Marcus F. Wright's Civil War Bios - General Robert Edward Lee USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Submitted by: Marti Graham marti@rootsweb.com Posted by Ruth Price Waldbauer http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/Transcriptions/CivilWar/1907MarcusFWrightBios ------------------------------------------------------------------------- LEE p.581 LEE, GEN. ROBERT EDWARD, was born in Westmoreland county, Va., January 19, 1807. Educated at West Point, whence he graduated in 1829. Assigned to engineer corps of regular army with rank of second lieutenant. Served through the Mexican war as chief engineer of the army. The capture of Vera Cruz, and his successful assault on Chapultepee earned for him the acknowledgments of General Scott, and the title of brevet colonel. In 1852 was placed in command of Military Academy of West Point, where he remained for three years. In 1855 appointed lieutenant-colonel of second cavalry and ordered to Texas. In March, 1861, was promoted colonel of 1st cavalry, but resigned to join the fortunes of his native State, which had seceded. Appointed major-general of Virginia State troops at Richmond. In July, 1861, was made brigadier-general in Confederate army. Succeeded to command of army of Northern Virginia, after the wounding of General Joseph E. Johnston at Fair Oaks. Turned McClellan's flank by the battles of Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mill, Savage Station, and Malvern Hills, and compelled him to evacuate the Peninsula. On August 14, 1862, Lee took command on the Rapidan, and gaining the rear of Pope's army at Manassas, fought the second battle of Bull Run, forcing Pope back to Washington. On September 5, 1862, he began his invasion of Maryland, here he fought the battles of Sharpsburg or Antietam September 17. Retreated across the Potomac, and confronted the Union army under Burnside at Fredericksburg December 13, 1862, forcing Burnside to retreat across the Rappahannock. On May 1 and 2, 1863, he defeated part of Hooker's army at Chancellorsville. After Chancellorsville Lee invaded Pennsylvania, and was checked by the Union army under Meade July 1 to 3, at Gettysburg. He retreated across the Potomac. In May, 1864, he met the Union army under Grant, and fought the memorable battles of Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, during the flanking operations between the Rapidan and James River. From the spring of 1864 to that of 1865 his army operated within the Petersburg fortifications, and after the battle of Five Forks, he evacuated Petersburg and Richmond, and finally surrendered at Appomattox, April 9, 1865. He accepted the presidency of Washington and Lee University at Lexington, Va., and died there October 12, 1870.