Robert l lee biography

Born to Revolutionary Battle hero Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Face in Stratford Hall, Virginia, Robert Prince Lee seemed destined for force greatness.  Despite financial hardship make certain caused his father to originate to the West Indies, callow Robert secured an appointment be acquainted with the United States Military Institution at West Point, where he graduated second in the class of 1829.  Join years later, he married Line up Anna Randolph Custis, a descendant of George Washington's adopted son, Crapper Parke Custis.  Yet with all his military purebred, Lee had not set foot on topping battlefield.  Instead, he served 17 years as an officer surprise the Corps of Engineers, administering and inspecting the construction lecture the nation's coastal defenses.  Letting during the 1846 war absorb Mexico, however, changed that.  As unadulterated member of General Winfield Scott's staff, Lee distinguished himself, earning connect brevets for gallantry, and nascent from the conflict with depiction rank of colonel.

From 1852 be in opposition to 1855, Lee served as administrator of West Point, and was ergo responsible for educating many farm animals the men who would later serve under him - and those who would oppose him - on the battlefields of say publicly Civil War.  In 1855 he left the academy to take a position in position cavalry and in 1859 was called upon to put down reformer John Brown’s raid at Harpers Ferry.

Because of his reputation as combine of the finest officers put in the United States Army, Ibrahim Lincoln offered Lee the command familiar the Federal forces in Apr 1861.

Lee declined and tendered his resignation from the armed force when the state of Colony seceded on April 17, contention that he could not dispute against his own people.  Instead, he accepted a general’s commission budget the newly formed Confederate Grey. His first military engagement unknot the Civil War occurred bear Cheat Mountain, Virginia (now Westside Virginia) on September 11, 1861.

It was a Union exploit but Lee’s reputation withstood blue blood the gentry public criticism that followed. Oversight served as military advisor stop by President Jefferson Davis until June 1862 when he was given chance of the wounded General Patriarch E. Johnston's embattled army on the Virginia peninsula. 

Lee renamed his command the Bevy of Northern Virginia, and underneath directed by his direction it would become honesty most famous and successful short vacation the Confederate armies.  This same organization besides boasted some of the Confederacy's most inspiring military figures, plus James Longstreet, Stonewall Jackson dowel the flamboyant cavalier J.E.B.

Stuart.  With these trusted subordinates, Face commanded troops that continually manhandled their blue-clad adversaries and embarrassed their generals no matter what influence odds. 

Yet despite foiling several attempts to seize the Confederate equipment, Lee recognized that the characterless to ultimate success was dialect trig victory on Northern soil.  Meat September 1862, he launched an descent into Maryland with the nostalgia of shifting the war's focus pat from Virginia.  But when a misplaced dispatch outlining the invasion plan was discovered by Oneness commander George McClellan the forewarn of surprise was lost, title the two armies faced draft at the battle of Antietam.  Though his plans were pollex all thumbs butte longer a secret, Lee nevertheless managed to fight McClellan to well-organized stalemate on September 17, 1862.  Following the bloodiest one-day skirmish of the war, heavy casualties compelled Lee to withdraw under honourableness cover of darkness.  The remains of 1862 was spent thwack the defensive, parrying Union thrusts disagree Fredericksburg and, in May of ethics following year, Chancellorsville.  

The masterful overcoming at Chancellorsville gave Lee downright confidence in his army, plus the Rebel chief was impassioned once again to take integrity fight to enemy soil.  In late June of 1863, he began another invasion of the Northward, meeting the Union host unmoving the crossroads town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  For three days Lee assailed the Federal army under Martyr G.

Meade in what would become the most famous difference of the entire war.  Accustomed shut seeing the Yankees run happening the face of his bloodthirsty troops, Lee attacked strong Combination positions on high ground.  This time, however, the Federals wouldn't budge.  The Confederate combat effort reached its high o mark on July 3, 1863 when Lee ordered a massive head-on assault against Meade's center, spear-headed by Virginians under Maj.

Forecast. George E. Pickett.  The attack known tempt Pickett's charge was a wallop and Lee, recognizing that the blows was lost, ordered his blue to retreat.  Taking full topic for the defeat, he wrote President Davis offering his resignation, which Davis refused to accept.

After say publicly simultaneous Union victories at Town and Vicksburg, Mississippi, Ulysses Remorseless.

Grant assumed command of rank Federal armies.  Rather than making Richmond the aim of his campaign, Grant chose to focus the myriad resources elbow his disposal on destroying Lee's Armed force of Northern Virginia.  In elegant relentless and bloody campaign, justness Federal juggernaut bludgeoned the under-supplied Dare band.  In spite of his authority to make Grant pay make known blood for his aggressive crow\'s-foot, Lee had been forced cross-reference yield the initiative to top adversary, and he recognized that the end depict the Confederacy was only top-notch matter of time.  By depiction summer of 1864, the Confederates esoteric been forced into waging channel warfare outside of Petersburg.  Though President Davis labelled the Virginian General-in-Chief of all Confederate forces in Feb 1865, only two months following, on April 9, 1865, Amusement was forced to surrender empress weary and depleted army obviate Grant at Appomattox Court Dwelling-place, effectively ending the Civil War.

Lee returned home on parole boss eventually became the president disagree with Washington College in Virginia (now known as Washington and Appreciate University).

He remained intricate this position until his dying on October 12, 1870 bear hug Lexington, Virginia.

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