Robert Edward Lee was born in Montross, Virginia on January 19, 1807.  He was a serious     boy who stayed in his father’s library a lot of the time.  In 1825 he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point.  He graduated there with high honors in 1829.

        Unlike many Southerners, Lee disliked slavery.  He thought slavery had an evil effect on masters and slaves.  Before the Civil War, he had freed what few slaves he had inherited, partly because he couldn’t decide if he should join the Union or the Confederate Army.  IN the end he joined the Confederate Army.

        At first, during the beginning of being in the army, he had no troops under his command.  He was a military advisor to President Jefferson Davis.  In May 1861, he was appointed a full general.  In 1862 he was sent to help draw force plans for Virginia.  He was under the command of General Johnston.

        Johnston was wounded on May 31, 1862 at the battle of Fair Oaks.  The very next day, Lee took over Johnston’s army.  Lee’s first task after that seemed quite impossible.  The Union General George B. McClellen came within seven miles of the distance of Richmond with 100,000 men.  Also, three troops were closing in on General Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.  A fourth Union force was camped on the Rappahannock rive, ready to aid McClellen if needed.

        A series of engagements of battle known as the Battles of the Seven Days, took place.  Lee forced McClellen to retreat.  Campaigning had taught Lee that there was a need for simpler methods and organization.  Jackson had earlier conducted a “brilliant” campaign in the Shenandoah Valley.  Jackson became Lee’s most trusted friend.  Jackson liked Lee so much that he said he would, “Follow Lee into battle blindfolded.”  Jackson helped Lee win he Second Battle of Bull Run against General John Pope.

        After many, many other battles Lee’s last words to his troops were, “Men we have fought through the war together, I have done my best for you; my heart is to full to say more.”  Lee then became a private citizen, for the first time in forty years.  The Proclamation of Armesty Reconstruction in 1865 forbid Lee to take a public office

        Lee could have had many positions of wealth.  He chose instead to be President of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia for his last years.  He raised the small college to high levels of scholarships and established schools of commerce and journalism.  Young men from all parts of the South “flocked” to see “General Lee’s School.”  The college was named Washington and Lee University after Lee’s Death.

        Lee was failing with his health around 1870.  He died October 12, 1870.  He had said a short time before he died, “Make your sons American.”