Unlike President
Abraham Lincoln, who led the North in
Robert E. Lee
was 5 feet 10 in a half inches tall. He had
Robert E. Lee
was born in Stratford Hall, near Montross
He married Mary
Randolph Custis, Martha Washington's
When war broke
out between the United States and
Unlike many Southerners,
Lee didn't believe in slavery.
Lee had great
difficulty in deciding whether to stand by his
Lee could have
had many positions of wealth, but he chose
the Civil War, Lee was not a self-made man. Lee's family
was the leading family of Virginia, and one of the most
distinguished in the nation. A kinsman, Thomas Lee, had
served as royal governor of the
colony. Lee was also
related to Francis Light foot Lee
and Richard Hurry Lee,
who had been statesmen and soldiers
in Revolutionary
War days. His father, Henry Lee,
known as ''Light- Horse
Harry,'' was a brilliant cavalry
commander in the
Revolutionary War.
commanding appearance-straight,
alert, and intelligent.
He was never known to smoke, drink
alcoholic beverages,
or use profane language.
Virginia on January 19, 1807. He
grew up with a deep
devotion to country life and to
his native state, which
continued throughout his life.
He was a serious boy and
spent many hours in his father's
library. In 1825 he
entered the United States Military
Academy at West Point.
great-granddaughter. And had seven
children.
Mexico in 1846, the army sent Lee
to Texas to serve as
assistant engineer under General
John E. Wool. All his
superior officers, were impressed
with the brave young
Virginian.
Long before the war, he had freed
the few slaves whom he
has inherited. Lee greatly admired
George Washington,
and hated the thought of a divided
nation.
native state or remain with the Union, even though Lincoln
offered him the field command of
the United States Army.
to spend his last years as president
of Washington College
in Lexington, Virginia. Young men
from all parts of the
South flocked to ''General Lee's
school,'' which was named
Washington and Lee University after
his death.
Lee urged his
students and friends to keep the peace and
accept the outcome of the war.
His attitude was extremely
important at a time when bitterness
and hatred swept both
North and South.
His health began
to fail in 1870, and, after a brief illness,
he died on October 2, 1870. Lee
is buried in the chapel he
built on the campus in Lexington,
along with other
members of the Lee family. Lee's
birthday is a holiday in
most Southern states.
Lee could have
had many positions of wealth, but he chose
to spend his last years as president
of Washington College
in Lexington, Virginia. Young men
from all parts of the
South flocked to ''General Lee's
school,'' which was named
Washington and Lee University after
his death.
Lee urged his
students and friends to keep the peace and
accept the outcome of the war.
His attitude was extremely
important at a time when bitterness
and hatred swept both
North and South.
His health began
to fail in 1870, and, after a brief illness,
he died on October 2, 1870. Lee
is buried in the chapel he
built on the campus in Lexington,
along with other
members of the Lee family. Lee's
birthday is a holiday in
most Southern states.
