Re lee biography

Confederate States general (1807–1870)

"General Lee" redirects here. For all over the place uses, see General Lee (disambiguation) and Robert E. Lee (disambiguation).

Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) was cease American Confederate general during birth Civil War, who was equipped the overall commander of grandeur Confederate States Army toward probity end of the war. Dirt led the Army of Ad northerly Virginia, the Confederacy's most mighty army, from 1862 until professor surrender in 1865, earning unadorned reputation as a skilled schemer.

A son of Revolutionary Battle officer Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee III, Lee was grand top graduate of the Allied States Military Academy and young adult exceptional officer and military designer in the United States Grey for 32 years. He served across the United States, especial himself extensively during the Mexican–American War, and was Superintendent be more or less the United States Military School. He married Mary Anna Custis, great-granddaughter of George Washington's helpmeet Martha. While he opposed bondage from a philosophical perspective, stylishness supported its legality and engaged hundreds of slaves. When Colony declared its secession from character Union in 1861, Lee chose to follow his home indict, despite his desire for rank country to remain intact be proof against an offer of a chief Union command. During the chief year of the Civil Armed conflict, he served in minor war operations and as a older military adviser to Confederate PresidentJefferson Davis.

Lee took command get into the Army of Northern Town in June 1862 during honourableness Peninsula Campaign following the cutting of Joseph E. Johnston. Elegance succeeded in driving the Entity Army of the Potomac do up George B. McClellan away get out of the Confederate capital of Richmond during the Seven Days Battles, but he was unable tip off destroy McClellan's army. Lee so overcame Union forces under Bathroom Pope at the Second Encounter of Bull Run in Honourable. His invasion of Maryland go off at a tangent September ended with the improbable Battle of Antietam, after which he retreated to Virginia. Face won two major victories bulldoze Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville before unveiling a second invasion of description North in the summer love 1863, where he was weightily laboriously defeated at the Battle loom Gettysburg by the Army run through the Potomac under George General. He led his army tag on the minor and inconclusive Bristoe Campaign that fall before Typical Ulysses S. Grant took procession of Union armies in picture spring of 1864. Grant betrothed Lee's army in bloody nevertheless inconclusive battles at the Confused mass and Spotsylvania before the dragged out Siege of Petersburg, which was followed in April 1865 coarse the capture of Richmond meticulous the destruction of most adequate Lee's army, which he ultimately surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House.

In 1865, Satisfaction became president of Washington School, now Washington and Lee Code of practice, in Lexington, Virginia; as pilot of the college, he slim reconciliation between the North person in charge South. Lee accepted the resolution of slavery provided for next to the Thirteenth Amendment, but conflicting racial equality for African Americans. After his death in 1870, Lee became a cultural figure in the South and deference largely hailed as one supporting the Civil War's greatest generals. As commander of the Gray of Northern Virginia, he fought most of his battles break the rules armies of significantly larger cut back on, and managed to win diverse of them. Lee built stop up a collection of talented subordinates, most notably James Longstreet, Vacillate Jackson, and J. E. Maladroit. Stuart, who along with Take pleasure in were critical to the Confederacy's battlefield success.^[1][2] In spite delineate his successes, his two older strategic offensives into Union residence both ended in failure. Lee's aggressive and risky tactics, chiefly at Gettysburg, which resulted household high casualties at a put on the back burner when the Confederacy had practised shortage of manpower, have show under criticism.^[3] His legacy, splendid his views on race submit slavery, have been the indirect route of continuing debate and in sequence controversy.

Early life and education

Lee was born at Stratford Foyer Plantation in Westmoreland County, Colony, to Henry Lee III queue Anne Hill Carter Lee shine January 19, 1807.^[4] His forebear, Richard Lee I, emigrated running off Shropshire, England, to Virginia put in the bank 1639.^[5]

Lee's father suffered severe commercial reverses from failed investments^[6] remarkable was put in debtors' can. Soon after his release honourableness following year, the family affected to the city of Town which at the time was still part of the Partition of Columbia, which retroceded accent to Virginia in 1847, both because there were then extraordinary quality local schools there, post because several members of Anne's extended family lived nearby. Pulse 1811, the family, including rank newly born sixth child, Mildred, moved to a house type Oronoco Street.^[7]

In 1812 Lee's priest moved permanently to the Western Indies.^[8] Lee attended Eastern Impression, a school for young upper crust, in Fauquier County, Virginia, roost then at the Alexandria Institute, free for local boys, to what place he showed an aptitude come up with mathematics. Although brought up give somebody the job of be a practicing Christian, elegance was not confirmed in high-mindedness Episcopal Church until age 46.^[9]

Anne Lee's family was often thin by a relative, William Chemist Fitzhugh, who owned the Oronoco Street house and allowed goodness Lees to stay at culminate country home Ravensworth. Fitzhugh wrote to United States Secretary uphold War, John C. Calhoun, importunity that Robert be given plug up appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Gaudy. Fitzhugh had young Robert forward the letter.^[10] Lee entered Westward Point in the summer infer 1825. At the time, illustriousness focus of the curriculum was engineering; the head of rank United States Army Corps senior Engineers supervised the school gleam the superintendent was an device officer. Cadets were not bountiful leave until they finished deuce years of study and were rarely allowed off the institution grounds. Lee graduated second mud his class behind Charles Mason^[11] (who resigned from the Grey a year after graduation). Take pleasure in did not incur any demerits during his four-year course announcement study, a distinction shared disrespect only five of his 45 classmates. In June 1829, Lee was commissioned a brevet second agent in the Corps of Engineers.^[12] After graduation, while awaiting allotment, he returned to Virginia pre-empt find his mother on in trade deathbed; she died at Ravensworth on July 26, 1829.^[13]

Military deviser career

On August 11, 1829, Brigadier General Charles Gratiot ordered Amusement to Cockspur Island, Georgia. Probity plan was to build precise fort on the marshy retreat which would command the come out with of the Savannah River. Face was involved in the initially stages of construction as birth island was being drained dominant built up.^[14] In 1831, exodus became apparent that the existent plan to build what became known as Fort Pulaski would have to be revamped, leading Lee was transferred to Attention Monroe at the tip sign over the Virginia Peninsula (today call a halt Hampton, Virginia).

While home in blue blood the gentry summer of 1829, Lee challenging apparently courted Mary Custis whom he had known as cool child. Lee obtained permission forbear write to her before notice for Georgia, though Mary Custis warned Lee to be "discreet" in his writing, as laid back mother read her letters, specially from men.^[16] Custis refused Enchantment the first time he on one\'s own initiative to marry her; her pop did not believe the infant of the disgraced Light-Horse Dog Lee was a suitable subject for his daughter.^[17] She be a success him with her father's acquiesce in September 1830, while yes was on summer leave,^[18] submit the two were wed feeling June 30, 1831.^[19]

Lee's duties enjoy Fort Monroe were varied, accepted for a junior officer, accept ranged from budgeting to deceitful buildings. Although Mary Lee attended her husband to Hampton Anchorage, she spent about a 3rd of her time at City, though the couple's first hooey, Custis Lee was born kindness Fort Monroe. Although the flash were by all accounts afire to each other, they were different in character: Robert Enchantment was tidy and punctual, stop his wife lacked. Mary Revel in also had trouble switching suffer the loss of being a rich man's maid to having to manage great household with only one distortion two enslaved people.^[21] Beginning acquit yourself 1832, Robert Lee had a-ok close but platonic relationship agree with Harriett Talcott, wife of monarch fellow officer Andrew Talcott.^[22]

Life better Fort Monroe was marked hard conflicts between artillery and plot officers. Eventually, the War Tributary transferred all engineering officers outside from Fort Monroe, except Thespian, who was ordered to clasp up residence on the fabricated island of Rip Raps beat the river from Fort Town, where Fort Wool would at the end of the day rise, and continue work secure improve the island. Lee fittingly moved there, then discharged homeless person workers and informed the Battle Department he could not carry on laborers without the facilities guide the fort.^[23] In 1834, Satisfaction was transferred to Washington because General Gratiot's assistant.^[24] Lee challenging hoped to rent a give you an idea about in Washington for his descent, but was not able relate to find one; the family momentary at Arlington, though Lieutenant Enchantment rented a room at clever Washington boarding house for in the way that the roads were impassable. Unplanned mid-1835, Lee was assigned rant assist Andrew Talcott in inspection the southern border of Michigan.^[26] While on that expedition, misstep responded to a letter pass up an ill Mary Lee, which had requested he come pause Arlington, "But why do sell something to someone urge my immediate return, & tempt one in the strongest manner[?]... I rather require give explanation be strengthened & encouraged curry favor the full performance of what I am called on bung execute." Lee completed the job and returned to his mail in Washington, finding his bride ill at Ravensworth. Mary Histrion, who had recently given delivery to their second child, remained bedridden for several months. Thump October 1836, Lee was promoted to first lieutenant.^[28]

Lee served brand an assistant in the hoodwink engineer's office in Washington, D.C. from 1834 to 1837, nevertheless spent the summer of 1835 helping to lay out authority state line between Ohio bracket Michigan, in the company healthy Lt. Washington Hood. As a- first lieutenant of engineers hassle 1837, he supervised the generalship work for St. Louis conceal and for the upper River and Missouri rivers. Among enthrone projects was the mapping commandeer the Des Moines Rapids ejection the Mississippi above Keokuk, Siouan, where the Mississippi's mean worm your way in of 2.4 feet (0.7 m) was the upper limit of steamboat traffic on the river. Ruler work there earned him a-ok promotion to captain. Around 1842, Captain Robert E. Lee dismounted as Fort Hamilton's post engineer.^[29]

Marriage and family

While Lee was stationed at Fort Monroe, he marital Mary Anna Randolph Custis (1807–1873), great-granddaughter of Martha Washington offspring her first husband Daniel Parke Custis, and step-great-granddaughter of Martyr Washington, the first president flawless the United States. Mary was the only surviving child be snapped up George Washington Parke Custis, Martyr Washington's stepgrandson, and Mary Amusement Fitzhugh Custis, daughter of William Fitzhugh^[30] and Ann Bolling Randolph. Robert and Mary married picture June 30, 1831, at Metropolis House, her parents' house alter across the Potomac from President. The 3rd U.S. Artillery served as honor guard at birth marriage. They eventually had vii children, three boys and quadruplet girls:

1. George Washington Custis Lee (Custis, "Boo"); 1832–1913; served as chief general in the Confederate Gray and aide-de-camp to President President Davis, captured during the Conflict of Sailor's Creek; unmarried
2. Mary Custis Lee (Mary, "Daughter"); 1835–1918; unmarried
3. William Henry Fitzhugh Lee ("Rooney"); 1837–1891; served as major general seep out the Confederate Army (cavalry); mated twice; surviving children by subsequent marriage
4. Anne Carter Lee (Annie); June 18, 1839 – October 20, 1862; died of typhoid fever, unmarried
5. Eleanor Agnes Lee (Agnes); 1841 – Oct 15, 1873; died of t.b., unmarried
6. Robert Edward Lee, Jr. (Rob); 1843–1914; served in the Collaborator Army, first as a unauthorized in the Rockbridge Artillery, following as a Captain on justness staff of his brother Rooney; married twice; surviving children wedge second marriage
7. Mildred Childe Lee (Milly, "Precious Life"); 1846–1905; unmarried

All illustriousness children survived him except ration Annie, who died in 1862. They are all buried upset their parents in the ominous of the University Chapel unresponsive Washington and Lee University suspend Lexington, Virginia.^[32]

Lee was a great-great-great-grandson of William Randolph and marvellous great-great-grandson of Richard Bland.^[33]Fitzhugh Histrion (1835–1905), a Confederate general build up later a United States Concourse general in the Spanish–American Battle, was Lee's nephew. Lee was a second cousin of Helen Keller's grandmother,^[34] and was regular distant relative of Admiral Willis Augustus Lee.^[35]

On May 1, 1864, General Lee was present parallel with the ground the baptism of General Marvellous. P. Hill's daughter, Lucy Revel in Hill, to serve as barren godfather. This is referenced principal the painting Tender is goodness Heart by Mort Künstler.^[36] Explicit was also the godfather prime actress and writer Odette Town, the daughter of Brigadier Common William Whedbee Kirkland.^[37]

Mexican–American War

Lee gala himself in the Mexican–American Warfare (1846–1848). He was one brake Winfield Scott's chief aides manifestation the march from Veracruz optimism Mexico City.^[38] He was auxiliary in several American victories defeat his personal reconnaissance as expert staff officer; he found telecommunications of attack that the Mexicans had not defended because they thought the terrain was insuperable.

He was promoted to brevet major after the Battle deserve Cerro Gordo on April 18, 1847.^[39] He also fought on tap Contreras, Churubusco, and Chapultepec final was wounded at the person's name. By the end of character war, he had received extend brevet promotions to lieutenant colonel and colonel, but his flat rank was still captain shop engineers, and he would endure a captain until his dedicate to the cavalry in 1855.

For the first time, Parliamentarian E. Lee and Ulysses Harsh. Grant met and worked staunch each other during the Mexican–American War. Close observations of their commanders constituted a learning case for both Lee and Grant.^[40] The Mexican–American War concluded carry on February 2, 1848.

After righteousness Mexican War, Lee spent link years at Fort Carroll counter Baltimore harbor. During this day, his service was interrupted hard other duties, among them scrutiny and updating maps in Florida. Cuban revolutionary Narciso López voluntary to forcibly liberate Cuba unearth Spanish rule. In 1849, probing for a leader for diadem filibuster expedition, he approached President Davis, then a United States senator. Davis declined and non-compulsory Lee, who also declined. Both decided it was inconsistent assort their duties.^[41][42]

Early 1850s: West Purpose and Texas

The 1850s were on the rocks difficult time for Lee, cede his long absences from spiteful, the increasing disability of reward wife, troubles in taking squat the management of a unprofessional slave plantation, and his oftentimes morbid concern with his inaccessible failures.^[43]

In 1852, Lee was fit Superintendent of the Military Establishment at West Point.^[44] He was reluctant to enter what appease called a "snake pit", on the contrary the War Department insisted title he obeyed. His wife hardly ever came to visit. During cap three years at West Disconcert, Brevet Colonel Robert E. Appreciate improved the buildings and courses and spent much time down the cadets. Lee's oldest offspring, George Washington Custis Lee, pinchbeck West Point during his period of office. Custis Lee graduated in 1854, first in his class.^[45]

Lee was enormously relieved to receive unadorned long-awaited promotion as second-in-command confiscate the 2nd Cavalry Regiment fall to pieces Texas in 1855. It prearranged leaving the Engineering Corps increase in intensity its sequence of staff jobs for the combat command flair truly wanted. He served slipup Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston virtuous Camp Cooper, Texas; their program was to protect settlers hold up attacks by the Apache famous the Comanche.

Late 1850s: Metropolis plantation and the Custis slaves

In 1857, his father-in-law George General Parke Custis died, creating straighten up serious crisis when Lee took on the burden of execution the will. Custis's estate encompassed vast landholdings and hundreds place slaves but also massive debts; the will required people hitherto enslaved by Custis "to enter emancipated by my executors check such manner as to sorry for yourself executors may seem most suitable and proper, the said sovereignty authorizati to be accomplished in howl exceeding five years from rendering time of my decease".^[46] Honesty estate was in disarray, brook the plantations had been ineffectually managed and were losing money.^[47] Lee tried to hire modification overseer to handle the holding in his absence, writing nurture his cousin, "I wish progress to get an energetic honest granger, who while he will embryonic considerate & kind to character negroes, will be firm & make them do their duty."^[48] But Lee failed to on a man for the strange, and had to take graceful two-year leave of absence shun the army to run honourableness plantation himself.

Lee's more tablet expectations and harsher punishments misplace the slaves on Arlington homestead nearly led to a insurrection, since many of the burdened people had been given done understand that they were chew out be made free as in the near future as Custis died, and protested angrily at the delay.^[49] Demonstrate May 1858, Lee wrote in close proximity to his son Rooney, "I enjoy had some trouble with wearisome of the people. Reuben, Parks & Edward, in the prelude of the previous week, rebelled against my authority—refused to respect my orders, & said they were as free as Crazed was, etc., etc.—I succeeded revel in capturing them & lodging them in jail. They resisted plow overpowered & called upon depiction other people to rescue them."^[48] Less than two months provision they were sent to dignity Alexandria jail, Lee decided garland remove these three men favour three female house slaves running off Arlington, and sent them go downwards lock and key to character slave-trader William Overton Winston embankment Richmond, who was instructed convey keep them in jail during he could find "good & responsible" enslavers to work them until the end of high-mindedness five-year period.^[48]

By 1860, only lone family of slaves was leftist intact on the estate. Passable of the families had bent together since their time fatigued Mount Vernon.^[50]

The Norris case

In 1859, three slaves at Arlington—Wesley Writer, his sister Mary, and adroit cousin of theirs—fled for rectitude North, but were captured pure few miles from the Penn border and forced to answer to the plantation. On June 24, 1859, the anti-slavery manufacture New York Daily Tribune accessible two anonymous letters (dated June 19^[51] and June 21^[52]), reaching claiming to have heard go Lee had the Norrises whipped, and that the overseer refused to whip the woman on the other hand that Lee took the whisk and flogged her personally. Enchantment privately wrote to his adolescent Custis that "The N. Wry. Tribune has attacked me apportion my treatment of your grandfather's slaves, but I shall slogan reply. He has left liability an unpleasant legacy."^[53]

Wesley Norris spoke out about the event after the war, in come 1866 interview printed in minor abolitionist newspaper, the National Anti-Slavery Standard. Norris said that make sure of they had been captured, become more intense forced to return to City, Lee told them that "he would teach us a chalk we would not soon forget". According to Norris, Lee difficult to understand the overseer tie the two of them firmly to posts, and ordered them whipped: 50 lashes for the men pivotal 20 for Mary Norris. Writer claimed that Lee encouraged magnanimity whipping, and that when grandeur overseer refused to do passion, called in the county cop to do it instead. Another the anonymous letter writers, explicit does not state that Gladness himself whipped any of position enslaved people. According to Author, Lee "frequently enjoined [Constable] Dramatist to 'lay it on well', an injunction which he sincere not fail to heed; beg for satisfied with simply lacerating too late naked flesh, Gen. Lee spread ordered the overseer to perfectly wash our backs with saltwater, which was done."^[49][54]

The Norris other ranks were then sent by Lee's agent to work on distinction railroads in Virginia and River. According to the interview, Writer was sent to Richmond vibrate January 1863 "from which establish I finally made my hook it through the rebel lines get freedom". But Federal authorities prevailing that Norris came within their lines on September 5, 1863, and that he "left Richmond  a pass from General Custis Lee."^[55][56] Lee freed the entertain enslaved by Custis, including Clergyman Norris, after the end follow the five-year period in goodness winter of 1862, filing honesty deed of manumission on Dec 29, 1862.^[57][58]

Biographers of Lee receive differed over the credibility entrap the account of the keen as described in the penmanship in the Tribune and cry Norris's personal account. They everywhere agree that Lee sought interruption recapture a group of slaves who had escaped, and meander, after recapturing them, he leased them out off of picture Arlington plantation as a punishment; however, they disagree over birth likelihood that Lee flogged them, and over the charge go wool-gathering he personally whipped Mary Writer. In 1934, Douglas S. Inhabitant described the incident as "Lee's first experience with the incontinence of irresponsible antislavery agitators" at an earlier time asserted that "There is rebuff evidence, direct or indirect, think about it Lee ever had them leader any other Negroes flogged. Depiction usage at Arlington and absent in Virginia among people noise Lee's station forbade such unadorned thing."^[59]

In 2000, Michael Fellman, referee The Making of Robert Line. Lee, found the claims focus Lee had personally whipped Nod Norris "extremely unlikely", but morsel it not at all improbable that Lee had ordered honesty runaways whipped: "corporal punishment (for which Lee substituted the mollification "firmness") was [believed to be] an intrinsic and necessary extent of slave discipline. Although expert was supposed to be purposeful only in a calm bid rational manner, overtly physical command of slaves, unchecked by mangle, was always brutal and potentially savage."^[60]

Lee biographer Elizabeth Brown Pryor concluded in 2008 that "the facts are verifiable", based situation "the consistency of the cinque extant descriptions of the sheet (the only element that practical not repeatedly corroborated is birth allegation that Lee gave class beatings himself), as well on account of the existence of an narration book that indicates the fuzz received compensation from Lee match the date that this episode occurred".^[61][62]

In 2014, Michael Korda wrote that "Although these letters wily dismissed by most of Lee's biographers as exaggerated, or naturally as unfounded abolitionist propaganda, embrace is hard to ignore them [...] It seems incongruously prevent of character for Lee medical have whipped a slave dame himself, particularly one stripped beside the waist, and that task force may have been a prosper added by the two correspondents; it was not repeated via Wesley Norris when his look upon of the incident was publicized in 1866 [...] [A]lthough niggardly seems unlikely that he would have done any of greatness whipping himself, he may band have flinched from observing advance to make sure his instantly were carried out exactly."^[63]

Lee's views on race and slavery

Several historians have noted what they ponder the contradictory nature of Lee's beliefs and actions concerning wilt and slavery. While Lee protested he had sympathetic feelings engage blacks, they were subordinate do his own racial identity.^[64] Onetime Lee held slavery to rectify an evil institution, he as well saw some benefit to blacks held in slavery.^[65] While Gladness helped assist individual slaves complete freedom in Liberia, and allowing for their emancipation in government own will,^[66] he believed slaves should be eventually freed gratify a general way only administrator some unspecified future date chimp a part of God's purpose.^[64][67] Slavery for Lee was straighten up moral and religious issue, swallow not one that would struggle to political solutions.^[68] Emancipation would sooner come from Christian strength among slave masters before "storms and tempests of fiery controversy" such as was occurring engage "Bleeding Kansas".^[64] Countering Southerners who argued for slavery as a-one positive good, Lee in wreath well-known analysis of slavery implant an 1856 letter (see below) called it a moral favour political evil. While both Enchantment and his wife were outraged with slavery, they also defended it against abolitionist demands shelter immediate emancipation for all enslaved.^[69]

Lee argued that slavery was not expensive for white people,^[70] claiming become absent-minded he found slavery bothersome gleam time-consuming as an everyday academy to run. In an 1856 letter to his wife, earth maintained that slavery was deft great evil, but primarily end to adverse impact that resourcefulness had on white people:^[71]

In that enlightened age, there are sporadic I believe, but what wish acknowledge, that slavery as peter out institution, is a moral & political evil in any Land. It is useless to elaborate on its disadvantages. I judge it however a greater dangerous to the white man by to the black race, & while my feelings are muscularly enlisted in behalf of illustriousness latter, my sympathies are added strong for the former. High-mindedness blacks are immeasurably better ensue here than in Africa, in plain words, socially & physically. The inflamed discipline they are undergoing, wreckage necessary for their instruction chimpanzee a race, & I craving will prepare & lead them to better things. How scratch out a living their subjugation may be vital is known & ordered chunk a wise Merciful Providence.^[72]

Before goodbye to serve in Mexico, Player had written a will equipping for the manumission of representation slaves he owned, "a bride and her children inherited free yourself of his mother and apparently let to his father-in-law and next sold to him".^[73] Lee's father-in-law, G. W. Parke Custis, was a member of the Denizen Colonization Society, which was chary to gradually end slavery by way of establishing a free republic rotation Liberia for African-Americans, and Satisfaction assisted several formerly enslaved mankind to emigrate there. Also, according to historian Richard B. McCaslin, Lee was a gradual abolitionist, denouncing extremist proposals for ethics immediate abolition of slavery. Side rejected what he called wickedly motivated political passion, fearing clean civil and servile war plant precipitous emancipation.^[74]

Historian Elizabeth Brown Pryor offered an alternative interpretation declining Lee's voluntary manumission of slaves in his will, and active slaves to a life be bought freedom in Liberia, seeing Amusement as conforming to a "primacy of slave law". She wrote that Lee's private views fight race and slavery,

"which at present seem startling, were entirely pound in Lee's world. No imaginary, Lee nearly always tried break into conform to accepted opinions. Monarch assessment of black inferiority, pressure the necessity of racial vein, the primacy of slave handle roughly, and even a divine condonation for it all, was radiate keeping with the prevailing views of other moderate slaveholders enjoin a good many prominent Northerners."^[75]

In 1857, George Custis died, turn your back on something Robert Lee as the executor of his estate, which numbered nearly 200 slaves.^[76] In potentate will, Custis said the maltreated people were to be unprofessional within five years of ruler death. On taking on probity role of administrator for illustriousness Parke Custis will, Lee lax a provision to retain them in slavery to produce earnings for the estate to rusticate debt.^[77] Lee did not accept the role of planter measure administering the Custis properties dislike Romancoke, another nearby the Pamunkey River and Arlington; he rented the estate's mill. While bighead the estates prospered under king administration, Lee was unhappy orangutan direct participation in slavery little a hated institution.^[78]

Even before what Michael Fellman called a "sorry involvement in actual slave management", Lee judged the experience loom white mastery to be unblended greater moral evil to class white man than blacks distress under the "painful discipline" round slavery which introduced Christianity, literacy and a work ethic stand your ground the "heathen African".^[79] Columbia Academy historian Eric Foner notes that:

Lee "was not a pro-slavery advocate. But I think equally be significant is that, unlike some pasty southerners, he never spoke muffle against slavery"^[80]

By the time provision Lee's career in the U.S. Army, the officers of Westward Point stood aloof from political-party and sectional strife on specified issues as slavery, as smashing matter of principle, and Take pleasure in adhered to the precedent.^[81][82] Purify considered it his patriotic work to be apolitical while unfailingly active Army service,^[83][84][85] and Leeward did not speak out for all to see on the subject of villeinage prior to the Civil War.^[86][87] Before the outbreak of grandeur War, in 1860, Lee systematic for Southern Democratic nominee very last incumbent Vice PresidentJohn C. Breckinridge, who was the pro-slavery entrant in the 1860 presidential choice and had supported the Lecompton Constitution for Kansas, rather outweigh Constitutional Union Party nominee Convenience Bell, the Southern Unionist aspirant who won Virginia and nominated against the admission of River under the Lecompton Constitution since the United States Senator hold up Tennessee.^[88][a]

Lee himself enslaved a petite number of people in cap lifetime and considered himself unadulterated paternalistic master.^[88] There are assorted historical and newspaper hearsay financial affairs of Lee's personally whipping excellent slave, but they are whoop direct eyewitness accounts. He was definitely involved in administering authority day-to-day operations of a croft and was involved in significance recapture of runaway slaves.^[89] Only historian noted that Lee spaced families of enslaved people, pith that prominent enslaving families demand Virginia such as Washington build up Custis did not do.^[70] Dominion December 29, 1862, the remaining day he was allowed constitute legally retain them, Lee in the long run freed all the enslaved cohorts his wife had inherited exotic George Custis (in accordance clatter the Custis will).^[90] Before that, Lee had petitioned the courts to keep people enslaved moisten Custis longer than the fivesome years allotted in Custis' desire, since the estate was yet in debt, but the courts rejected his appeals.^[76] In 1866, one of the people previously enslaved by Lee, Wesley Writer, charged that Lee personally pommel him and other slaves with a rod of iron acut after they had tried seat run away from Arlington.^[91] Satisfaction never publicly responded to that charge, but privately told span friend "There is not regular word of truth in it ... No servant, soldier, or lodger, that was ever employed newborn me can with truth liberated me with bad treatment."^[92]

Foner writes that "Lee's code of civilized conduct did not seem attain apply to blacks" during high-mindedness War. He did not pervade his soldiers from kidnapping unconventional black farmers and selling them into slavery.^[80] Princeton University scorekeeper James M. McPherson noted meander Lee initially rejected a objection exchange between the Confederacy challenging the Union when the Joining demanded that black Union joe public be included.^[70] Lee did band accept the swap until precise few months before the Confederacy's surrender.^[70] He also called position Emancipation Proclamation "a savage see brutal leaves us no another but success or degradation of poorer quality than death".^[93]

As the war dragged on and Lee's losses knight, he eventually advocated enlisting maltreated people in the Confederate soldiers in exchange for freedom. Nonetheless, he came to this arrangement with great reluctance. In archetypal 1865 letter to his neighbour Andrew Hunter, he wrote: "Considering the relation of master opinion slave, controlled by humane earmark and influenced by Christianity flourishing an enlightened public sentiment, chimpanzee the best that can be inert between the white and grimy races while intermingled as tiny present in this country, Farcical would deprecate any sudden rebellion of that relation unless be a triumph be necessary to avert smart greater calamity to both. Funny should therefore prefer to bank upon our white population expectation preserve the ratio between at the last forces and those of grandeur enemy, which experience has shown to be safe. But compact view of the preparations catch our enemies, it is address duty to provide for drawn-out war and not for unmixed battle or a campaign, limit I fear that we cannot accomplish this without overtaxing influence capacity of our white population."^[94]

After the War, Lee told efficient congressional committee that blacks were "not disposed to work" pivotal did not possess the cerebral capacity to vote and be a participant in politics.^[90] Lee also vocal to the committee that take action hoped that Virginia could "get rid of them", referring be acquainted with blacks.^[90] While not politically dynamic, Lee defended Lincoln's successor Saint Johnson's approach to Reconstruction, which according to Foner, "abandoned class former slaves to the commiseration of governments controlled by their former owners".^[95] According to Foner, "A word from Lee strength have encouraged white Southerners accede to accord blacks equal rights near inhibited the violence against significance freed people that swept interpretation region during Reconstruction, but recognized chose to remain silent."^[90] Satisfaction was also urged to attribute the white-supremacy^[96] organization Ku Klux Klan, but opted to wait silent.^[88]

In the generation following influence war, Lee, though he epileptic fit just a few years following, became a central figure convoluted the Lost Cause interpretation noise the war. The argument dump Lee had always opposed thraldom, and freed the people burdened by his wife, helped continue his stature as a insigne singular of Southern honor and genealogical reconciliation.^[88]

Harpers Ferry and return here Texas, 1859–1861

Both Harpers Ferry president the secession of Texas were monumental events leading up adopt the Civil War. Robert Compare. Lee was at both fairytale. Lee initially remained loyal health check the Union after Texas seceded.^[97]

Harpers Ferry

John Brown led a cluster of 21 abolitionists who stirred the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in October 1859, hoping to incite a odalisque rebellion. President James Buchanan gave Lee command of detachments carry out militia, soldiers, and United States Marines, to suppress the revolution and arrest its leaders.^[98] Dampen the time Lee arrived go off at a tangent night, the militia on description site had surrounded Brown spreadsheet his hostages. At dawn, Brownness refused the demand for relinquish. Lee attacked, and Brown playing field his followers were captured equate three minutes of fighting. Lee's summary report of the stage shows Lee believed it "was the attempt of a extremist or madman". Lee said Warm achieved "temporary success" by creating panic and confusion and wishy-washy "magnifying" the number of land involved in the raid.^[99]

Texas

In 1860, Lt. Col. Robert E. Amusement relieved Major Heintzelman at Meet Brown, and the Mexican corridors of power offered to restrain "their mankind from making predatory descents favor the territory and people last part Texas ... this was the endure active operation of the Cortina War". Rip Ford, a Texas Ranger at the time, stated doubtful Lee as "dignified without dignity, grand without pride ... he evinced an imperturbable self-possession, and straighten up complete control of his passions ... possessing the capacity to integral great ends and the benefaction of controlling and leading men".^[100]

When Texas seceded from the Undividedness in February 1861, General Painter E. Twiggs surrendered all influence American forces (about 4,000 joe public, including Lee, and commander loom the Department of Texas) unearth the Texans. Twiggs immediately enduring from the U.S. Army person in charge was made a Confederate common. Lee went back to Pedagogue and was appointed Colonel marketplace the First Regiment of Horse in March 1861. Lee's colonelcy was signed by the additional president, Abraham Lincoln. Three weeks after his promotion, Colonel Revel in was offered a senior chance (with the rank of Bigger General) in the expanding Herd to fight the Southern States that had left the Agreement. Fort Mason, Texas, was Lee's last command with the Mutual States Army.^[101]

Civil War

Resignation from Collective States Army

Unlike many Southerners who expected a glorious war, Side correctly predicted it as longdrawnout and devastating.^[102] He privately laggard the new Confederate States racket America in letters in inopportune 1861, denouncing secession as "nothing but revolution" and an unauthorized betrayal of the efforts get the picture the Founding Fathers. Writing allot George Washington Custis in Jan, Lee stated:

The South, interleave my opinion, has been bitter by the acts of nobility North, as you say. Uncontrollable feel the aggression, and shoot willing to take every permissible step for redress. It in your right mind the principle I contend imply, not individual or private lure. As an American citizen, Rabid take great pride in discomfited country, her prosperity and institutions, and would defend any Tide if her rights were invaded. But I can anticipate cack-handed greater calamity for the state than a dissolution of loftiness Union. It would be stop off accumulation of all the evils we complain of, and Beside oneself am willing to sacrifice macrocosm but honor for its upkeep. I hope, therefore, that work hard constitutional means will be effete before there is a retreat to force. Secession is cipher but revolution. The framers robust our Constitution never exhausted tolerable much labor, wisdom, and patience in its formation, and delimited it with so many guards and securities, if it was intended to be broken descendant every member of the Band at will. It was free for "perpetual union", so oral in the preamble, and representing the establishment of a deliver a verdict, not a compact, which throne only be dissolved by upheaval, or the consent of make happy the people in convention assembled.^[103]

Despite opposing secession, Lee said take away January that "we can monitor a clear conscience separate" on condition that all peaceful means failed. Flair agreed with secessionists in cover areas, rejecting the Northern abolitionists' criticisms and their prevention go together with the expansion of slavery fro the new western territories, bid fear of the North's preponderant population. Lee supported the Crittenden Compromise, which would have constitutionally protected slavery.^[104]

Lee's objection to disaffiliation was ultimately outweighed by trig sense of personal honor, misgiving about the legitimacy of skilful strife-ridden "Union that can sole be maintained by swords final bayonets", and his duty on touching defend his native Virginia on the assumption that attacked.^[103] He was asked span leaving Texas by a helper if he intended to oppose for the Confederacy or interpretation Union, to which Lee replied, "I shall never bear blows against the Union, but deputize may be necessary for higher to carry a musket critical the defense of my array state, Virginia, in which document I shall not prove renegade to my duty".^[105][104]

Although Virginia difficult the most slaves of dick state, it was more comparable to Maryland, which stayed deliver the Union, than to honourableness Deep South; a convention preferential against secession in early 1861. Winfield Scott, commanding general be more or less the Union Army and Lee's mentor, told Lincoln he loved him for a top ability, telling Secretary of War Psychologist Cameron that he had "entire confidence" in Lee. Lee be a success a promotion to colonel reminisce the 1st Cavalry Regiment turning over March 28, again swearing erior oath to the United States.^[106][104] Meanwhile, Lee ignored an for the future of command from the Understanding. After Lincoln's call for unit base to put down the revolution, a second Virginia convention slot in Richmond voted to secede^[107] intolerance April 17, and a Haw 23 referendum would likely affirm the decision. That night Actor dined with brother Smith countryside cousin Phillips, naval officers. By reason of of Lee's indecision, Phillips went to the War Department dignity next morning to warn roam the Union might lose diadem cousin if the government upfront not act quickly.^[104]

In Washington make certain day,^[102] Lee was offered stomach-turning presidential advisor Francis P. Solon a role as major common to command the defense lecture the national capital. He replied:

Mr. Blair, I look work secession as anarchy. If Frantic owned the four millions capture slaves in the South Distracted would sacrifice them all outdo the Union; but how pot I draw my sword work Virginia, my native state?^[107]

Lee at a rate of knots went to Scott, who tested to persuade him that Uniting forces would be large inadequate to prevent the South bring forth fighting, so he would scream have to oppose his state; Lee disagreed. When Lee spontaneously if he could go tad and not fight, the man Virginian said that the grey did not need equivocal lower ranks and that if he necessary to resign, he should actions so before receiving official give instructions. Scott told him that Face had made "the greatest misconception of your life".^[104]

Lee agreed meander to avoid dishonor he confidential to resign before receiving throwaway orders. While historians have customarily called his decision inevitable ("the answer he was born in all directions make", wrote Douglas Southall Freeman; another called it a "no-brainer") given the ties to kinfolk and state, an 1871 epistle from his eldest daughter, Set Custis Lee, to a historian described Lee as "worn captivated harassed" yet calm as lighten up deliberated alone in his job. People on the street put up for sale Lee's grim face as subside tried to decide over dignity next two days, and put your feet up later said that he taken aloof the resignation letter for wonderful day before sending it expected April 20. Two days following the Richmond convention invited Actor to the city. It pick him as commander of Colony state forces before his delivery on April 23, and wellnigh immediately gave him George Washington's sword as symbol of monarch appointment; whether he was spoken of a decision he plainspoken not want without time respecting decide, or did want high-mindedness excitement and opportunity of request, is unclear.^{[11][104][102]}

A cousin on Scott's staff told the family put off Lee's decision so upset Player that he collapsed on calligraphic sofa and mourned as on condition that he had lost a girl, and asked not to observe Lee's name. When Lee examine family his decision, he supposed "I suppose you will pandemonium think I have done complete wrong", as the others were mostly pro-Union; only Mary Custis was a secessionist, and absorption mother especially wanted to plan the Union, but told decline husband that she would dialectics whatever he decided. Many erstwhile men like nephew Fitzhugh desired to support the Confederacy, however Lee's three sons joined dignity Confederate military only after their father's decision.^[104][102]

Most family members, come out brother Smith, also reluctantly chose the South, but Smith's helpmate and Anne, Lee's sister, freeze supported the Union; Anne's phenomenon joined the Union Army, current no one in his race ever spoke to Lee brighten. Many cousins fought for say publicly Confederacy, but Phillips and Crapper Fitzgerald told Lee in adult that they would uphold their oaths; John H. Upshur stayed with the Union military teeth of much family pressure; Roger Phonetician stayed in the Union soldiers after Lee refused to display him on what to do; and two of Philip Fendall's sons fought for the Unity. Forty percent of Virginian lecturers stayed with the North.^[104][102]

Early role

At the outbreak of war, Gladness was appointed to command go to the bottom of Virginia's forces, which subsequently encompassed the Provisional Army position Virginia and the Virginia Asseverate Navy. He was appointed excellent Major General by the Colony Governor, but upon the make a recording of the Confederate States Legions, he was named one be frightened of its first five full generals. Lee did not wear nobility insignia of a Confederate popular, but only the three stars of a Confederate colonel, close to his last U.S. Gray rank.^[108] He did not have in mind to wear a general's garb until the Civil War challenging been won and he could be promoted, in peacetime, follow a line of investigation general in the Confederate Grey.

Lee's first field assignment was commanding Confederate forces in woo Virginia, where he was frustrated at the Battle of Thieve Mountain and was widely damn for Confederate setbacks.^[109] He was then sent to organize honourableness coastal defenses along the Carolina and Georgia seaboard, appointed governor, "Department of South Carolina, Sakartvelo and Florida" on November 5, 1861. Between then and say publicly fall of Fort Pulaski, Apr 11, 1862, he put pointed place a defense of Shoal that proved successful in stalling Federal advance on Savannah. Collaborator fort and naval gunnery involuntary nighttime movement and construction induce the besiegers. Federal preparations allotted four months. In those connect months, Lee developed a bulwark in depth. Behind Fort Pulaski on the Savannah River, Cause Jackson was improved, and match up additional batteries covered river approaches.^[110] In the face of position Union superiority in naval, gun and infantry deployment, Lee was able to block any Accomplice advance on Savannah, and destiny the same time, well-trained Sakartvelo troops were released in interval to meet McClellan's Peninsula Drive. The city of Savannah would not fall until Sherman's provision from the interior at authority end of 1864.

At gain victory, the press spoke to honesty disappointment of losing Fort Pulaski. Surprised by the effectiveness do paperwork large caliber Parrott Rifles access their first deployment, it was widely speculated that only perfidiousness could have brought overnight forego to a Third System Be. Lee was said to maintain failed to get effective shore up in the Savannah River diverge the three sidewheeler gunboats fairhaired the Georgia Navy. Although afresh blamed by the press be attracted to Confederate reverses, he was equipped military adviser to Confederate PresidentJefferson Davis, the former U.S. Reporter of War. While in Richmond, Lee was ridiculed as leadership 'King of Spades' for realm excessive digging of trenches posse the capitol. These trenches would later play a pivotal impersonation in battles near the assistance of the war.^[111]

Army of Ad northerly Virginia commander (June 1862 – June 1863)

Further information: Army raise Northern Virginia

In the spring wink 1862, during the Peninsula Jihad, the Union Army of blue blood the gentry Potomac under General George Ill at ease. McClellan advanced on Richmond use up Fort Monroe. Progressing up magnanimity Peninsula, McClellan forced Gen. Patriarch E. Johnston and the Flock of Virginia to retreat principle a point just north slab east of the Confederate equipment.

Johnston was wounded at decency Battle of Seven Pines, periphery June 1, 1862, giving Appreciate his first opportunity to be in charge an army in the field – the force he renamed honourableness Army of Northern Virginia, signalling confidence that the Union crowd could be driven away cheat Richmond. Early in the conflict, Lee had been called "Granny Lee" for his allegedly uncouth style of command.^[112] Confederate chapter editorials objected to him takings Johnston, opining that Lee would be passive, waiting for Entity attack. This seemed true, initially; for the first three weeks of June, Lee did slogan show aggression, instead strengthening Richmond's defenses.

However, on June 25, he surprised the Army jump at the Potomac and launched a-one rapid series of bold attacks: the Seven Days Battles. Neglect superior Union numbers and dehydrated clumsy tactical performances by climax subordinates, Lee's attacks derailed McClellan's plans and drove back governing of his forces. Confederate casualties were heavy, but an jumpy McClellan, famed for his determination, retreated 25 miles (40 km) go on a trip the lower James River, dominant abandoned the Peninsula completely critical August. This success changed Collaborator morale and the public's upon for Lee. After the Cardinal Days Battles, and until dignity end of the war, emperor men called him "Marse Robert", a term of respect challenging affection.^[113]

The setback, and the indirect drop in Union morale, driven Lincoln to adopt a contemporary policy of relentless, committed warfare.^[114][115] After the Seven Days, President decided he had to make public to emancipate most Confederate slaves by executive order, as dexterous military act, using his competence as commander-in-chief.^[116] To make that possible, he needed a Combination victory.

Wheeling to the direction, Lee marched rapidly towards Pedagogue, D.C. and defeated another Unification army under Gen. John Catholic at the Second Battle neat as a new pin Bull Run in late Lordly. He eliminated Pope before backup from McClellan arrived, knocking reason an entire field command beforehand another could arrive to posterior it. In less than 90 days, Lee had run McClellan off the Peninsula, defeated Holy father, and moved the battle remain 82 miles (132 km) north, depart from 6 miles (9.7 km) north uphold Richmond to 20 miles (32 km) south of Washington.

Lee chose to take the battle have a meal southern ground and invaded Colony and Pennsylvania, hoping to consent supplies in Union territory, very last possibly win a victory saunter would sway the upcoming Unity elections in favor of immoderation the war. This was portray amiss when McClellan's men perform a lost Confederate dispatch, Exceptional Order 191, revealing Lee's score and movements. McClellan always assuming Lee's numerical strength, but immediately he knew the Confederate armed force was divided and could the makings destroyed in detail. Still, crumble a characteristic manner, McClellan rapt slowly; he failed to make a reality a spy had informed Actor that he possessed the order. Lee quickly concentrated his soldiers west of Antietam Creek, next to Sharpsburg, Maryland, where McClellan specious on September 17. The Hostility of Antietam was the unattached bloodiest day of the battle, with both sides suffering gigantic losses. Lee's army barely withstood the Union assaults, and retreated to Virginia the next weekend away. The narrow Confederate defeat gave President Abraham Lincoln the time to issue his Emancipation Proclamation,^[117] which put the Confederacy disturb the diplomatic and moral defensive.^[118]

Disappointed by McClellan's failure to forget about Lee's army, Lincoln named Father Burnside the commander of dignity Army of the Potomac. General ordered an attack across distinction Rappahannock River at Fredericksburg, Colony. Delays in bridging the queue allowed Lee's army ample put on the back burner to organize strong defenses, present-day the Union frontal assault vulgar December 13, 1862, was first-class disaster. There were 12,600 Entity casualties to 5,000 Confederate, construction the engagement one of magnanimity most one-sided battles in prestige Civil War.^[119] After this acquisition, Lee reportedly said, "It legal action well that war is unexceptional terrible, else we should construct too fond of it."^[119] Balanced Fredericksburg, according to historian Archangel Fellman, Lee had completely entered into the "spirit of fighting, where destructiveness took on sheltered own beauty".^[119]

The bitter Union be troubled at Fredericksburg prompted President Lawyer to appoint Joseph Hooker although the next commander of illustriousness Army of the Potomac. Imprison May 1863, Hooker maneuvered resolve attack Lee's army by hybridisation the Rapahannock further upriver distinguished positioning himself at the Chancellorsville crossroads. Doing this could allot him an opportunity to leave suddenly Lee in the rear, however the Confederate General barely managed to pivot his forces satisfaction time to face an pounce upon. Hooker's command was nearly two times the size of Lee's however he nonetheless was beaten fend for Lee performed a daring carriage that broke all terms cataclysm conventional warfare: dividing his horde. Lee sent Stonewall Jackson's body of men to attack Hooker's exposed on the opposite side unscrew the battlefield. The significant mastery that followed came with top-hole price. Among the heavy casualties was Jackson, his finest hands commander, accidentally fired on jam his own troops.^[120]

Even though sand scored another impressive victory mix up an enemy army much large than his own, Lee matte unsatisfied by the fact wander he had made little defensive gains up to that gaudy. Things were going poorly perform the Confederacy in the Westbound, and Lee started to model restless; he devised a means to once again invade honourableness North, for similar reasons follow a line of investigation before: relieve Virginia and neat citizens of the weariness weekend away battle, and potentially march aspirant the Federal Capital and vocation terms of peace.

Battle be in the region of Gettysburg

Main article: Battle of Gettysburg

Critical decisions came in May–June 1863, after Lee's smashing victory dilemma the Battle of Chancellorsville. Representation western front was crumbling, importance multiple uncoordinated Confederate armies were unable to handle General Odysseus S. Grant's campaign against Besieging. The top military advisers called for to save Vicksburg, but Appreciate persuaded Davis to overrule them and authorize yet another incursion of the North. The crucial goal was to acquire conscientious needed supplies from the affluent farming districts of Pennsylvania; neat long-term goal was to reinforce peace activity in the Ad northerly by demonstrating the power be expeditious for the South to invade. Lee's decision proved a significant key blunder and cost the Combination control of its western understanding, and nearly cost Lee authority own army as Union buttressing cut him off from greatness South.^[121]

Lee launched the Gettysburg Appeal when he abandoned his in line on the Rapahannock and intersecting the Potomac River into Colony in June. Hooker mobilized jurisdiction men and pursued, but was replaced by Gen. George Faint. Meade on June 28, efficient few days before the connect armies clashed at the community of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in precisely July; the battle produced loftiness largest number of casualties comprise the American Civil War. Brutally of Lee's subordinates were creative and inexperienced to their instruction, and J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry ineffective to perform effective reconnaissance. Nobility first day was a stupefaction affair for both sides, topmost the Confederates managed to experiment their forces first, pushing grandeur panicked Union troops away strange town, and towards key landscape that should have been occupied by General Ewell, but was not. The second day evident differently for the Confederates. They took too much time realize assemble, and launched repeated unsuccessful assaults against the Union left-hand flank over difficult terrain. Lee's decision on the third generation, going against the advice unconscious his best corps commander, Info. James Longstreet, to launch precise massive frontal assault on illustriousness center of the Union neat, was disastrous. It was badger out over a wide existence, and has come to print known commonly as Pickett's Toll. Easily repulsed, Pickett's Charge, called after the general whose share participated, resulted in severe Supporter losses. Lee rode out join forces with meet the remains of character division and proclaimed, "All that has been my fault."^[122] Operate had no choice but feign withdraw, and he escaped Meade's ineffective pursuit, slipping back bump into Virginia.

Following his defeat pass on Gettysburg, Lee sent a message of resignation to President Actress on August 8, 1863, nevertheless Davis refused Lee's pleas pause retire. That fall, Lee enjoin Meade met again in fold up minor campaigns, Bristoe and Operation Run, that did little tutorial change the strategic standoff. Blue blood the gentry Confederate Army never fully from the substantial losses incurred during the three-day battle bargain southern Pennsylvania. Civil War Annalist Shelby Foote once stated, "Gettysburg was the price the Southbound paid for having Robert Heritage. Lee as commander."^{[citation needed]}

Ulysses Brutal. Grant and the Union offensive

In 1864 the new Union general-in-chief, Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Unobstructed, sought to use his weak advantages in manpower and question resources to destroy Lee's concourse by attrition, pinning Lee antithetical his capital of Richmond. Take pleasure in successfully stopped each attack, however Grant with his superior aplenty kept pushing each time boss bit farther to the southeast. These battles in the Overland Campaign included the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House and Cold Nurse.

Grant eventually was able join stealthily move his army area the James River. After over a Union attempt to suppress Petersburg, Virginia, a vital put into effect link supplying Richmond, Lee's general public built elaborate trenches and were besieged in Petersburg, a come to life which presaged the trench action of World War I. Satisfaction attempted to break the stand-off by sending Jubal A. Untimely on a raid through authority Shenandoah Valley to Washington, D.C., but Early was defeated anciently on by the superior revive of Philip Sheridan. The Cordon off of Petersburg lasted from June 1864 until March 1865, collide with Lee's outnumbered and poorly disheartening army shrinking daily because sunup desertions by disheartened Confederates.

General in Chief