Robert E. Lee and His Role in the Civil War

Born and Early Life

Born on 19 January 1807, Robert Edward Lee served the United States as a Confederate general in the famous civil war. At the time of his birth, Robert Lee and his family lived in Stratford Hall in the state of Virginia. Born in a family with a royal background, his father worked in the military as a Calvary leader in the Revolution war. More so, the family had a president as well as a chief justice who took a central part n signing the Declaration of Independence. Using the background, Robert Lee capitalized on the family connections to enroll in the military academy at West Point at the age of eighteen. However, he was a good student who graduated second in his class with perfect scores in cavalry, infantry, and artillery. In the four years of study, he did not receive a single demerit on the course. After graduation from the military academy at the age of twenty-four years, Robert Lee married Mary Custis from the lineage of President George Washington.<\/p>

Family Life and Military Career

The union bore seven children, four girls and three boys. Due to the nature of his career in the military, Robert Lee spent minimal time with the family as he traversed the country fulfilling his military obligations. In 1846, while serving under General Winfred Scott, Robert Lee experienced his first war when the United States conflicted with Mexico (DeFleur and Margaret 11). During the war, he demonstrated his expertise leading to huge praises from the general. Despite the escalating career, Robert Lee experienced massive challenges balancing between family and career, especially after the death of his father-in-law. In 1859, Robert Lee led a one hour attack on Harpers Ferry putting an end to the slave rebellion whose leader was John Brown. Such successes put his name on the list of those capable of leading the country to war. However, Robert Lee resigned from the military due to family commitments.<\/p>

Return to the Military and the Civil War

During the period, he turned down the offer from the president to be the commander of the Union Forces. In 1861, he went back to the military and became successful in controlling the Army of Northern Virginia during the war in Richmond at the Seven Days Battle. His first and biggest failure occurred in 1862 where he lost 22,000 soldiers at the battles of Antietam (Sears 61). Subsequently, Robert Lee suffered another loss to the Union General leading to his surrender in 1865, an act that many people consider him a traitor. In 1865, Robert Lee returned home and devoted his time and energy in Washington College to boost their enrollment of students as a way of increasing the financial income of the institution. Five years later, Robert Lee succumbed to a severe stroke at the age of sixty-three years. Immediately after his death, the management of the college changed the name to Washington and Lee University.<\/p>

Role in the Civil War and Tactical Approach

Robert Lee played a significant role in the civil war. In 1862, President Jefferson Davis appointed Robert Lee as his military advisor. The appointment positioned him at the center of the civil war. In 1862, Robert Lee, in collaboration with Thomas Jonathan, led a weaker force towards defeating a more significant force from the Union led by General George McClellan in the Shenandoah Valley. However, Robert Lee took full control of the army after the injury of Thomas Jonathan during the Battle of Seven Pines (Grossman 169). After the war, he reorganized the force into the Army of Northern Virginia with better morale and stronger command. Using the team, he successfully stopped the movement of heavy machinery aimed at striking Richmond by Fitz-John Porter near the Chickahominy River. The attack eliminated the supply chain, making the city safe.<\/p>

Tactics and Achievements

Robert Lee supplied the force with a tactical approach towards keeping the enemy away. The Confederate troops were facing bigger challenges from the stronger opponents. Therefore, instead of fighting the enemy, Robert Lee capitalized on scattering the plans of the enemy before the war. The arrangements were instrumental in ensuring he protected the farmers as well as the yields on the farm. More so, he kept the enemy from accessing the armament-producing center in Richmond to provide a steady supply of arms without interference. Two years into the war, Robert Lee was successful in keeping Richmond peaceful and safe from any invasion (Eicher and John 122). One of the biggest challenges for Robert Lee was the attack at Antietam in August 1862. During the time, he anticipated receiving assistance from the sympathizers in the South. The failure led to a massive attack that almost incapacitated the entire force.<\/p>

Military Successes and Legacy

The defeat did not push him into submission. Robert Lee led the forces across the Potomac River and reorganized them into more winnings in Virginia, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. In Chancellorsville, he defeated an army with twice the number of officers by encircling the enemy and overpowering them. The move amazed most of the military leadership since it was very creative and risky. The achievements of Robert Lee capitalize on the successes achieved in various wars. His tactics caught the enemy by surprise, giving him victory. At times, he combated forces with bigger armies and weapons but still emerged triumphant. The attention and determination demonstrated in the academy were evident in his career in the military. His retirement and death were a massive loss for the country due to the multiple successes he gave the state.<\/p>

Works Cited

DeFleur, Melvin L., and Margaret H. DeFleur. Mass communication theories: Explaining origins, processes, and effects. Routledge, 2016.

Eicher, David J., and John H. Eicher. Civil War battlefields : a touring guide. Lanham, MD: Taylor Trade Pub, 2005. Print.

Grossman, Mark. World military leaders : a biographical dictionary. New York, NY: Facts On File, 2007. Print.

Sears, Stephen W. Landscape turned red : the Battle of Antietam. New Haven: Ticknor & Fields, 2015. Print.