Biography of Robert E. Lee

Robert E. Lee was a man among men and a true southern gentleman. Lee was considered a leader of leaders. He was a God-fearing Christian who served the Lord all his life. This is his history.

Robert E. Lee is considered to be one of our greatest American heroes. Robert E. Lee was born in Virginia in 1807. He was the fourth generation of the Lee family; his father Henry Lee was known as the infamous “Light Horse Harry” of the Revolutionary war.

Lee grew up at Stratford Hall in Virginia, a stately brick mansion with a field of green grass in the front. It was an ideal place to live. There is not much to know how about Lee’s childhood because he never talked about it.

In 1824 Lee went to West-Point to learn how to lead and be a soldier. His education and training prepared Lee for his future. His heroes that he thought of while he was at West-Point were his dad and George Washington who were both fine leaders.

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After he graduated at West-Point in 1829, Lee joined the Army Corps of engineers. While he was stationed at Fort Monroe he married Mary Anne Custis on June 30, 1831, and they would eventually have seven children. It is interesting to note that his wife was the great granddaughter of Martha Washington. And her grandfather was the adopted son of George Washington.

In 1846 Lee fought in the Mexican War where he gained trust, leadership, and his men’s hearts. Lee won fame from the Scott’s army when he helped them capture Vera Cruz, a Mexican general, during the Mexican War.

Lee once stopped to help a Mexican boy who was hurt which showed to his men that all races were equal. He personally hated what war did to children. Lee convinced his men not to drink and smoke which sadly only a few took his wisdom.

After the Mexican War was over Lee became superintendent to West-Point which was the most prestigious rank over the academy. He emphasized teachings of the Bible and the importance of honoring your country. Not long after being called to West-Point, Lee was called while leaving Arlington, Virginia to lead the U.S. Marines to capture John Brown and the raiders of Harpers Ferry. John Brown and his gang had captured the Federal Arsenal hoping to incite the slaves. Lee and his army fought for only 2-minutes before winning the battle.

Once Lee heard that Texas was leaving the Union in 1861, he departed home to Virginia. As soon as Lee got home it is said that instead of hugging his own children he hugged a neighbor boy instead because the war took a lot of time away from seeing his children who were already grown men and women. His sons’ barely thought anything of him as a father but only considered him a loyal person to America. However Lee did prove that it takes a strong, God-fearing, biblical Christian man to lead a country at times of trouble.

When Virginia succeeded from the Union, Lee resigned from the Union Army of Virginia and assumed command of the Confederate Army. Abraham Lincoln offered Lee position of General of the Union Army, but Lee passed on the offer because he did not want to betray his state or his friends.

Lee purchased his favorite horse in 1862 for 200 dollars while he was in South Carolina. Lee named his new horse Traveller. Traveller had a muscular deep chest and a black mane along with his confederate gray colored hair. Traveller served 20-years with Lee in many battles and many other adventures. Traveller died not long after Lee died in 1871 after he stepped on a nail and developed tetanus. There was no cure for tetanus at that time so Traveller was put down on May8th, 1871 to be taken out of his misery.

During the war Lincoln and Lee talked some about trying to end the war peacefully. The confederate troops after 4-years of fighting finally agreed to surrender. Lee was able to convince his soldiers that life was more important than fighting for money and slaves. Only Lee’s most trusted soldiers and generals obeyed and took his wisdom. He said, “We must forget this war in order to pursue God’s plan for America”. General Lee was considered the greatest leader of the Civil War. Everyone even those on different sides, honored him as a general, as a person, and as a follower of Christ.

When Robert E. Lee finished the fighting in the Civil War he became the President of Washington College in Virginia. Later after Lee’s death, the name was changed to Washington and Lee University to honor him. When Lee visited South Carolina for the last time in his life, he was called affectionately “Uncle Robert” when walking through the state. At retirement Lee did a lot of work around his church. On October 12, 1870 Lee gave his last order while lying in a bed. He stated, “Strike the tent” which meant take it down, and then he breathed his last breath on this side of Heaven.