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To: Snow Bunny; All
Robert Edward Lee
(1807-1870)

"With all my devotion to the Union and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American citizen, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand against my relatives, my children, my home. I have therefore resigned my commission in the Army, and save in defense of my native State, with the sincere hope that my poor services may never be needed, I hope I may never be called on to draw my sword....." Lee in a letter to his sister, April 20, 1861


For some the man Robert E. Lee is an almost god like figure. For others he is a paradox. Robert E. Lee was born on January 19, 1807 at Stratford, Virginia. Robert was the fourth child of a Revolutionary War hero Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee and Ann Hill Carter Lee. Young Robert, the son, was raised mostly by his mother. From her he learned patience, control, and discipline. As a young man he was exposed to Christianity and accepted its faith. In contrast to the strong example of his mother Robert saw his father go from failed enterprise to failed enterprise. In part the young Robert was led to try harder and succeed.

Robert was accepted to the United States Military Academy and graduated 2nd in his class. But perhaps greater than his academic success was his record of no demerits while being a cadet which today has still not been equaled. Following his graduation Lee, like most top classmen, was given a commission as an engineer. Lt. Lee helped build the St. Louis waterfront and worked on coastal forts in Brunswick and Savannah. It was during this time he married Mary Custis the granddaughter of George Washington and Martha Custis Washington.

In 1845 the War between U.S. and Mexico erupted. General Winfield Scott, overall U.S. Army commander, attached Captain Robert E. Lee to his staff. Lee was intrusted with the vital duties of mapping out the terrain ahead, dividing the line of advance for the U.S. troops, and in one case leading troops into battle. Lee was learning skills he would need 16 years later. There in Mexico Lee also met, worked with, and got a chance to evaluate many of those he would later serve with and against; James Longstreet, Thomas J. Jackson, George Pickett, and U.S. Grant.

Following the Mexican War Lee returned to service as an army engineer. He spent most of this time near Washington D.C. and moved into Custis mansion (now overlooking the Arlington Cemetery). Thus was Colonel Lee was available for duty to put down a believed rebellion at Harper Ferry, Virginia the site of a United States Arsenal. Colonel Lee, and a young aide Lt. JEB Stuart, and a detachment of U.S. marines, were rushed by train to Harper's Ferry where they were able to capture radical abolitionist John Brown and his followers.

Brown's attempt seemed to confirm all the worst fears of the deep south and when Abraham Lincoln was elected President South Carolina seceded and was quickly followed by 6 more deep southern states: Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. The old warrior General Winfield Scott asked Colonel Robert E. Lee to take command of the United States Army to put down the rebellion.

Lee, however, offered his services to the newly elected President of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis. Mr. Davis accepted them and Lee was made a general in CSA service. At first General Lee was more or less advisor to President Davis and the Secretary of War.

General Lee's first campaign in what was to become West Virginia was less than a success. Command of the Eastern Army was divided between the hero of Fort Sumpter, P.G.T. Beauregard, and Joe Johnston who together won the first big battle of the East -- Bull Run (Manassas). Thus Joe Johnston was in command when George B. McClellan started his march on Richmond. When Johnston went down with wounds it was easy for Davis to replace him with General R.E. Lee who immediately took charge and attacked, trying to make up for his numbers with his audacity. In a series of continuous battles known as the 7 Days Battle Lee forced McClellan to retreat.

Thus began the career of the Army of Northern Virginia which rose and fell with Lee's star. His boldness and grasp of strategy made him more than a match for every General President Lincoln sent against him until U.S. Grant defeated him through the Battle of Attrition.

Lee's greatest victory was the Battle of Chancellorsville in May of 1863. Lee was faced with a larger army led by fighting Joe Hooker. Lee and his most trusted lieutenant, Gen. Stonewall Jackson, divided their forces and through a forced march around General Hooker fell on his exposed flank, rolling it up, and defeating the union forces yet again.

This victory led Lee and Davis to consider a second invasion of the North. Lee's army would hopefully bring the Federal forces to bay and destroy them. They would then march on Washington to hand Lincoln a letter asking for recognition of the CSA. So with desperate hopes, and while still mourning the loss of Stonewall Jackson, Lee and Davis crossed the river and invaded Pennsylvania.

The greatest land battle in the Western Hemisphere was fought at Gettysburg, Pa., on July 1, 2, & 3. The Army of Northern Virginia led by Lee, and the Army of the Potomac led by newly appointed General George Meade, hammered each other. On the 3rd day of battle General Lee hoping to end the war ordered the great frontal assault popularly known as Pickett's Charge. After the failure of the attack General Lee blamed only himself, but Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia fought on for 2 more years. General Lee surrendered at Appomatox Court House on April 9, 1865. This effectively brought the American Civil War to an end as other Confederate field commanders followed Lee's example

Following the war Lee was almost tried as a traitor, but was only left with his civil rights suspended. Lee was offered the post of President of Washington University where he served until his death in 1870. The school was later renamed Washington and Lee. As a final note President Gerald Ford had Lee's citizenship restored.


55 posted on 07/06/2002 9:41:18 AM PDT by SAMWolf
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To: SAMWolf
Thanks for this Lee post - good job. JL
56 posted on 07/06/2002 9:49:16 AM PDT by lodwick
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To: SAMWolf; Snow Bunny; MistyCA; SpookBrat; Mr_Magoo; ClaraSuzanne; Victoria Delsoul; lodwick; ...
A great theme for the Canteen today...Virginia..

I have never lived in Virginia, but have visited there several times on vacations...

My best remembrance of Virginia is from 1976, and the bicentennial celebration...In May of that year, me, my husband our two young boys, and my parents, all made the trip from Chicago, Illinois, to go back east, mainly Virginia, to experience what we could to add to our celebration of the bicentennial...

Altho not in Virginia, our first big stop was Gettysburg, Pa...We camped, in our tents, right outside of Gettysburg, planning the next day to visit the historic battlefield, and spend the day there...


During the night, my husband woke up in a panic, screaming he heard canons, men hollering, men shooting...in short, he thought he heard a battle...Now, my husband is down to earth, and does not imagine things, nor does he believe that he was dreaming...he says, to this day, he was wide awake, and lay there, frozen with fear, in his sleeping bag, listening to this battle...he is not the first, nor will he be the last to hear such sounds from this battlefield..many believe that the spirits of the men who fought and died there, still haunt the old battlefield to this day, that on a quiet night, if you listen hard, you will hear the sounds of battle, the sounds of men...

Take it or leave it, believe it, or dont...All my husband knows, is that he heard what he said he heard, and no one can dissuade him of that belief...

We then all toured around Virginia...the settlement of Jamestown, Monticello, Yorktown, Ash Lawn, and Williamsburg...all exciting and wonderful places to visit...

I guess, all round, our favorite place was Williamsburg...we spent 3 days there, and it was quite an education for the whole family...two things stand out from our tour of Williamsburg..

First were the pubs and restaurants...it was interesting, that in many of the restaurants in Williamsburgh, the only things that were on the menu, were things that were available, when Williamsburg was in its prime...disappointing for my young boys, who really wanted a coke with their meal, and chocolate ice cream for dessert...but the food was excellent, and we got to see what fare was served in Williamsburg...

The second thing I remember most from Williamsburg, was when the 'town crier'(one of the many actors at Williamsburg), began to issue the call to arms, trolling for recruits to join the miltia...

My dad was one of the first to step up and volunteer, followed by my hubby and our two boys...soon other men and boys volunteered, and pretty soon there was a whole little 'army', ready to march off...they were put in formation, given wooden guns, and such, the fife and bugle, and drum players came along, and the orders were shouted to 'march'...

And in formation, this whole group of 'touristy' men and boys, with their cameras and sunglasses, and maps, and things of modern convenience, were for a few short minutes, transported back in time, at least in their minds, and were now 'volunteers' to fight..the music played, the men and boys marched off...

What I remember most, was the huge grin on my dads face..he was just smiling ear to ear, and so proud to have volunteered and to march...the men marched off to the woods, whereby ended their participation...

All the men and boys came back to us women, who had been following them, as they marched along...the 'town crier' gave the men his compliments for a job well done, and announced that the next 'marching performance' would be at such an such a time, for those who would be interested in repeating their performance...

It was really wonderful to watch the 'tourists' participating in this event...they all felt so patriotic, and for a brief time, felt themselves transported back in time, to the very early days of this country...

That was many years ago ...dont know if they still have that same act going, but hope so, as it was so popular, and gave the tourists a chance to really participate...
65 posted on 07/06/2002 10:12:06 AM PDT by andysandmikesmom
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To: SAMWolf
That was an absolutely great post SAM. Robert E. Lee was a good man.
72 posted on 07/06/2002 10:17:37 AM PDT by Aquamarine
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