Changes

==The Civil War==

==The Civil War==

Lee was appointed commander in chief of all Confederate forces in Virginia, and among his tasks were to concentrate troops and logistics at places to repel any expected invasion.  During this time, Lee was driven out of western Virginia by a Union force under Major General George B. McClellan, thus holding the area for the Union (it would eventually become the state of West Virginia in 1863).  He was also among the few on both sides to realize that, instead of a short, decisive, and relatively bloodless conflict, this would be a long, bloody affair.  Lee served several rather unrewarding positions between July 1861 and June 1862, the last of which was military advisor to President Jefferson Davis; despite this he was able to work out a coherent strategy for the Confederate defense.

Lee was appointed commander in chief of all Confederate forces in Virginia, and among his tasks were to concentrate troops and logistics at places to repel any expected invasion.  During this time, Lee was driven out of western Virginia by a Union force under Major General George B. McClellan, thus holding the area for the Union (it would eventually become the state of West Virginia in 1863).  He was also among the few on both sides to realize that, instead of a short, decisive, and relatively bloodless conflict, this would be a long, bloody affair.  Lee served several rather unrewarding positions between July 1861 and June 1862, the last of which was military advisor to President Jefferson Davis; despite this he was able to work out a coherent strategy for the Confederate defense.

During McClellan’s Peninsular Campaign in May 1862, troops under Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston were being driven towards Richmond by the heavily equipped and organized Army of the Potomac.  To relieve the pressure on Johnston, Lee collaborated with Thomas J. (“Stonewall”) Jackson to turn several minor garrisons into a superb force which then struck at targets in the Shenandoah Valley; the surprised Federals were forced into retreating, leaving Washington under threat.  This in turn caused Lincoln to withhold from McClellan a large corps by which McClellan had planned to attack Richmond; on May 31, McClellan was attacked by Johnston’s forces at Fair Oaks.  Although inconclusive, Johnston was wounded and had to withdraw from active duty.  Davis then gave command to Lee.

During McClellan’s Peninsular Campaign in May 1862, troops under Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston were being driven towards Richmond by the heavily equipped and organized Army of the Potomac.  To relieve the pressure on Johnston, Lee collaborated with Thomas J. (“Stonewall”) Jackson to turn several minor garrisons into a superb force which then struck at targets in the Shenandoah Valley; the surprised Federals were forced into retreating, leaving Washington under threat.  This in turn caused Lincoln to withhold from McClellan a large corps by which McClellan had planned to attack Richmond; on May 31, McClellan was attacked by Johnston’s forces at Fair Oaks.  Although inconclusive, Johnston was wounded and had to withdraw from active duty.  Davis then gave command to Lee.

====Field command====

====Field command====

:''"It is well war is so frightful, otherwise we should become too fond of it"'' Lee, at the Battle of Fredericksburg.

:''"It is well war is so frightful, otherwise we should become too fond of it"'' Lee, at the Battle of Fredericksburg.

Within three weeks Johnston’s former command had been transformed into a new Army of Northern Virginia.  Lee transferred his headquarters to the field so as to be near his men.  When Jackson arrived with his men from the valley, Lee struck at McClellan on the north bank of the Chickhominy River, defeating the right wing and descending on McClellan’s supply line from his York River base.  This was the start of the Seven Days battles, which in a series of encounters McClellan was forced to withdraw his army to the wharves of Berkley Plantation, getting aid from vessels of the U.S. Navy.  The Seven Days was the first Confederate victory since First Bull Run, and Lee became a major hero.

Within three weeks Johnston’s former command had been transformed into a new Army of Northern Virginia.  Lee transferred his headquarters to the field so as to be near his men.  When Jackson arrived with his men from the valley, Lee struck at McClellan on the north bank of the Chickhominy River, defeating the right wing and descending on McClellan’s supply line from his York River base.  This was the start of the Seven Days battles, which in a series of encounters McClellan was forced to withdraw his army to the wharves of Berkley Plantation, getting aid from vessels of the U.S. Navy.  The Seven Days was the first Confederate victory since First Bull Run, and Lee became a major hero.