Robert Edward Lee was a great leader for many reasons. Everywhere he went he gained the respect of his peers and even his enemies. This was due to all of his accomplishments in his early career at West Point, and through his service in both the Mexican American War and the Civil War. Lee’s tactics are revered by many and still analyzed today. The traits and principles he carried with him during his career allowed him to succeed, and rise above his peers.
Robert E. Lee was bound for military greatness from his birth on January 19, 1807, in Stratford Hall, Virginia. Robert E. Lee was the fourth child born to Colonel Henry and Ann Lee. His family came from Virginia aristocracy. Robert’s mother, Ann Hill Carter, came from one of the wealthiest families in Virginia, and his father, Henry “Light-horse Harry” Lee, served as a governor of Virginia and had earned respect and friendship from George Washington, as a commander during the American Revolutionary War. Henry Lee made a series of bad financial investments which led him in debtors prison. This caused his wife to move to a house in Alexandria because he could no longer provide for them. His extended family members included a president, a chief justice of the United States, and signers of the Declaration of Independence. His family's history made him want to do some admirable with his life. His acceptance into West Point Military Academy gave him that opportunity.
Lee enrolled at West Point Military Academy in the summer of 1825. Thats where he put in serious work, and started a good reputation for himself. Life as a cadet was not easy by any means. West Point helped him develop a strong work ethic and made him realize that success is not always dependent on perfection, but instead...
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...Once the war ended Lee was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
Later, in 1852, Lee became the superintendent at West Point. This opportunity honed his leadership skills, not only in the military world but also in academics. Many of his students at West Point went on to later fight against Lee in the Civil War. This is where J.E.B. Stuart and John Bell Hood became an important part of his life. Lee also showed great instincts both as a commander and as a father figure for many of the students. He would hold meetings every Saturday with young cadets at his home. His wife and daughters would entertain the guests as Lee would try to instill the importance of the education that these young men were receiving. He made a point of knowing each cadet by name and being aware of their progress or lack of. This experience really prepared him for leading the South in the Civil War.
Robert E. Lee was the best General for the South, and out smarted every Union General that was put against him. To The South, Lee is like a godly figure to them. He inspired The South even when the North controlled the battlefield, and is still thought highly of by some people in the confederate states. To the North, Lee was a traitor and even lost his citizenship. Although he lost, Lee is still a giant face in history.
In 2003, Roy Blount Jr. published the book Robert E. Lee through the Penguin Group Inc. This book is different then other books published about Lee due to the fact that this book looks behind the man in uniform, and shows how Lee became the legend that we know today. Blount brings an element of humor that some would not expect to find when writing about Lee. Through this type of writing, Lee transforms into the everyday person who we all can relate to.
Even though McClellan wasn’t very good at letting his men go and making decisions, he was great at bringing the men’s spirits up when they were down. Every man under his command loved and cherished George B. McClellan. Stonewall was also respected by his men but not loved like McClellan. The name Stonewall Jackson put fear into the hearts of the Union soldiers, and he was respected for that.
Robert E Lee is very quick and smart. He knows how to improve the quality of troops and to nullify the Union’s advantage. Lee is willing to make bold and risky moves, and does not let his defeats hinder his performance. General Lee has great relations with his soldiers, and uses his engineering experience to his advantage.
Social inequality was one of the fundamental differences between the two men. Lee was an aristocrat who believed in traditional chivalry. This belief had become historically antiquated because America became the land of change. In America, the aristocratic society was slowly being replaced by an industrious and forward thinking society. (Catton 429) He also believed in the establishment and the maintenance of a clear cut social order between each class of individual. Catton wrote, “In such a land Lee stood for the feeling that it was somehow of advantage to human society to have a pronounced inequality in the social structure” (429). In contrast, Grant believed that everyone had the opportunity to succeed in society and that everyone had the same opportunities. Catton wrote, “No man was born to anything, except perhaps to a chance to show how far he could rise. Life was a competition” (430).
In conclusion, although some people might think that he was just a general; the best years of his life were after the war for two main reasons. First, he changed education. But most importantly, he changed the minds of the south. Without Lee’s character during his last five years, the south might have been in chaos. Lee shows evidence to the power of healing, and the difference education can make. This man truly represents what a true christian was, and should be studied for ages to come, but as the man he was, as opposed to the general. The last years of this mans life are by far the most amazing, and should get just as much attention as his years in the war.
Military Leadership is always an important factor in wars. Good commanders will accomplish the goals of their side while inferior generals will only hinder performance and fail their leader. However, not all great generals are victorious. Victories depend heavily on the availability of resources. Leadership does not relate to the supplies one has to draw from, but instead the personal traits of the man himself. General Robert E. Lee is a prime example of an excellent general whose brilliance was impeded by the Confederate’s lack of resources. General Ulysses S. Grant’s genius is rebuffed when compared to that of Lee’s.
(TS) Stonewall Jackson was a military strategist and confident leader in the confederate army, Stonewall isn’t his first name but he earned it through his stern and impressive coordination of his men. Though he sided with the not so appreciated side of the war he is undoubtedly one of the better Generals in the war. Unfortunately he died due to one of his men shooting him by accident. His life was filled with peril and success like everyone else and died like everyone does.
...f a Christ Figure to the defeated southerners and he provided an excellent example that good people can loose and still retain their dignity. Robert E. Lee, the perfect southern gentleman, has grown in American legend to become both a figure of interest and inspiration. His achievements before, during and after the war propelled him to win the hearts of both Northerners and Southerners throughout America’s history.
Robert E. Lee has been regarded by many historians as one of the greatest American generals and military engineers in U.S. history. He revolutionized the tactic of trench warfare that would be widely used in World War I. Also, Lee was able to defeat much larger Union armies with command of a much smaller force of troops using astute military tactics and strategies.
The three generals that led in the Battle of the Wilderness were very bright generals. Robert Edward Lee (the confederates leader) was born in Stratford hall, VA on January 19th, 1807 and died on October 12, 1870 in Lexington city, VA. Robert was raised by Anne Hill Carter Lee (mother) and Henry Lee III (father). He grew up with his sister Sydney smith Lee. After Robert graduated west point military academy (finished second in his class). He got married to Mary Anna Custis in the summer of 1830. Together they bore 7 kids. Robert was favored to do great things in the military just like his father (“light-horse Harry”). He was part of the Mexican-American war (in 1864) and was a Confederate General for many battles of the civil war including The Battle of the Wilderness. Lee was joined by his horse Traveller.Two days before the first attack started, causing the start of the Battle of the Wilderness, Robert E. Lee had already begun scouting George G. Meade’s troops. On May 4th, L...
He was not "dignified" in the way that General Lee was, though rough and ready, he was always a gentleman, in the best meaning of the word. He was proud of his soldiers and his work, and ambitious to do his utmost for his country. He had so great a faith in the Union cause that he never for a moment lost hope that in the end it would succeed.
Standing in a crowd of hundreds, anxious about what is to come—combat; waiting for a man whose reputation greatly precedes him…the man who will lead you into battle—into a nightmare. As he took the microphone and declared, “you are here because you are real men and all real men like to fight.” These words are those of General George Patton…and he has your attention. Inspirational and blunt are just a couple of the many terms used to describe General Patton. General Patton was also a visionary in employment of combat forces; in fact, he was an expert on the subject. The manner in which he led his troops was in itself visionary. Despite his military prowess and formidable leadership, General Patton was humble in leadership and intellect. These three attributes will demonstrate that he was above all, a visionary and ethical leader.
Lee”). By 1855, he had returned to military service, where he would remain through the Civil War’s entirety, fighting for American forces in the Mexican-American War until 1861, when he resigned to lead the Confederate Army in the Civil War (“Robert E. Lee” Washington and Lee University). Lee had been offered command of both Union and Confederate forces, but chose the Confederates, as he was a Virginian. After the war and much consideration, he accepted the position of president of Washington College. Lee was focused on expanding educational opportunities. By bringing a law school to Washington College, increasing emphasis on the sciences, as well as adding programs in business and journalism, Lee essentially created the concept of college majors. He also imposed an honor system, stressing that every student “ought to be a gentleman”, which is followed closely and revered by students and staff of the college to the present day (“Robert E. Lee” Washington and Lee University). After his death, Washington College became Washington and Lee University because Lee had had such a positive impact on the university (“Robert E. Lee”). Despite his many accomplishments in war, Lee would be better remembered for his legacy on education. He was a highly skilled military leader, yet he led the losing side. Seeing defeat for what
Robert E. Lee was born in Stratford, Virginia. Robert was the fourth child of Major General Henry Lee III, Governor of Virginia, and of his mother, Anne Hill Carter who was an ancestor of Thomas Moore and King Robert II of Scotland through the Earls of Crawford.(Brasington Jr.,Larry) Robert was mainly brought up by his mother who taught him about authority, tolerance, and order. Robert was exposed to Christianity at an early age and learned to accept it devotedly. In 1825, Robert was accepted to West Point. There he learned about warfare and how it was fought. In 1829, Robert graduated 2nd of 46 in his class, but even more extraordinary is that he never got a demerit while attending West Point. Afterward, Lee was appointed to Superintendent at West Point from 1852 to 1855. After he served his appointment, Lee left West Point to become a Lieutenant Colonel in the 2nd Calvary of the Lone Star State (Texas).