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He then crossed the inhospitable area again, guiding Scott’s follow-on troops to surprise and defeat the Mexican force at Contreras. Breveted three times for gallantry in Mexico, Lee crossed the nearly impassible hardened lava beds of the Pedregal in storm and darkness to inform his commander of the position of Scott’s advance troops on the other side. This experience undoubtedly played an important role during the Civil War, when he was always looking for a way “to get at those people over there,” the Federal armies that he often thwarted. As an engineer, Lee helped Scott find ways around Mexican strongpoints or to capture them. When the United States went to war with Mexico in 1846, Lee won laurels on the staff of Major General Winfield Scott, who commanded the American forces that invaded Veracruz and captured Mexico City. As a result of wedding Mary, Lee improved his financial position and his name became associated, however distantly, with the Revolutionary War commander and first president, something that added to his reputation during and after the Civil War. In 1831 he married Mary Anna Randolph Custis, great-granddaughter of George Washington’s wife Martha and her first husband, Daniel P.
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Throughout the peace of 1830s and early 1840s, he was assigned to posts from Georgia to New York and rose from second lieutenant to captain. Graduating second in his class in 1829, with no demerits, he entered the prestigious Engineer Corps. Robert secured an appointment to West Point in 1825.
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Robert’s mother, Ann Carter Lee, raised the boy with a strong sense of duty and responsibility. Henry Lee, unfortunately, was fiscally irresponsible, which hurt the family financially, and he left for the West Indies when Robert was six, never to return. Robert Edward Lee was the fifth child of Revolutionary War hero and governor of Virginia Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee. When he surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, it meant the war was virtually over. Grant, he found an opponent who would not withdraw regardless of setbacks and casualties, and Lee’s outnumbered forces were gradually reduced in number and forced into defensive positions that did not allow him room to maneuver. He repeatedly defeated larger Federal armies in Virginia, but his two invasions of Northern soil were unsuccessful. Army to join the forces of his native state, rose to command the largest Confederate army and ultimately was named general-in-chief of all Confederate land forces. Though he opposed secession, he resigned from the U.S. Lee is perhaps the most iconic and most widely respected of all Civil War commanders. Lee summary: Confederate General Robert E. Lee ArticlesĮxplore articles from the History Net archives about Robert E. LeeĪppomattox Court House Battle Robert E. General, Confederate States of America More About Robert E. Major General, Virginia state troops Highest Rank Achieved