General Robert E. Lee

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1

On January 19, 1807 at Stratford Hall, Westmoreland County, Virginia, Robert Edward Lee was born to Henry and Ann Lee. In Robert’s boyhood, his father faced immense debts, debtors’ prison and poor health. When Robert was at the tender age of eleven, his father died after being kicked by a mule.

Despite her husband’s poor role model, Robert’s godly mother taught him values of respect, faith, self-control, responsibility, honesty, integrity and careful management. Robert strongly admired General George Washington. His mother encouraged such traits as Washington had and taught her son to be a godly gentleman. The “Lees of Virginia” had held a high social standing in Virginia for one hundred and fifty years, so of course Robert also received an outstanding formal education.

Shortly after Henry’s sudden death, Ann Lee’s health began to slowly decline. Robert Lee invested many evenings after school shopping, cooking or lovingly taking his mother for a carriage ride. He showed traits of selflessness and servanthood by spending his free time with his invalid, widowed mother.

In 1825, Robert Lee was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Ann Lee’s years of teaching had not been avail; Robert’s valuable boyhood lessons served him well. Among other characteristic traits, Lee possessed neatness, diligence, good conduct and patience. During his four years at West Point, Lee received no demerit marks. In fact, Robert held the highest status possible – cadet adjutant. Lee was always in the top five students for all four years at the military school.

Lee, who graduated second in the 1829 class, was not your usual youth. Because of Lee’s high standing character and education, he was commissioned as Engineer of Corps upon graduation. Most of his assignments took him to the wild west where he was lonely for civility.

In 1831, Lee’s job took him to the home of his childhood friend, Mary Anne Randolph Custis. In 1831 at the age of 24, Lee married Miss Custis, who was a year younger than himself. Robert and Mary’s first child, George Washington Custis Lee, was born in 1832. In the following years, the couple would have six more children: Mary (1835), William Henry Fitzhugh (1837), Ann (1839), Agnes (1841), Robert Edward, Jr. (1843) and Mildred (1845). Robert Lee adored his children and taught them many of the same lessons his own mother had taught him.

Ann Lee’s influence upon her son’s character was evident during the Mexican War (1846-1848), among other times. Lee’s commanders respected him for courageously making treacherous journeys alone over lava-filled, enemy-held land to give other commanders vital information. Lee repeatedly won distinction for conduct and bravery. He received the brevets of Major for Cerro Gordo, Lieut.-Colonel for Contreras-Churubusco and Colonel for Chapultepec. The United States promoted him to Colonel.

When the Mexican War ended in 1848, Lee soon returned to his engineering work in WashingtonD.C. and Baltimore. Along with his wife and seven children, Lee resided at Arlington Plantation in Virginia.

In 1852, Lee was appointed superintendent to West PointMilitaryAcademy. During his three years there, he carried out many important changes to the academy. Among his students, was his son, G.W. Custis Lee, his nephew, Fitzhugh Lee and J.E.B. Stuart, all of whom became Confederate generals in the Civil War. Professor C.A. Graves of West Point said of Lee, “There was one place where General Lee could always be seen and that was at the daily service in the college chapel.”

In 1855 he was appointed as Lieut.-Colonel to the 2nd Cavalry, driving the Indians away from the Texas border. While at Arlington on leave in 1859, he was summoned to command the United States troops sent to deal with the John Brown raid at Harper’s Ferry.

In early 1861, Lee was offered the commission of Commanding General of the entire United States Army. However, Virginia had succeeded; Lee cast his lot with his own state after hours of reflection and prayer.

After sending a letter of resignation to the United States Secretary of War, Lee offered his services to his state and new country, The Confederate States of America. President Jefferson Davis immediately appointed Lee as Major General of the Army of Northern Virginia. With his faithful horse Traveller, Lee left his family and Arlington Plantation to serve his state yet again.

As a responsible general, Lee not only cared about the physical well-being of his soldiers, but also their spiritual condition. He pained himself that each soldier had a Bible, Prayer book and Catechism.

Although Lee’s military tactics may have seemed idiotic, most trusted his military skills. He led his troops in many battles including Seven Day’s, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor and the Siege of Petersburg. His troops faithfully obeyed his commands and followed wherever he led them. His men affectionately called him “Marse Robert” or “Bobby Lee”.

General T.J. “Stonewall” Jackson said to Col. Boteler of Lee: “So great is my confidence in General Lee that I am willing to follow him blindfolded.” Later, when Jackson was fatally wounded and his arm was amputated, General Lee tearfully told a chaplain friend, “Give him my affectionate regards…He has lost his left arm, but I have lost my right.”

Life as a soldier wasn’t easy for General Lee, but he bore his duties manfully. Adam Thompson, owner of http://www.christianlegacy.info said of Lee: "If I had to describe Lee in one word, it would be: Duty. Lee was a man who, in every circumstance, strove to fulfill his duty, as he saw it from the Bible."

Although Lee was a capable general, the South was running short on supplies and men. Because there weren’t any men to take the place of those who fell in battle, General Lee felt duty called him to surrender. Lee stated, “There is nothing left for me to do, but to go and see General Grant, and I would rather die a thousand deaths.” On April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee surrendered to US General Grant at the Appomattox Courthouse.

Lee’s Farewell Speech to his army ran as follows, “After four years of arduous service, marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources…You may take with you the satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty faithfully performed, and I earnestly pray that a merciful God will extend to you his blessing and protection.”

As Lee saluted his men and galloped towards Richmond, and his men, with tears running down their faces, cheered themselves hoarse.

Following the war, General Lee set up his family’s residence in Richmond as the Union had brutally taken possession of Arlington Plantation. In October 1865, Lee was elected President of Washington College* in Lexington, Virginia. The family now moved to Lexington to a modest home the college provided. During his years there Lee once stated, “I dread the thought of any student going away from the College without becoming a sincere Christian.”

In the fall of 1870 Lee suffered a stroke and on October 12, he passed into Glory. General Lee’s last words, on the day of his death, were, “Tell Hill he must come up. Strike that tent!” He was buried underneath Lee Chapel at Washington and Lee University, where his body remains today. General Lee’s famous horse Traveller outlived him and was buried next to Lee Chapel in 1871.

*Now Washington & Lee College

Excellent Books About Lee I've Read

A Confederate Trilogy for Young Readers: The Life of Gen. Robert E. Lee, Lt. Gen. T.J. "Stonewall" Jackson, Major Gen. J.E.B Stuart by Mary L. Williamson

The Recollections and Letters of General Robert E. Lee (Civil War Library) by Robert Edward Lee, Jr.

Robert E. Lee on Leadership: Executive Lessons on Character, Courage and Vision by H.W. Crocker, III

Robert E. Lee: Virginian Soldier, American Citizen by James I. Robertson, Jr.

Call of Duty: The Sterling Nobility of Robert E. Lee (Leaders in Action Series) by J. Steven Wilkens and George Grant