Robert E Lee Accomplishments

The Civil War was fought by some of the most tactical minds the United States at that time. One such man was the Confederate general Robert E. Lee. Mr. Lee is arguably one of the most cunning leaders to have ever fought with or against the United States. Robert E. Lee was given limited men, limited supplies, and limited equipment to wage war against the Union (a military superpower at the time) and was able to drag the war out much longer than it ever should’ve lasted. Lee’s home life and childhood beginnings are what shaped him into the military mastermind he quickly became.

Robert Edward Lee was born in Virginia to Henry Lee (father) and Ann Hill Carter (mother). Both of Robert’s parents were very respected, wealthy people. His father was

Throughout the course of the war Lee is continuously called upon to lend his skills in the Corps of Engineers to General Scott. Lee was trusted with scouting and assessing routes for attack on the enemy forces (PBS.org). He soon gained the trust of much of the Army’s brass during the battle of Vera Cruz, where Lee was wounded. After the war Lee was held as an innovator for his battlefield tactics; General Scott was quoted to have said “He [Robert E. Lee] is the very best soldier that I have ever saw in the field”

Grant assumed command of the United States Army. Grant, being a graduate of West Point also, knew exactly what weaknesses to attack of Lee’s and put all of his time and resources into driving the Confederate Army back. Grant knew Lee’s army was hard pressed for men, food, ammunition, and other necessary resources to wage war and used this to his advantage. Despite Lee’s ability to fight a war of attrition against Grant, his actions were all but futile. In the summer of 1864 Lee’s forces were resorting to trench warfare outside of Petersburg; it was at this time that Lee realized he fighting a war that he had no hope of winning. Lee was able to drag the war on for another year, but eventually had to count his losses and surrender to the Union Army at Appomattox Court House; thus effectively ending the Civil War (civilwar.org). Lee had to focus now, like he had during his childhood, on the