Robert E. Lee Lee was born in Stratford, Virginia in 1807. He grew up with much
devotion to the country life and his native state, this continued threw out his
whole life. He was serious boy that loved to spend time in his father’s
library. In 1825 he entered the United States Military Academe at West Point.
His classmates looked up to him because of his brilliance, leadership, and
devotion to duty. He graduated with high honors in 1829. He became the second
lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers. when the war between Mexico in the United
States in 1846, they sent lee to go to Texas as assistant engineer under General
John E. Wool. he was shortly transferred to general Winfield Scott’s command
and took place in the capture of Veracruz. During the March towards Mexico City
Lee was promoted to major. Then to a lieutenant colonel. When the Civil War
began even though Lee did not believe in slavery and did not favor secession. He
felt that slavery had an evil effect on masters as well as slaves. Long before
the war Lee had freed the few slaves that he had inherited. Lee greatly admired
George Washington, and hated the thought of dividing the nation. But he came to
feel that his state was protecting the very liberty, freedom, and legal
principles that Washington had fought for. Lee had a really hard time choosing
weather to fight for his country or stay with the Union. He ended staying with
his own state but it is not a decision he took lightly. He served as a Military
advisor for the confederacy. He later changed positions again were he had troops
under him. Lee contributed much to the civil war. He was an excellent general
and lead many troops to victories in the Mexican war and the Civil War.