders. Lee4s second in!asion of the ;orth resulted in the Confederate defeat in the 3ett"s.urg campaign 8*une9*ul":. )ome historians attri.ute his defeat at 3ett"s.urg to the failures of *ames Longstreet. -ther authorities argue that Lee underestimated his opposition and failed to impose his will upon his su.ordinates. Lee assumed full .lame for the defeat, .ut 2a!is refused to entertain his offer of resignation. After 3ett"s.urg, Lee did not engage in an" ma<or campaign until =a", 18'>, when (l"sses ). 3rant mo!ed against him. %e repulsed 3rant4s direct assaults in the Wilderness campaign 8=a"9*une:, .ut was not strong enough to turn him .ac6, and in *ul", 18'>, 3rant .egan the long siege of Peters.urg. Lee4s appointment as general in chief of all Confederate armies came 8,e.., 18' : when the Confederac" had !irtuall" collapsed. -n April 2, the Arm" of the Potomac .ro6e through the Peters.urg defenses, and Lee4s forces retreated. -ne wee6 later Lee surrendered to 3rant at Appomatto$ Courthouse

After the war Lee .ecame president of Washington College 8now Washington and Lee (ni!ersit":. Although President Andrew *ohnson ne!er granted him the official amnest" for which he applied, Lee ne!ertheless urged the people of the )outh to wor6 for the restoration of peace and harmon" in a united countr".
)ourceD httpDEEwww.ci!ilwar.orgEeducationEhistor"E.iographiesEro.ertBeBlee.html