Robert E. Lee, Confederate General
Friday January 19, 2007
Robert E. Lee was born on January 19, 1807. He was the son of Revolutionary War hero "Light Horse Harry" Lee. He attended the U.S. Military Academy and then proved himself in the Mexican-American War. Robert E. Lee actually opposed the U.S. Civil War until Virginia decided to secede from the Union. He chose then to fight for his home state and was appointed to be a General in the Confederate Army by President Jefferson Davis. He was put in charge of the Army of Northern Virginia. Even though he was on the losing side of the war, he was seen as a Southern hero and eventually lauded in the north for his valor and military tactics.
Comments
Lee was a great man that was also a great general. Humility and dignity was his trade mark. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson executed one of the most brillant campaigns of war the world has ever witnessed. Lee was the master planner and Jackson the executer. The “friendly fire” death of Jackson brought an end to this amazing partnership and doomed the Southern States in their quest to win the Second War of Independence.
A great, great man. If only he would have had adequate resources to wage a war against the invaders, Southers would live in a free country today.
God bless Geneal Lee……. His duty was but to God, family and Virginia.
If only there more like him in the world today……….
he was a man of great valor and extreme reverence… if it wasn’t for “stonewall” jackson’s death, then the outcome of the civil war would’ve been different, no?
It may be of interest to many to learn that Robert E. Lee is the only cadet, EVER, to have completed the entire course of study at West Point with no demerits. He was known as the “Marble Model”.
I, too, admire Lee greatly, but I find it so disheartening that most of the comments so far express wishes that the Unite Staes would have lost that horrible war!
Lee made his mistakes, as all military commanders do in some fashion or another. The war has been lost and it’s important to look at what we have gained, yet, there will always be a part of me and I would imagine most southerners that wishes we won the war. The current state of our nation speaks volumes to the failure of Federalism and Unionism.
Robert E. Lee did not have a great president behind him, did not have a great quartermaster corps, even a great transportation head. He had no naval protection and few skilled diplomats.
He discouraged and avoided the possibility of a guerilla war by surrendering. No one doubts his integrity,humility,and courage. Unlike many Union generals he did not seek the glory.This is why he has served as a model for southerners through the ages.