“A true man of honor feels humbled himself when he cannot help humbling others.” This quote was made in 1871 by one of the greatest generals and probably men in American History; Robert Edward Lee. Robert Edward Lee was a general in the American Civil War. He led his men and stood with them in each and every they were in and got many of them out safely.
Robert E. Lee was born on January 19, 1807 at Stratford in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was the youngest son of Major-General Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee and his second wife, Ann Hill (Carter) Lee. His siblings from his father’s first wife are Philip Ludwell Lee, Lucy Grymes Lee, Henry Lee, and Nathaniel Greene Lee. His siblings from his father's second wife are Algernon Sidney Lee, Charles Carter Lee, Anne Kinloch Lee, Sydney Smith Lee, and Catherine Mildred Lee.
Due to falling political prospects and monetary problems his family moved from their home in Stratford to a home in Alexandria, Virginia on the Potomac River. That is where he was raised. He attended grammar school, did many outdoor activities along the river such as fishing and swimming. He had many ties to Revolutionary War heros because his father had served.
Lee had determined he was going to follow the path of his father and be in the Army. So in 1825 he started his school term at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Four years later in 1829 Lee graduated, without a demerit against his name, 2nd in his class, a class of 46. He served as the cadet corps’ adjutant. He was later commissioned a brevet 2nd Lieutenant of Engineers.
Before the Mexican War he worked on engineering projects in Georgia, Virginia, and New York. During the war he was a member on the staffs of John Wool and Winfield Scott. Di...
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Battle of Fredericksburg. Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., 2008. Web. 18 Apr. 2011.
Battle of Antietam. Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., 2008. Web. 18 Apr. 2011.
Battle of Appomattox Court House. Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., 2008. Web. 18 Apr. 2011.
No matter how much something can differ some characteristics are shared. As strange as it sounds it’s very true, both Grant and Lee are two different yet similar people. As these two fights for what they believe in, though their beliefs are different they share some qualities. Ulysses S. Grant wanted the nation to expand and look forward towards the future. Robert E. Lee thought that an old aristocratic way of life was the better choice and that it can survive and dominant in American life.
Lee was born in Stratford, Virginia. Lee was the fourth child of General Henry Lee III, Governor of Virginia, and his mother, Anne Hill Carter, Lee was raised by his mother who taught him about authority, tolerance, and order. Lee was exposed to Christianity at an early age and devoted his life to god. In 1825, Lee was accepted into West Point. There he learned about warfare and how to fight. In 1829, Lee graduated 2nd of 46 in his class, but even more surprising is that he didn’t get a single demerit while attending West Point. Afterward, Lee was appointed as Superintendent of West Point from 1852 to 1855. After he served his term, Lee left West Point to become a Lieutenant Colonel in the 2nd Cavalry of Texas.
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.
There are always two sides to every story. What side you want to believe though, is up to you, what you think happened and who you trust more. During the civil war it was clean that there were two sides; the North and the South. What side you were on depended not on what you believed but by where you were from. For some people this was hard. They would believe that we could get rid of slaves and just wanted the war to end but since they were from Virginia they had to fight for the Confederacy. One of the men this happened to was Robert E. Lee. He was fighting with the Confederacy and his son was fighting with the Union. That alone would be hard and then you add to it that he did not want to fight, “I shall mourn for my country and for the welfare and progress of mankind.” He was very against the war, yet still fought in it. This is why most people fought in the civil war, yet it continued to go on, and on and on. A man that had a very big part and influence in the war was no other than Abraham Lincoln. Some say that it was thinks to him that the war ended because of his famous speech at the Battle of Gettysburg. Both Robert E. Lee and Abraham Lincoln were involved in the war and saw eye to eye on some things, but disagreed on others in their writings.
He ended up opening a painting shop near the Delaware River. He met Ben Franklin in Philadelphia. Franklin took Fulton up as a student and helped him lodge. Fulton found friends who built their own canals. He had met many great experimenters such as the earl of Stanhope.
General Stuart pursued his youthful studies at Emory and Henry college, and then entering the National military academy, West Point Academy, he then graduated in 1854, and was commissioned second lieutenant in October of that year. He served in Texas against the Apaches with the mounted riflemen until transferred to the new First cavalry in May, 1855, with which he served at Fort Leavenworth. November 14, 1855, he was married at Fort Riley to the daughter of Col. Philip St. George Cooke, and in the following month he was promoted first lieutenant. He remained on the frontier and in Kansas, and was wounded at the Indian battle of Solomon's River in 1857. At Washington, in 1859, he carried secret instructions to Col. R. E. Lee, and accompanied that officer as aide, against the outbreak at Harper's Perry, where he read the summons to surrender to the leader, theretofore known as "Smith," but whom he recognized at once as "Ossawatomie" Brown of Kansas.
America has had many people that have made a positive difference to this nation by showing perseverance and putting others first for the greater good for the cause. People from low levels of society and from high levels of society have contributed to change this to become great. Robert E. Lee and his family did not enjoy fantastic wealth (“American Experience”). Robert E. Lee had an impact on this nation from the military standpoint. He had many difficult choices and decisions to make, like to stay with Virginia or to lead the Union Army. Lee served his country with everything he had. He fought on the battlefield, and commanded troops to victories and defeats. Lee never complained about the situation he was in or gave up when the going got tough. How did Robert E. Lee’s successful military career affect his life and how is he considered a prominent figure in American history?
Robert Edward Lee was born in Virginia, the fifth child of Henry Lee. Robert E. Lee was second in is class at West Point in 1829 (‘Robert E. Lee”). In 1846, Lee got the chance he was waiting for his whole military career when the United States went to war with Mexico. In the war with Mexico, Lee served under General Winfield Scott. The aftermath of the U.S. victory from the Mexican
In 1845 the War between U.S. and Mexico erupted. General Winfield Scott, overall U.S. Army commander, attached Captain Robert E. Lee to his staff. Lee was intrusted with the vital duties of mapping out the terrain ahead, dividing the line of advance for the U.S. troops, and in one case leading troops into battle. Lee was learning skills he would need 16 years later. There in Mexico Lee also met, worked with, and got a chance to evaluate many of those he would later serve with and against; James Longstreet, Thomas J. Jackson, George Pickett, and U.S. Grant.
After the surrender at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865 Lee’s military career ended and thus his civilian life began when he returned to his family on April 15. Whatever happened, he had no desire to leave Virginia. "I cannot desert my native state in the hour of her adversity," he remarked to a friend. "I must abide her fortune, and share her fate" (Virginia Historical Society).
It was once stated that, "there can be no greater error committed, than for the leaders of a revolution to select for military commanders, those whose tastes and habits are formed under an entirely different organization of things,"(Headley 157). General Lee, became the perfect example of this. Born in 1732 and raised in England, Lee was fourteen when he became part of his father's regiment, the 55th foot. In 1754, Lee joined the 44th regiment and went to America to fight in the French and Indian War. During the time he was there he befriended the Seneca Indians and was given the name Ounewaterika, or "boiling water," due to his temperament. By the age of 27, Lee had been promoted major of the 103rd regiment. However, in 1772, Lee left Britain, accusing George III of destroying the liberty of Englishmen, and journeyed to start a new life in America.
Born a slave in Kent County Maryland; to Henrietta and George Trusty, on December 23, 1815. He had a large family, 11 members. While attending a funeral, his family escaped in a covered wagon. They landed in Wilmington Delaware, eventually moving to New York. He received his education at from the African Free School and the Phoenix High School for Colored Youth. He had a passion for Science and English.
Both Lee and Jackson grew up in Virginia and aspired to have military careers from early ages.
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).
A person that has earned the title of veteran is an American Hero, simple as that. The top three qualities that stand out to me when reflecting on veterans are selflessness, courage, and commitment. I come from a long line of military veterans on all sides of my family. Writing this essay is very easy when I think about those family members. However, the most important point of this essay is to address how ALL Americans should recognize our veterans as being our real life super heroes. What they do for us as civilians is, in my opinion, the definition of heroism. Veterans don’t stop giving of themselves when their service is done. The AMVETS and other veteran organizations continue to give back by volunteering, helping those in need, and of course, providing scholarship opportunities like this one.