Robert+E.+Lee

=__Robert E. Lee__= toc

Robert E. Lee was best known for being a general in the Confederate States army. Lee was also a colonel in the United States army from 1829-1861. He was a top graduate at West Point and he fought in two major battles and wars. He was born in 1807 and died in 1870 and was married to Mary Ann Randolph. The Washington College was renamed Washington and Lee College after his surrender at Appomattox Courthouse.

Early life
Before Robert E. Lee was a confederate general he fought in The Mexican War as a colonel. He became the Superintendent of the Military Academy in 1852. Jefferson Davis, Secretary of War, transferred Lee from staff to line,in 1855, and was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel 2nd Cavalry. Later Robert was sent to West Texas serving from 1857-1861. General Winfield Scott recalled Lee from Texas in February 1861 when the South seceded from the Union. This is when he became such a great general for The Confederacy.

Beginning of the War
Robert E. Lee returned to Richmond in March 1862 to become a military advisor for President Davis. General Lee always took charge and acted at once. He cut off supplies and reinforcements for the North. He also stopped McClellan's threat to Richmond during the Seven Day Battle which was from June 26-July 2,1861.

Greatest Victory
In May 1863 General Hooker was defeated by General Lee at the Battle of Chancellorsville. Hooker had two men for every one that Lee had. The battle lasted from May 1-5 1863. The bloodiest day was the third day, May 3, 1863. On the night of May 5, 1863 Hooker retreated from Chancellorsville after Lee had pressed his men forward. The Battle of Chancellorsville was Lee's greatest victory.

The Surrender
General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House. They agreed to meet on April 9, 1865 in the village of Appomattox Court House at the house of Wilmer McLean. The meeting lasted two and a half hours and by its conclusion the bloodiest war in the United States history came to its end. Robert E. Lee decided to surrender because he realized that all of his men were to weak and exhausted to fight in any more battles.

[[image:http://www.artrichmond.com/images/monument-avenue/MERCIE-ANTONIN_Robert-E-Lee_1890_mlb.jpg width="246" height="309" align="left" caption="Robert E. Lee Monument"]]
After the war was over Lee went to Richmond. He became the president of Washington College but was renamed Washington and Lee University because before he was the president for the school he was a very good well trained general. His example of counduct for thousands of ex-confederates made him a legend even be fore he died in 1870. Robert E. Lee died on October 12, 1870 and was buried at Lexington, Virginia.

Resources
1. "General Lee's Greatest Victory". __vamortgagecenter.com__. 2008. 22 October 2008 [| 2."Confederate General Robert E. Lee". __americancivilwar.com__. 21 October 2008 [| 3."Surrender at Appomattox". __eyewitnesstohistory.com__. 1997. 22 October 2008 [| 4. Garraty,John A., The Story of America. Austin, TX: Holt, Rinehart and Winston,1994