Lee instead entered the united states military academy at west point. Lee was born at stratford, westmoreland county, virginia. Lee was the famous confederate general, commander of the northern virginian army, during the american civil war. No less a figure than the rebels greatest general, robert e. Robert edward lee is the fourth child born to colonel harry and ann lee, prominent members of the virginia. Lee was the leading confederate general during the u. His accomplishments only boosted the confidence that his troops and fellow generals had in lee, and it also helped to make sure northerners understood that lee.
Lee at age 31, then a young lieutenant of engineers, u. Lee was a confederate general who led the souths attempt at secession during the civil war. Washington and lee university houses lee chapel, burial site of several members of the lee family, as well as. He was appointed as major general while serving in the u.
This biography includes a detailed account on the life and achievements of robert e. Home presidents office about the presidents office history and governance past presidents robert e. Lee is born at stratford hall in westmoreland county, va. In his time, he was loved and respected by both the. Robert e lee was the 19th consul of the commonwealth of virginia. Surrendering and telling his men to go home and not to wage a guerr. Lees ancestors were some of the first europeans to settle in virginia. Graduated west point on march 1824general in the confederate army during the civil war from 18611865led the confederates to many victories in the civil war such as antietem, gettysburg, chancellorsville, and fredericksburgbecame president of washington college in 1865. Lee, whose military accomplishments in the name of a bad cause seemed somehow to entitle him to the.
The promise of affluence implied by his birth at his fathers ancestral estate was not fulfilled in lees childhood. Civil war, commanding his home states armed forces and becoming generalinchief of the confederate forces toward the end of the conflict. On june 28, headquartered outside chambersburg, pennsylvania, lee was poised to commit his force to a broad sweep to the east as far as the susquehanna. Lee, a george washingtonclass submarine built in 1958, was named for lee, as was the m3 lee tank, produced in 1941 and 1942. The idol of the south to this day, virginian robert e. Graduated west point on march 1824 general in the confederate army during the civil war from 18611865 led the confederates to many victories in the civil war such as antietem, gettysburg, chancellorsville, and fredericksburg became president of washington college in 1865. Lee became an enduring symbol for the people of the american south. As commander in chief of virginias forces, lee saw it as his first task to concentrate troops, armaments, and equipment at major points where the invasion might be expected. Lee was born at the stratford hall plantation in westmoreland, virginia on january 19th, 1807. Lee were the greatest and most beneficial for the united states of america. Lee, stonewall jackson, and the fate of the confederacy.
There, he quickly rose in the ranks and graduated second in the class. He belonged to a family of ruling class in virginia and joined. Lee, the most famous of the officers whose celebrity was gained in the service of the southern confederacy during the late terrible rebellion. General lee was born to revolutionary war hero, henry lighthorse harry lee, in stratford hall, virginia, and seemed destined for military greatness.
Lee lost many of his battles, he stuck through the fight and had many successes in battle due to. It was later on that in true combat he proved his mettle and apptitude for war. Lee was born in january of 1807 to father robert e. He challenged union forces during the wars bloodiest. Lee had a lot of accomplishments, but he major ones are. Lee was distinguished as a national war hero after he fought and defeated many mexican armies and made large contributions to u. He commanded the army of northern virginia in the american civil war from 1862 until its surrender in 1865. Lee associations key note speaker at the cocoa beach reunion october 2001 1990 reed popovich appears in movie the hunt for red october lt michael r. Lee, the fifth child of revolutionary war hero henry lighthorse harry lee, served during the mexicanamerican war of 18461848. This video is part of the civil war trusts in4 video series, which presents short videos on basic civil war topics. The south was defeated on the battlefield in 1865, yet the lee legend swaddled in myth, kitsch and racism has. Lees military accomplishments in the civil war, he became one of americas most outstanding generals.
Located at 607 oronoco street, alexandria, va lee was born in stratford hall, va. Intelligence was received last evening of the death at lexington, va. Robert edward lee is born on january 19 at stratford hall in. Lee had some difficulty in adjusting to the new form of warfare that unfolded with the civil war, but this did not prevent him from keeping the union armies in virginia at bay for almost three years. The controversy that surrounds general lee and the statues that were erected in honor of him portray a shift in how americans want to remember the civil war and some of its most influential members. His brilliance in war waging strategies, his vigor and achievements during the civil war, makes him an iconic figure. Lee only wanted peace and healing for the united states after the civil war. Contribution he was appointed as major general while serving in the u. He worked there until he died from a stroke in 1870. Without the money to attend a university, young robert e. Robert edward lee january 19, 1807 october 12, 1870 was an american and confederate soldier, best known as a commander. The terms of the peace treaty were effectively status quo ante bellum.
Asked in us civil war, battle of gettysburg, robert e. He served as confederate general in the united states civil war and later as president of washington and lee university, which was named for him and for george washington. Lee president, washington college, 18651870 robert edward lee was born on jan. Popovich, who was the mdiv, adiv and rl01 officer while on the gold crew from 198082 played the part of lt jim curry on the uss dallas in the 1990. S military and was given monumental responsibility to demonstrate his prominence as a leader and used his wisdom to lead men into rigorous battle against a more powerful army in the civil war. Lee, graduating second in his class at west point with no demerits, pursued the burgeoning engineering field of the small us army, and during the.
During the extreme hardships of the civil war, lee managed to show great courage and ferocity. Using his expert military skills and powerful actions, robert e. S land gains which led to westward expansion and helped increase american dominance in the world. Lee was the son of henry light horse harry lee, a cavalry commander during the revolutionary war and a onetime governor of virginia. I begyndelsen af 1861 tilbod general winfield scott lee kommandoen over hele usas h.
Robert edward lee january 19, 1807 october 12, 1870 was an american and confederate soldier, best known as a commander of the confederate states army. Lee today, the mere mention of his name is enough to arouse passionate debate. Lee was at the center of the violent protests in charlottesville, virginia, that shook the country. His father was major general henry lee iii, and his fathers second wife anne hill carter. During this period, confederate troops joined the virginia forces and subdued the federal army at the first battle of bull run. Civil war and has been venerated as a heroic figure in the american south. Lee became president of washington college in virginia, a post which he held until his death. Ultimately, it was lees failure that changed the world. Lee became president of washington college in lexington, virginia.
Lee, in full robert edward lee, born january 19, 1807, stratford, westmoreland county, virginia, u. Lees father was never really around and left lee to survive on his own. Lees father lighthorse harry lee was a hero of the american revolution and a friend of george washington. His mother, anne carter lee, stayed at home to clean and feed her family while his father, henry lee iii, was a politician. The army of northern virginia was the most successful of the southern armies. Lee afslog, fordi hans hjemstat virginia tradte ud af unionen, selv. Confederate army 186165 american soldier, general in the confederate states army, was the youngest son of majorgeneral henry lee.
Robert e lee federalist failure alternative history. Lee how did robert e lees major accomplishments change the world. Lee 18071870, was the son of henry lee iii, and probably the most famous member of the lee family. Horse harry lee, a hero of the american revolution, and his second. Anderson, nancy scott and dwight anderson, the generals. Lee is a story not of defeat but of triumphtriumph in clearing his family name, triumph in marrying properly, triumph over the mighty mississippi in his work as an engineer, and triumph over all other military men to become the towering figure who commanded the confederate army in. The steamboat inspired the 1912 song waiting for the robert e. Living historian frank orlando describes the life and accomplishments of robert e. Parents, henry lee lighthorse harry lee of leesylvania, and ann hill carter of shirley. Important accomplishments the life of robert e lee. Lee, is best known as the american soldier who commanded the confederate army of northern virginia during the american civil war. Lee, confederate commander of the army of northern virginia and later all southern armies during the american civil war 186165.
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