Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) was the most prominent Confederate general of the American Civil War (1861-1865), who commanded the Army of Northern Virginia for much of the war and was named general-in-chief of all Confederate forces in 1865. Lee was beloved by his men, leading them to a string of brilliant victories in the campaigns of 1862. His defeat at the Battle of Gettysburg (1-3 July 1863) is often considered a turning point in the war, since after that, Lee always had to stay on the defensive. His surrender at Appomattox Court House on 9 April 1865 is often regarded as the end of the war. Today, Lee is certainly one of the best-known and most controversial military figures in US history.
More about: Robert E. LeeDefinition
Timeline
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19 Jan 1807Robert E. Lee is born in Westmoreland County, Virginia.
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Jun 1829Robert E. Lee graduates from West Point, second in his class and joins the US Army Corps of Engineers as a second lieutenant.
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30 Jun 1831Robert E. Lee marries Mary Anna Custis.
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9 Mar 1847Captain Robert E. Lee lands with Gen. Winfield Scott's army outside Veracruz in Mexico.
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18 Apr 1847Robert E. Lee's reconnaissance missions contributes to US victory at the Battle of Cerro Gordo.
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1852 - 1855Robert E. Lee serves as superintendent of the US Military Academy at West Point.
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18 Oct 1859Robert E. Lee commands the US marines that put down John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry.
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20 Apr 1861Robert E. Lee resigns from the US Army as Virginia secedes from the Union.
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1 Jun 1862Robert E. Lee is put in command of the Army of Northern Virginia.
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25 Jun 1862 - 1 Jul 1862The Seven Days' Battles; Lee launches a counteroffensive against McClellan, driving him away from Richmond.
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28 Aug 1862 - 30 Aug 1862Battle of Second Manassas (aka Second Battle of Bull Run) results in a Confederate victory.
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17 Sep 1862Battle of Antietam; the culmination of Robert E. Lee's first invasion of the North, resulting in 22,000 casualties. After the battle, Lee withdraws back across the Potomac River.
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30 Apr 1863 - 6 May 1863Battle of Chancellorsville; Robert E. Lee wins another decisive victory.
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1 Jul 1863 - 3 Jul 1863Battle of Gettysburg; Robert E. Lee's second invasion of the North ends in a Southern defeat.
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4 May 1864 - 12 Jun 1864The Overland Campaign - Grant and Lee's armies struggle in some of the hardest fighting of the American Civil War.
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9 Apr 1865General Robert E. Lee surrenders to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House.
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12 Oct 1870Robert E. Lee dies at the age of 63.
