Nik-Robert+E.+Lee

Confederate General Robert E. Lee

toc **Childhood**
 * Born in 1807, Robert E. Lee was born into a family of military soldiers. He was born in his home state of Virginia, in Stratford Hall. His father fought in the Revolutionary War, then proceeded to be the Governor of Virginia. But his father left his family when Robert was only six, leaving it up to his mother to raise him. There was not much information on him as a child until he entered the United States MIlitary Academy at West Point, New York in 1825. At the age of 18, the following of his father's footsteps, he joined the army as member of the Union. This would soon change as Gen. Lee came to defense out of pride for his home state of Virginia. **Click here for a [|short biography].

MIlitary Experience
After Joining the United States Army, and completing school in four years, General Lee went on to serve his country in the southwest in the Mexican American war. He served alongside General Winfield Scott in 1847, his opinion of lee was that he was an aspiring young general. After the Mexican American war, Lee took command of a cavalry unit in the US Army. One of the most famous of Robert Lee's missions in the cavalry unit was capturing John Brown at Harper's Ferry, VA. but General Lee was soon to make a big decision, to stay with the Union or defend his home state of Virginia in the Confederacy. Will he stay with his country that has brought him this far in life, or stay loyal to the state his father once governed?

Big Decision
Robert E.Lee made a decision that changed the war. He decided to trade sides, over to the Confederacy. This was a hard decision for him to make, but he did it and now must fulfill it. His reason fro the switch was teh loyalty he had for his home state of Virginia. His family history in the south played a major part in the decision, going against the state his father once governed would be a trajedy to him. Int he mind of Mr. Lee, this overcame the Union giving him all of his military training and experience in the battles of the Mexican American War. He started as the commander of the Virginian National Guard, or at that time their militia. Soon, Robert E. Lee would be known as the third highest ranking General in the Confederate States of America's Army.

In Command
Now one of commanders of the Confederate Army, Lee was one of the greater fears that faced the Union Army. His first battle in command was the Seven Day's Battle. Although this was his first victory, he suffered 20,000 casualties in this efforts. Along with "Stonewall" Jackson, General Lee fought at the battle of Chancellorsville. But this proved to be one battle that would wound the Confederates more than anything else. During this battle, Jackson was wounded and later died. But this did not stop General Lee from fighting, his next attempt to free the south was in the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. But Lee's aggressiveness was too much for even his army. He was then flanked from behind by the Union, losing the battle. After Union General George B. Mclellan was removed from his duties, he was replaced by, the future President General Ulysses S. Grant, alos known as "Unconditional Surrender Grant." After Gettysburg, the two met in Virginia. Both armies fought many battle as The y both moved further south. As both sides fought and refused to give in, Grant finally flanked Lee as he was moving south to meet up with more Confederate companies. General Lee was forced to surrender to to Grant at the Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.
 * Opposing General Grant**

Famous Surrender and Post War
On April 9th, 1865, General Robert E. Lee, and Ulysses S. Grant held a meeting in the village of Appomattox, in which, they discussed the terms if General Lee's surrender. The surrendered confederate officers and troops were paroled and forbidden to handle weapons, until all the confederate weapons had been secured by the Union as captured property. General Lee road disconsolately back to his lines, where he was greeted by his adoring, grieving troops. The following day, he bid adieu to his beloved army. After the Civil War, Lee returned to Richmond as a paroled prisoner of war. For the remainder of his life, he continued to be a role model for all Confederate veterans, and ex-Confederates. He became the President of Washington College in Lexington Virginia. Lee remained President of the College until his death on October 12th, 1870. The college has since then been renamed Washington and Lee College.

Robert E. Lee's In Gettysburg
Gettysburg is one of the most famous battles in the Civil War, and was one of the most successful ones for Robert E. Lee. The battle began on July 1st, 1863 and ended on July 3rd. Lee was able to save 698 acres of ground for the Confederate army. Lee's oppenant was Union general George G. Meade. Lee lead the Confederate forces which converged from the west and north into the town of Gettysburg, and drove the Union back through cemetary hill. After a struggling battle, two days later Lee attacked the union center on Cemetary Ridge. Lee had driven back the Union by causing several casualities after this attack. On Jully 4th Robert E. Lee began to withdraw hes troops from the battlefield. Although it was a great victory for Robert E. Lee he had a train of wounded troops behind him that stretched 14 miles.

Pictures[[image:picketts-charge-gettysburg[1].jpg width="346" height="319" align="right" caption="Lee's Picket Charge Attack"]]


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