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Robert E. Lee's Role In The Civil War

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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 …show more content…

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

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General Robert Edward Lee served as a military officer in the U.S. Army, was a West Point commandant and was the legendary general of the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Robert E. Lee was born on January 19, 1807 in Stratford Hall, Virginia. Lee. He grew up in Northern Virginia with his mother and eight other siblings. His father, Henry Lee, left Robert, and his siblings, when he was six and died when Robert was 11.

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There have been many prominent leaders that have molded America into what it is today, Lee is one of them. Robert E. Lee was born in Virginia, January 19, 1807, although one historian believes has was born one year earlier (Wikipedia.com 1). Little is actually known about his childhood, and Lee scarcely mentioned it as an adult. His father, Henry “Light Horse” Lee, left him and his family at a young age and never returned. In 1825, Robert E. Lee attended West Point and graduated second in his class in 1829.

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Born to Revolutionary War hero Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee in Stratford Hall, Virginia, Robert Edward Lee seemed destined for military greatness. Despite financial hardship that caused his father to depart to the West Indies, young Robert secured an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated second in the class of 1829. Two years later, he married Mary Anna Randolph Custis, a descendant of George Washington 's adopted son, John Parke Custis. Yet with for all his military pedigree, Lee had yet to set foot on a battlefield. Instead, he served seventeen years as an officer in the Corps of Engineers, supervising and inspecting the construction of the nation 's coastal defenses.

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Source Review of Correspondence of Surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia Grant, Ulysses S. Grant & Lee: The Surrender Correspondence at Appomattox (Official Records of the War of the Rebellion) 1865. http://www.civilwar.org/ Text. Web.

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Robert E. Lee lost his will to fight. Lee wrote a letter to Jefferson Davis (Confederate President) telling him that he was dissatisfied with himself. (Document C) This letter was written August 8, 1863, AFTER the Battle of Gettysburg. (Document C)

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It was April 9, 1865 and Robert E. Lee is meeting Ulysses S. Grant in Appomattox Courthouse. The Civil War was winding down and the Confederate troops were dwindling. Their supplies were almost gone and almost all hope was lost for the Confederate States of America. The Union forces outnumbered them almost 3 to 1. Lee knew that now the best thing to do was to surrender his troops.

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Then, taking full responsibility for the defeat, he wrote Jefferson Davis offering his resignation, which Davis refused to accept. Lee was forced to surrender his weary and depleted army to Grant at Appomattox Court House, effectively ending the Civil War. Lee and his army accomplished great victory during the Peninsula Campaign and at Second Bull Run (Manassas) and Fredericksburg, with his tremendous victory coming in the bloody Battle of

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Lee once said, “It would be useless and therefore cruel, to provoke the further effusion of blood and I have arranged to meet with General Grant with a view to surrender." After four years of fighting the Civil War, Lee knew it was time to put an end to the fighting. Shortly after noon on April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant,

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It has been a long 4 months since blood has been shed in the, already finished, Battle of Gettysburg. The battle lasted three long, hellish days, of blood, sickness, amputated limbs, death and everything else that comes along with war. For all that I know, General Lee is completely insane to have tried to invade the North; why would he do that? Already contradicting what I have previously said, insanity is not really the word; overconfidence would be it. Seeing as though he came from a series of wins, it is not a surprise that General Lee would become overconfident, but with overconfidence comes the sense that victory is guaranteed; which is not.

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Robert E. Lee’s (1807-1870) contribution to the United States as a war general and commander received positive connotations for his commitment, attitude and inspiration on the battlefield. However, it is debateable about his contributions because of Robert Lee’s association in the Civil War (1861-1865) to the Confederate Army that fought for the Southern States. Robert Lee lead many successful campaigns and battles including the following; helping defeat Mexican armies that lead to U.S land gains and westward expansion, battles against a more powerful army in the Civil War. Despite these achievements Lee’s loyalty for the Confederate Army that fought to uphold slavery undermines his success and is highly debateable about whether his contribution is justified or not. Robert Lee’s contributions to his nation begin before the Civil War in the Mexican-American War (1846-1848).

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Grant and Lee It all began in April 1865. Two of the greatest Americans decided to meet, and wrestle the thought of what needed to be done to end the Civil War. Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee had important similarities, but also had differences. Both men had superior characteristics that helped them make the decisions they did during the Civil War.

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Lee decided to take a new approach at the Union. It did not go as planned, and the Confederates led out with no success. Robert E. Lee was to never again take offensive in the

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