ROBERT EDWARD LEE
Son of Lighthorse Harry Lee, Robert Edward Lee was born January 19, 1807 at Stratford in
Westmoreland County, VA. Following in his father’s footsteps, Lee entered West Point in
1825. He graduated second in his class in 1829, receiving a commission as second lieutenant in
the engineers.
By 1838, he had two brevet promotions, achieving the rank of Captain. Through his courage
and brilliant strategies, he received his third brevet promotion in rank in 1852, becoming the
superintendent of West Point, the US Military Academy, and later, colonel of the cavalry.
In April 17, 1861, Virginia suceded from the Union. At age 54, Lee had to evaluate his
position as a member of Union and as a Virginian. Although he did not necessarily agree with
southern independence, he was a Virginian. The traditions and family history were very
strong. On April 20, he submitted his resignation from the US Army, and three days later
became President of the Confederate States of America; forever more to be intrinsically
linked to the Confederate cause.
He was placed in command of the army in northern Virginia. In February 1865 Lee was
made commander in chief of all Confederate armies. Lee, a brilliant general, whose military
genius was probably the greatest single factor in keeping the Confederacy alive through the
four years of the American Civil War, surrendered two months later to Gen. Ulysses S.
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Grant at Appomattox Court House, virtually ending the war. The superior resources and
troop strength of the Union had eventually overcome the masterly strategy of Lee. Today, his
campaigns are almost universally studied in military schools as models of strategy and tactics.
Lee returned to Richmond. He applied for but was never granted the official postwar
amnesty. He accepted the presidency of Washington College, in the fall of 1865; within a few
years, it had become an outstanding institution. He was indicted for treason, though never
brought to trial.
On October 12, 1870, Robert Edward Lee died. He is revered as an ideal by southerners, and
as a hero by all Americans. His antebellum home is now known as Arlington House, the
Robert E. Lee Memorial, is a national memorial, and the Washington College, where Lee
served as its president, is now called the Washington and Lee University.
In 1975 Lee’s citizenship was restored posthumously by an act of the US Congress.
