Robert E. Lee was born in Virginia, at the town of Stafford, June 19th,
1807. He was son of Colonel Henry Lee, of revolutionary fame. He had a
commanding military bearing, was a most graceful horseman; he came from
good "fighting stock," and as there never was a braver man drew sword,
he was well calculated to become the beau-ideal of the Southern
Confederacy.
When eighteen years of age he entered the military academy at West
Point, where, after a four years' course, he graduated. One thing,
General Lee, as a cadet, was an example well worthy of imitation, as
he, during his whole four years' course, never received a reprimand, and
graduated second only to one in his class. From 1829 until 1834, he
served as assistant engineer in the building of forts in the South, and
later was assistant astronomer; aiding in determining the boundary of
Ohio. When the Mexican war broke out he was appointed chief engineer for
the army under General Scott.
During this war he served with great distinction, being successively
breveted major, lieutenant-colonel and colonel, and was wounded once;
certain it is that Robert E. Lee gave ample proof of his ability in the
Mexican war. In the interim between the Mexican and Civil wars he served
his country in various ways, being for some three years superintendent
of the West Point Military Academy.
In 1855 two new regiments were formed. Of the second regiment Albert
Sidney Johnson was made colonel; Lee, lieutenant-colonel; Hardee and
Thomas, majors; Van Dorn and Kirby Smith, captains; among the
lieutenants were Stoneman and Hood. One can see that the officers of
that regiment were composed of men of no small calibre. When Lincoln was
elected Lee was in Texas, but he obtained a leave of absence and hurried
to his home in Virginia. General Lee was held in very high esteem by
General Scott, who was then at the head of all the Union armies. General
Scott was getting very old, too old for active service, and it is stated
that he felt strongly inclined to name Lee as his successor, but Lee had
other views on the question and he joined his fortune with that of the
South.
Perhaps a letter written to his sister will more clearly portray Lee's
convictions and motives at the breaking out of hostilities than
anything that can be found elsewhere in history:--"The whole South is in
a state of revolution into which Virginia has been drawn after a long
struggle; and though I recognize no necessity for this state of things
and would have forborne and pleaded to the end for redress of
grievances, real or supposed, yet in my own person I had to meet the
question whether I should take part against my native State. With all my
devotion to the Union and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American
citizen, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand
against my relatives, my children, my home."
These were the words of General Lee to his sister. The idea of certain
power reserved from the "central power," as they termed it, had been
inculcated since Jefferson and Madison drew up the Kentucky and Virginia
resolution in 1798. Upon these did Calhoun claim authority to rest
justified when he fostered the idea of State Rights. Had it not been for
a sudden wave of popular politics which swept Jefferson into power it
might have been Thomas Jefferson or James Madison who would have been
known in history as the author of the Nullification Acts which did not
come until Calhoun's day.
This doctrine had been taught in the South for several generations, and
had enlarged with rolling. The profitable use of slaves helped to
sustain it, and it is no wonder, to a careful observer, that these
people were carried away by rebellion, when he takes into consideration
these things, the characteristics of the people, etc. As it was with
Lee, so it was with the South, and despite assertions to the contrary,
we believe that Robert E. Lee was sincere, and not looking after glory
any more than other officers of recognized ability, who cast their
fortunes with the North.
Then, too, Lee gained his position at the head of the Southern army only
after one general had been killed, another wounded, and another stricken
with a paralytic stroke; he coming fourth in order.
On June 3d, 1862, Lee received his commission, and immediately launched
out upon a series of battles known as the seven-days battle, in which he
succeeded in driving McClellan from before Richmond. Pope was now placed
in command of the Union forces, and Lee signally defeated him in the
second battle of Bull Run. Now he attempted his first invasion of the
North, and was forced back in the battle of Antietam. Retreating into
Virginia, he massed his forces at Fredericksburg. The North being
dissatisfied with the slow manner in which McClellan was following Lee,
placed Burnside in command, who attacked Lee in his position, but was
signally repulsed by the Confederates. He next met Hooker at
Chancellorsville, and again success attended the standard of Lee.
Flushed with the great victories of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville,
Lee once more started on an invasion of the North. Meade was now put at
the head of the Union forces, who at once started in pursuit. They met
at Gettysburgh, Pennsylvania. Three long days of terrible fighting
resulted in the repulse of Lee, and he retreated south in good order.
When he reached the Potomac he found it impassable. If Meade had
followed Lee up now he might have gained a glorious victory, but he
allowed Lee to escape into Virginia.
General Grant was now placed at the head of the Union forces and Lee
found he had other metal with which to deal. Grant was not only made of
different material but he could profit by the experience of his
predecessors. Then, too, Grant had the great resources of the North
behind him and the confidence of President Lincoln. Lee could never
replace the 30,000 veterans lost at Gettysburg, but Grant could lose
later 80,000 and the government was amply able to replace three times
that number. Grant now commenced to starve Lee out, to wear the
Confederacy threadbare. The history of the war from now until the close
of the war is a series of flanking movements carried on by two most
skillful generals. At last Lee was obliged to surrender on the 9th of
April, 1865.
After the war he became president of Washington and Lee University, his
great popularity and good management gaining for it a large patronage.
He died on the 12th of October, 1870.