Robert E. Lee's Role In The Civil War

Robert E. Lee, one of the most strategic generals the world has ever seen, lost the war that would change America forever. He fought bravely throughout the civil war, but it wasn’t enough to crush the union side. Throughout his life he would live up to the military expectation his family had for him.
Born January 19, 1807 Robert E. Lee came from a very wealthy family. He was Henry Lee’s fifth child. His father, also called Light-Horse Harry, played a major role in the Revolutionary War. So, from Lee’s birth he “seemed destined for military greatness” (Robert E. Lee www.civilwar.org). To fulfill his family’s expectations he enrolled at the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated second in his class in 1829. He believed in

Lee respectfully declined because he could not abandon his beloved Virginia. Soon after this he resigned from the army. He could not fight against his own people. Lee was chosen by Governor John Letcher of Virginia to be the commander of Virginia. “From this position he was able to influence some operations, notably those of General Thomas ‘Stonewall’ Jackson in his Shenandoah Valley campaign” (Robert E. Lee www.civilwar.org). Victories were only won by Lee’s aggressiveness on and off of the battlefield. Lee endured the bloodiest days of the war and still kept urging his army on even until the very end. Even after the Battle Robert at Gettysburg, which almost completely destroyed his army, he pushed forward. After fighting a battle he made this remark to General James Longstreet, “It is well war is so terrible-we would grow too fond of it” (Robert E. Lee www.history.com). By 1865 the fate of the war was clear. The union had won the war. Lee hated to surrender, but he knew that was the only thing left to do. “ ‘I suppose there is nothing for me to do but go and see General Grant,’ he told an aide. ‘And I would rather die a thousand deaths.’ ” (Robert E. Lee www.biography.com). He surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. (Robert E. Lee www.history.com) (Robert E. Lee www.civilwar.org) (Robert E. Lee www.biography.com) (Johnson