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Although an outstanding student at Alexandria Academy, where he excelled in mathematics, Robert was unable to afford a university education, so the only option available to him was a slim possibility of an appointment to the United States Military Academy. Through the services of the family's councellor, William H. Fitzhugh of Ravensworth, Robert obtained a letter of recommendation and personally delivered it to John C. Calhoun, then the Secretary of War.  Robert was successful, and he was appointed March 11, 1824, to begin studies the following year for the graduating class of 1829 (Freeman, pp. 12-13).  His conduct at West Point during his four years there was exemplary.  At the top or near it in every field of study, he would attain the unheard-of rank of cadet staff sergeant at the end of his first year, and be selected adjutant, the most sought-after rank, during his final year.  When he graduated in 1829, he was ranked second (behind Charles Mason), and had no demerits (Freeman, pp. 15-19).

Although an outstanding student at Alexandria Academy, where he excelled in mathematics, Robert was unable to afford a university education, so the only option available to him was a slim possibility of an appointment to the United States Military Academy. Through the services of the family's councellor, William H. Fitzhugh of Ravensworth, Robert obtained a letter of recommendation and personally delivered it to John C. Calhoun, then the Secretary of War.  Robert was successful, and he was appointed March 11, 1824, to begin studies the following year for the graduating class of 1829 (Freeman, pp. 12-13).  His conduct at West Point during his four years there was exemplary.  At the top or near it in every field of study, he would attain the unheard-of rank of cadet staff sergeant at the end of his first year, and be selected adjutant, the most sought-after rank, during his final year.  When he graduated in 1829, he was ranked second (behind Charles Mason), and had no demerits (Freeman, pp. 15-19).

Despite his high bearing, he made friends easily and no one of record took a dislike to him.  By this time he had become a handsome young man; with manners to match; he was referred to as "the marble model" at the academy.  One cadet spoke years later of Lee: "His personal appearence surpassed in manly beauty that of any cadet in the corps.  Though firm in his position and perfectly erect, he had none of the stiffness so often assumed by men who affect to be very strict in their ideas of what is military" (Freeman, pg. 17).

Despite his high bearing, he made friends easily and no one of record took a dislike to him.  By this time he had become a handsome young man; with manners to match; he was referred to as "the marble model" at the academy.  One cadet spoke years later of Lee: "His personal appearance surpassed in manly beauty that of any cadet in the corps.  Though firm in his position and perfectly erect, he had none of the stiffness so often assumed by men who affect to be very strict in their ideas of what is military" (Freeman, pg. 17).

He selected the Engineering Corps after graduation, the branch of the Army considered most elite, but his first duty station was far from it.  Cockspur Island, Georgia, at the mouth of the Savannah River, where he labored for days in mosquito-infested mud building the drainage dikes and canal that became part of Fort Pulaski (TL 8, pg. 12).

He selected the Engineering Corps after graduation, the branch of the Army considered most elite, but his first duty station was far from it.  Cockspur Island, Georgia, at the mouth of the Savannah River, where he labored for days in mosquito-infested mud building the drainage dikes and canal that became part of Fort Pulaski (TL 8, pg. 12).

Lee then set to work at finding a path to Mexico City over ground which was difficult, but not impossible, for Scott's army to pass over.  A series of engagements took place on the route, among them an attack on Cerro Gordo.  Scott's plan for action called for an infantry assault simultaneous with an artillery bombardment; Lee was to lead a brigade around the northern flank to cut off the enemy's retreat.  Before nightfall took place on April 18, 1847, some 3,000 Mexican soldiers had surrendered, and the remainder were in flight to the rear; the leader of the Mexican force, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, had barely managed to escape (Freeman, pp. 61-62).

Lee then set to work at finding a path to Mexico City over ground which was difficult, but not impossible, for Scott's army to pass over.  A series of engagements took place on the route, among them an attack on Cerro Gordo.  Scott's plan for action called for an infantry assault simultaneous with an artillery bombardment; Lee was to lead a brigade around the northern flank to cut off the enemy's retreat.  Before nightfall took place on April 18, 1847, some 3,000 Mexican soldiers had surrendered, and the remainder were in flight to the rear; the leader of the Mexican force, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, had barely managed to escape (Freeman, pp. 61-62).

"I am impelled to make special mention of the services of Captain R.E. Lee," Scott wrote in one of his reports. "This officer, greatly  distinguished at the siege of Vera Cruz, was again indefatigable during these operations (Cerro Gordo), in reconnaissance as daring as laborious, and of the utmost value."  The recognition also met that Robert was placed ahead of fellow soldiers who served with him in Mexico, among them [[P.G.T Beauregard]], [[Joseph E. Johnston]], and [[Thomas J. Jackson]] (Nagel, pg. 249).  Scott would rely heavily on Lee in the next few months, as Mexico City was finally taken in September, again with Lee making observations of enemy terrain and using it to his advantage.  He would be breveted to major before the war drew to a close, and brevetted again to lieutenant colonel at its close; Scott would call him "the very best soldier that I ever saw in the field" (Freeman, pg. 76).

"I am impelled to make special mention of the services of Captain R.E. Lee," Scott wrote in one of his reports. "This officer, greatly  distinguished at the siege of Vera Cruz, was again indefatigable during these operations (Cerro Gordo), in reconnaissance as daring as laborious, and of the utmost value."  The recognition also met that Robert was placed ahead of fellow soldiers who served with him in Mexico, among them [[P.G.T Beauregard]], [[Joseph E. Johnston]], and [[Thomas J. Jackson]] (Nagel, pg. 249).  Scott would rely heavily on Lee in the next few months, as Mexico City was finally taken in September, again with Lee making observations of enemy terrain and using it to his advantage.  He would be brevetted to major before the war drew to a close, and brevetted again to lieutenant colonel at its close; Scott would call him "the very best soldier that I ever saw in the field" (Freeman, pg. 76).

==Between the wars==

==Between the wars==

In 1855 Lee was sent to Texas, serving Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston of the 2nd Cavalry. There he helped protect settlers from Indian attacks.  Lee was not happy to be away from his family for extended periods of time, as Mary's invalidity was increasing.  On the death of his mother-in-law in 1859 he was forced to leave Texas and serve as executor of the estate.

In 1855 Lee was sent to Texas, serving Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston of the 2nd Cavalry. There he helped protect settlers from Indian attacks.  Lee was not happy to be away from his family for extended periods of time, as Mary's invalidity was increasing.  On the death of his mother-in-law in 1859 he was forced to leave Texas and serve as executor of the estate.

In October of 1859, a crisis erupted at the Federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry in northern Virginia; a fanatical abolisionist named John Brown and a small force of 21 men held some sixty hostages; there was the threat that Brown was hoping for a general slave revolt.  As the nearest ranking officer, Lee was ordered to the area, where he commanded U.S. Marines in the storming of the arsenal, wounding Brown and capturing or killing the rest.

In October of 1859, a crisis erupted at the Federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry in northern Virginia; a fanatical abolitionist named John Brown and a small force of 21 men held some sixty hostages; there was the threat that Brown was hoping for a general slave revolt.  As the nearest ranking officer, Lee was ordered to the area, where he commanded U.S. Marines in the storming of the arsenal, wounding Brown and capturing or killing the rest.

"I can anticipate no greater calamity for the country than a dissolution of the Union," Lee said in a letter to his son.  "I will sacrifice everything but honor for its preservation."  Such thoughts went through his mind during the sixteen months following John Brown's raid; by April, 1861 seven states had seceded over the longs years of the slavery and states rights questions.  On April 18, 1861, four days after the fall of Fort Sumter,  Lieutenant General Winfield Scott offered Lee command of all Union forces assembling for the insurrection.  "I could take no part in an invasion of the southern states," was his reply, and Lee resigned his commission, ending more than thirty years of service (Smith, pp. 84-87).  A fortnight later, Virginia herself seceded, and Lee, feeling a duty to his "native state", offered his services.

"I can anticipate no greater calamity for the country than a dissolution of the Union," Lee said in a letter to his son.  "I will sacrifice everything but honor for its preservation."  Such thoughts went through his mind during the sixteen months following John Brown's raid; by April, 1861 seven states had seceded over the longs years of the slavery and states rights questions.  On April 18, 1861, four days after the fall of Fort Sumter,  Lieutenant General Winfield Scott offered Lee command of all Union forces assembling for the insurrection.  "I could take no part in an invasion of the southern states," was his reply, and Lee resigned his commission, ending more than thirty years of service (Smith, pp. 84-87).  A fortnight later, Virginia herself seceded, and Lee, feeling a duty to his "native state", offered his services.

==The Civil War==

==The Civil War==

[[Image:Lee5.jpg|thumb|200px|right|General Robert E. Lee as he looked during the war.]]

[[Image:Lee5.jpg|thumb|200px|right|General Robert E. Lee as he looked during the 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 adviser 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.

====Final year of the war====

====Final year of the war====

:''"I'm afraid they're going to get me a general I don't understand."'' Lee, on the many changes of generals at the helm of the Army of the Potomac.

:''"I'm afraid they're going to get me a general I don't understand."'' Lee, on the many changes of generals at the helm of the Army of the Potomac.

In May 1864, Lee faced a proven fighter: [[Ulysses S. Grant]], just appointed as commanding general of all Union forces, who went after Lee with enormous superiority in men, cavalry, and logistics.  For his part, Grant could neither defeat nor outmaneuver Lee during the next several months; Grant sustained losses of 50,000 men between May and June in the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House (nearby at Yellow Tavern, Lee would suffer the loss of Jeb Stuart, his favorite cavalry commander and most effective scout), the North Anna, and Cold Harbor (Lee, pp 124-125).   

In May 1864, Lee faced a proved fighter: [[Ulysses S. Grant]], just appointed as commanding general of all Union forces, who went after Lee with enormous superiority in men, cavalry, and logistics.  For his part, Grant could neither defeat nor outmaneuver Lee during the next several months; Grant sustained losses of 50,000 men between May and June in the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House (nearby at Yellow Tavern, Lee would suffer the loss of Jeb Stuart, his favorite cavalry commander and most effective scout), the North Anna, and Cold Harbor (Lee, pp 124-125).   

But Grant kept after him, his losses replaced by new recruits, while Lee’s army was draining in both men and supplies.  Lee had lost the initiative, and when Grant made a move toward the vital rail connection at Petersburg, Lee had no other choice but to place his starving men in defensive positions and endure a long siege; due to Lee’s mastery of engineering his field fortifications were able to hold the Federals back from June 1864, to April 1865.  By then, Lee knew it would be a matter of time before the lines would break.  

But Grant kept after him, his losses replaced by new recruits, while Lee’s army was draining in both men and supplies.  Lee had lost the initiative, and when Grant made a move toward the vital rail connection at Petersburg, Lee had no other choice but to place his starving men in defensive positions and endure a long siege; due to Lee’s mastery of engineering his field fortifications were able to hold the Federals back from June 1864, to April 1865.  By then, Lee knew it would be a matter of time before the lines would break.