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Robert Lee Accomplishments

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Robert Edward Lee didn’t have an exciting or special life growing up before the Civil War, however, as he got older, things changed and he became a special part of our country. Robert Edward Lee was born to Revolutionary War hero Henry “ Light-Horse Harry” Lee in Stratford Hall, Virginia on January 19, 1807 ( Civil War Trust ).Although he had a financial hardship that caused his father to depart to the West Indies, youthful Robert made a permanent appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated second in the class of 1829 ( Civil War Trust ).Two years following, him and Mary Anna Randolph Custis which was a descendant of George Washington’s adopted son, John Parke Custis, got married ( Civil War Trust ).Instead …show more content…

Robert served as military advisor to President Jefferson Davis until June 1862 when he was given command of the wounded General Joseph E. Johnston’s embattled army on the Virginia peninsula. He was offered command of the Federal Forces in April 1861 but instead accepted a general’s commission in the newly formed Confederate Army (Civil War Trust).However, when a displaced dispatch outlining the invasion plan was discovered by Union commander George McClellan the element of surprise was lost, and the two armies faced off at the battle of Antietam. Addicted to noticing Yankees run in the face of his aggressive troops, Lee attacked vicious Union positions on high ground. Following consistent Union victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, Mississippi, Ulysses S. Grant assumed command of the Federal armies (Civil War Trust). The attack known as Pickett’s charge was a defeat and Lee, recognizing the battle was lost, ordered his army to retreat. 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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