Robert E. Lee, Military Leader / Civil War Figure
Born: 19 January 1807
Birthplace: Stratford, Virginia
Died: 12 October 1870 (natural causes)
Best Known As: Leader of Confederate armies in the Civil War
Name at birth: Robert Edward Lee
Posted on 01/19/2007 6:31:54 AM PST by yankeedame
Born: 19 January 1807
Birthplace: Stratford, Virginia
Died: 12 October 1870 (natural causes)
Best Known As: Leader of Confederate armies in the Civil War
Name at birth: Robert Edward Lee
Lee was the Confederacy's most famous general in the American Civil War. He attended West Point (graduating second in his class) and became an engineer in the United States Army, serving with distinction in the Mexican-American War. As the Civil War broke out he resigned his commission and joined the forces of the South. In 1862 he was made commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, and over the next three years became famous as he led the army to a series of victories over the larger and better-equipped Union forces. He was defeated at the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg and finally surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse on 9 April 1865, effectively ending the war.
Lee was the son of Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee, a cavalry commander during the Revolutionary War and a onetime governor of Virginia... After the Civil War, Robert E. Lee became president of Washington College in Virginia, a post which he held until his death. After his death the school was renamed as Washington and Lee... Lee's horse Traveller served him throughout the Civil War and is now regarded as one of history's famous steeds.
We celebrate Robert E. Lee's birthday on the same Monday as MLK Day.
Rest in peace gentle knight.
And Stonewall Jackson's, too, if I'm not mistaken.
Happy Birthday, General Lee, our Fightin' Bob!
Lee graduated second in his class at West Point, wonder who graduated first?
Happy birthday to R.E. Lee, one of our nations finest men.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY 200TH ROBERT E. LEE AND MAY GOD BLESS HIS SOUL
AMEN A.HUN!
Let's not forget that Lee was offered the command of the whole Union Army
Lee was an exceptional leader and of all that's been said about him nothing impressed me more then when he rode up to the survivors of Pickett's failed charge at Gettysburg and apologized to the men for what he felt was his failure.
A truly great General.
That would be interesting to know, but it's not always an indicator of what happens later in one's career. After all, Lee surrendered to the man who was 21st in a class of 39 (class of 1843).
Happy Birthday General Lee.
One of the great tragedies of history is there will never be a decent biography of Robert E. Lee. No sooner than the war ended people began the process of marblizing Lee to the point that any real information that would reveal the man was layered over with patinas of hagiography and adoration. Since Lee never wrote his own autobiography and those near him were utterly enthralled, there will never be a decent bio of Lee.
Charles Mason of New York. He later moved to Iowa and was prominent in Democrat politics. He did not serve during the rebellion, and based on his politics would have been considered a Copperhead.
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