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Appointed to West Point
In 1825, Robert E. Lee was approved by West Point Military Academy with the help of some political connections to his father, Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee. This was the beginning of his military career. -
Graduated from West Point
After completing four years, Lee graduated from West Point second in this class. Lee later joined the Engineer Corps of the military. -
Lee Marries Mary Anna Randolph Curtis
Soon after leaving West Point Robert Lee married Mary Anna Curtis. Mary Anna was the daughter of George Washington Park Curtis, the grandson of George Washington. Lee was proud to be connected to George Washington and took the fact seriously. -
Fighting Mexico with Scott
1847 was the year the Lee first stepped on to a battle field. He served under Winfield Scott during his campaign in the Mexican War, and because of Lee's great skill, he came out of the war as colonel. -
Lee Captures John Brown at Harpers Ferry
In 1859, is summoned to Washington to stop John Brown at Harpers Ferry. After surrounding Brown at Harpers Ferry, Lee is able to capture him with a detachment of marines. This was the first time Lee was summoned to the Department of War to lead a U.S army. -
Lee Declines Lincoln's Offer to Command of the Union Army and joins the Confederates
Soon after Lee was promoted to Colonel of the First Cavalry, Lincoln, preparing for the war, offered Lee command of the Union Army. Lee respectfully declined and responded by saying, "Save in the defense of my native State," he wrote to Winfield Scott, "I never desire again to draw my sword." Lee was from Virginia and he believed states before country. Soon after this Lee joined the Confederacy and was made a full General. -
Robert E. Lee Takes Command of the Confederate Army and Wins the Second Battle of Bull Run
On May 31, 1862, the commander of the Confederate army, Joseph E. Johnson, is wounded while defending Richmond, and Lee has to take his place. Many were not sure that he was right for the job because many thought of him as a "timid" general. However Lee got the chance to prove himself at the Second Battle of Bull Run where Lee successfully stopped the Union's attack with fewer casualties. This restored the Confederacy's eastern front and was Lee first decisive victory. -
Battle of Antietam
After the Second Battle of Bull Run, Lee wanted to strike the Union for the first time. He gathered the 55,000 strong Army of Northern Virginia to take into Federal territory. the two armies clashed at Antietam which would be known as the bloodiest day in American history with 10,000 Confederate and 12,500 Union casualties, -
Battle of Gettysburg
In June of 1863 Lee made his second trip into Northern soil. Lee had traveled well into Pennsylvania when the two armies met, accidentally, at a small town called Gettysburg. Lee could not break the Union lines so he orders a change for the center of the Union defense known as Pickett's Charge. This Charge was a tota; failure with almost no soldiers even reaching the line. This was the turning point for the Federals in the war and was Lee's biggest failure. He never invaded the North again. -
Lee Surrenders at Appomattox
After Union General Grant's seize on Petersburg, Lee had no choice but to retreat making Richmond defenseless. Lee saw no other option but to surrender the Confederacy army to Grant at Appomattox which officially ended the Civil War