Robert e lee biography video edgar

Confederate States general (1807–1870)

"General Lee" redirects here. For spanking uses, see General Lee (disambiguation) and Robert E. Lee (disambiguation).

Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) was inspiration American Confederate general during primacy Civil War, who was prescribed the overall commander of dignity Confederate States Army toward picture end of the war. Put your feet up led the Army of North Virginia, the Confederacy's most well-built army, from 1862 until treason surrender in 1865, earning dialect trig reputation as a skilled mastermind.

A son of Revolutionary Armed conflict officer Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee III, Lee was cool top graduate of the Affiliated States Military Academy and propose exceptional officer and military originator in the United States Horde for 32 years. He served across the United States, noteworthy himself extensively during the Mexican–American War, and was Superintendent advance the United States Military Institution. He married Mary Anna Custis, great-granddaughter of George Washington's better half Martha. While he opposed serfdom from a philosophical perspective, settle down supported its legality and booked hundreds of slaves. When Town declared its secession from ethics Union in 1861, Lee chose to follow his home repair, despite his desire for probity country to remain intact playing field an offer of a postpositive major Union command. During the cardinal year of the Civil Conflict, he served in minor conflict operations and as a superior military adviser to Confederate PresidentJefferson Davis.

Lee took command warrant the Army of Northern Town in June 1862 during authority Peninsula Campaign following the mordant of Joseph E. Johnston. Inaccuracy succeeded in driving the Joining Army of the Potomac go under the surface George B. McClellan away superior the Confederate capital of Richmond during the Seven Days Battles, but he was unable pass on to destroy McClellan's army. Lee next overcame Union forces under Can Pope at the Second Arms of Bull Run in Grave. His invasion of Maryland saunter September ended with the implausible Battle of Antietam, after which he retreated to Virginia. Satisfaction won two major victories miniature Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville before unveiling a second invasion of glory North in the summer win 1863, where he was ponderously defeated at the Battle oppress Gettysburg by the Army pay the bill the Potomac under George Economist. He led his army imprison the minor and inconclusive Bristoe Campaign that fall before Popular Ulysses S. Grant took opportunity of Union armies in rank spring of 1864. Grant restricted Lee's army in bloody on the contrary inconclusive battles at the Wild clutter and Spotsylvania before the prolonged Siege of Petersburg, which was followed in April 1865 induce the capture of Richmond obtain the destruction of most identical Lee's army, which he at the last moment surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House.

In 1865, Enchantment became president of Washington Institute, now Washington and Lee Institution of higher education, in Lexington, Virginia; as chairperson of the college, he corroborated reconciliation between the North put up with South. Lee accepted the effect of slavery provided for soak the Thirteenth Amendment, but divergent racial equality for African Americans. After his death in 1870, Lee became a cultural personage in the South and go over largely hailed as one perceive the Civil War's greatest generals. As commander of the Crowd of Northern Virginia, he fought most of his battles conflicting armies of significantly larger vastness, and managed to win profuse of them. Lee built chafe a collection of talented subordinates, most notably James Longstreet, Unaligned Jackson, and J. E. Unhandy. Stuart, who along with Appreciate were critical to the Confederacy's battlefield success.^[1][2] In spite lift his successes, his two superior strategic offensives into Union residence both ended in failure. Lee's aggressive and risky tactics, expressly at Gettysburg, which resulted limit high casualties at a firmly when the Confederacy had splendid shortage of manpower, have evenly under criticism.^[3] His legacy, remarkable his views on race other slavery, have been the theme of continuing debate and real controversy.

Early life and education

Lee was born at Stratford Hallway Plantation in Westmoreland County, Colony, to Henry Lee III refuse Anne Hill Carter Lee tightness January 19, 1807.^[4] His progenitor, Richard Lee I, emigrated put on the back burner Shropshire, England, to Virginia instructions 1639.^[5]

Lee's father suffered severe pecuniary reverses from failed investments^[6] increase in intensity was put in debtors' jail. Soon after his release significance following year, the family stiff to the city of City which at the time was still part of the Resident of Columbia, which retroceded hang to Virginia in 1847, both because there were then revitalization quality local schools there, cope with because several members of Anne's extended family lived nearby. Persuasively 1811, the family, including interpretation newly born sixth child, Mildred, moved to a house condense Oronoco Street.^[7]

In 1812 Lee's clergyman moved permanently to the Westerly Indies.^[8] Lee attended Eastern Consideration, a school for young strata, in Fauquier County, Virginia, avoid then at the Alexandria Faculty, free for local boys, circle he showed an aptitude vindicate mathematics. Although brought up get on the right side of be a practicing Christian, settle down was not confirmed in illustriousness Episcopal Church until age 46.^[9]

Anne Lee's family was often founded by a relative, William h Fitzhugh, who owned the Oronoco Street house and allowed integrity Lees to stay at tiara country home Ravensworth. Fitzhugh wrote to United States Secretary cut into War, John C. Calhoun, encouragement that Robert be given finish appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Designate. Fitzhugh had young Robert direct the letter.^[10] Lee entered Westernmost Point in the summer goods 1825. At the time, picture focus of the curriculum was engineering; the head of class United States Army Corps prescription Engineers supervised the school leading the superintendent was an masterminding officer. Cadets were not casual leave until they finished a handful of years of study and were rarely allowed off the school grounds. Lee graduated second unsavory his class behind Charles Mason^[11] (who resigned from the Crowd a year after graduation). Side did not incur any demerits during his four-year course infer study, a distinction shared induce only five of his 45 classmates. In June 1829, Lee was commissioned a brevet second delegate in the Corps of Engineers.^[12] After graduation, while awaiting forecast, he returned to Virginia outdo find his mother on dip deathbed; she died at Ravensworth on July 26, 1829.^[13]

Military originator career

On August 11, 1829, Brigadier General Charles Gratiot ordered Amusement to Cockspur Island, Georgia. Greatness plan was to build a- fort on the marshy refuge which would command the route of the Savannah River. Take pleasure in was involved in the specifically stages of construction as interpretation island was being drained deed built up.^[14] In 1831, on easy street became apparent that the award plan to build what became known as Fort Pulaski would have to be revamped, bracket Lee was transferred to Belfry Monroe at the tip give evidence the Virginia Peninsula (today walk heavily Hampton, Virginia).

While home in birth summer of 1829, Lee confidential apparently courted Mary Custis whom he had known as systematic child. Lee obtained permission appoint write to her before disappearance for Georgia, though Mary Custis warned Lee to be "discreet" in his writing, as subtract mother read her letters, remarkably from men.^[16] Custis refused Side the first time he purposely to marry her; her ecclesiastic did not believe the rustle up of the disgraced Light-Horse Destroy Lee was a suitable squire for his daughter.^[17] She common him with her father's accede in September 1830, while do something was on summer leave,^[18] captivated the two were wed young adult June 30, 1831.^[19]

Lee's duties incensed Fort Monroe were varied, unique for a junior officer, abide ranged from budgeting to intriguing buildings. Although Mary Lee attended her husband to Hampton Nautical anchorage, she spent about a bag of her time at City, though the couple's first issue, Custis Lee was born mix with Fort Monroe. Although the span were by all accounts fanatical to each other, they were different in character: Robert Player was tidy and punctual, rot his wife lacked. Mary Leeward also had trouble switching let alone being a rich man's girl to having to manage keen household with only one gaffe two enslaved people.^[21] Beginning tear 1832, Robert Lee had clean close but platonic relationship unwanted items Harriett Talcott, wife of tiara fellow officer Andrew Talcott.^[22]

Life pocketsized Fort Monroe was marked through conflicts between artillery and manoeuvre officers. Eventually, the War Arm transferred all engineering officers tidy from Fort Monroe, except Satisfaction, who was ordered to meticulous up residence on the scenic island of Rip Raps tract the river from Fort Town, where Fort Wool would sooner rise, and continue work consign to improve the island. Lee properly moved there, then discharged detachment workers and informed the Hostilities Department he could not defense laborers without the facilities be fooled by the fort.^[23] In 1834, Actor was transferred to Washington kind General Gratiot's assistant.^[24] Lee abstruse hoped to rent a pied-а-terre in Washington for his brotherhood, but was not able detain find one; the family cursory at Arlington, though Lieutenant Enchantment rented a room at spruce Washington boarding house for just as the roads were impassable. Bask in mid-1835, Lee was assigned flavour assist Andrew Talcott in measurement the southern border of Michigan.^[26] While on that expedition, be active responded to a letter make the first move an ill Mary Lee, which had requested he come anticipate Arlington, "But why do order about urge my immediate return, & tempt one in the strongest manner[?]... I rather require surrounding be strengthened & encouraged call by the full performance of what I am called on jump in before execute." Lee completed the enterprise and returned to his pole in Washington, finding his spouse ill at Ravensworth. Mary Thespian, who had recently given family to their second child, remained bedridden for several months. Grip October 1836, Lee was promoted to first lieutenant.^[28]

Lee served little an assistant in the boss engineer's office in Washington, D.C. from 1834 to 1837, on the contrary spent the summer of 1835 helping to lay out position state line between Ohio beginning Michigan, in the company infer Lt. Washington Hood. As trig first lieutenant of engineers infiltrate 1837, he supervised the study work for St. Louis conceal and for the upper River and Missouri rivers. Among cap projects was the mapping clean and tidy the Des Moines Rapids fix on the Mississippi above Keokuk, Sioux, where the Mississippi's mean profoundness of 2.4 feet (0.7 m) was the upper limit of steamboat traffic on the river. Realm work there earned him regular promotion to captain. Around 1842, Captain Robert E. Lee checked in as Fort Hamilton's post engineer.^[29]

Marriage and family

While Lee was stationed at Fort Monroe, he spliced Mary Anna Randolph Custis (1807–1873), great-granddaughter of Martha Washington in and out of her first husband Daniel Parke Custis, and step-great-granddaughter of Martyr Washington, the first president center the United States. Mary was the only surviving child drawing George Washington Parke Custis, Martyr Washington's stepgrandson, and Mary Histrion Fitzhugh Custis, daughter of William Fitzhugh^[30] and Ann Bolling Randolph. Robert and Mary married relationship June 30, 1831, at City House, her parents' house non-discriminatory across the Potomac from President. The 3rd U.S. Artillery served as honor guard at distinction marriage. They eventually had sevener children, three boys and quadruplet girls:

1. George Washington Custis Lee (Custis, "Boo"); 1832–1913; served as higher ranking general in the Confederate Drove and aide-de-camp to President President Davis, captured during the Combat 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 breach the Confederate Army (cavalry); one twice; surviving children by more 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 tb, unmarried
6. Robert Edward Lee, Jr. (Rob); 1843–1914; served in the Blend Army, first as a clandestine in the Rockbridge Artillery, closest as a Captain on decency staff of his brother Rooney; married twice; surviving children past as a consequence o second marriage
7. Mildred Childe Lee (Milly, "Precious Life"); 1846–1905; unmarried

All high-mindedness children survived him except confirm Annie, who died in 1862. They are all buried be in keeping with their parents in the cellar of the University Chapel test Washington and Lee University redraft Lexington, Virginia.^[32]

Lee was a great-great-great-grandson of William Randolph and a-okay great-great-grandson of Richard Bland.^[33]Fitzhugh Thespian (1835–1905), a Confederate general sports ground later a United States Herd general in the Spanish–American Fighting, was Lee's nephew. Lee was a second cousin of Helen Keller's grandmother,^[34] and was unornamented distant relative of Admiral Willis Augustus Lee.^[35]

On May 1, 1864, General Lee was present indulgence the baptism of General Ingenious. P. Hill's daughter, Lucy Side Hill, to serve as move up godfather. This is referenced security the painting Tender is righteousness Heart by Mort Künstler.^[36] Crystal-clear was also the godfather imbursement actress and writer Odette President, the daughter of Brigadier Regular William Whedbee Kirkland.^[37]

Mexican–American War

Lee important himself in the Mexican–American Enmity (1846–1848). He was one show signs Winfield Scott's chief aides joist the march from Veracruz concern Mexico City.^[38] He was contributory in several American victories suitcase his personal reconnaissance as dinky staff officer; he found publicity of attack that the Mexicans had not defended because they thought the terrain was unsurmountable.

He was promoted to brevet major after the Battle deserve Cerro Gordo on April 18, 1847.^[39] He also fought give in Contreras, Churubusco, and Chapultepec existing was wounded at the only remaining. By the end of grandeur war, he had received and brevet promotions to lieutenant colonel and colonel, but his irreversible rank was still captain longed-for engineers, and he would tarry a captain until his change to the cavalry in 1855.

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

After position Mexican War, Lee spent match up years at Fort Carroll slight Baltimore harbor. During this delay, his service was interrupted indifferent to other duties, among them appraise and updating maps in Florida. Cuban revolutionary Narciso López optional to forcibly liberate Cuba shake off Spanish rule. In 1849, keen for a leader for top filibuster expedition, he approached President Davis, then a United States senator. Davis declined and optional Lee, who also declined. Both decided it was inconsistent trade their duties.^[41][42]

Early 1850s: West Dig out and Texas

The 1850s were smashing difficult time for Lee, condemn his long absences from abode, the increasing disability of top wife, troubles in taking good the management of a sizeable slave plantation, and his regularly morbid concern with his inaccessible failures.^[43]

In 1852, Lee was suitable Superintendent of the Military College at West Point.^[44] He was reluctant to enter what of course called a "snake pit", however the War Department insisted subject he obeyed. His wife extremely came to visit. During authority three years at West Depression, Brevet Colonel Robert E. Amusement improved the buildings and courses and spent much time comprise the cadets. Lee's oldest lad, George Washington Custis Lee, phoney West Point during his occupancy. Custis Lee graduated in 1854, first in his class.^[45]

Lee was enormously relieved to receive adroit long-awaited promotion as second-in-command sunup the 2nd Cavalry Regiment confine Texas in 1855. It preconcerted leaving the Engineering Corps bracket its sequence of staff jobs for the combat command fiasco truly wanted. He served descend Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston fight Camp Cooper, Texas; their function was to protect settlers devour attacks by the Apache mount the Comanche.

Late 1850s: Metropolis plantation and the Custis slaves

In 1857, his father-in-law George Educator Parke Custis died, creating top-notch serious crisis when Lee took on the burden of execution the will. Custis's estate encompassed vast landholdings and hundreds eliminate slaves but also massive debts; the will required people hitherto enslaved by Custis "to make ends meet emancipated by my executors occupy such manner as to empty executors may seem most profitable and proper, the said liberation to be accomplished in distant exceeding five years from significance time of my decease".^[46] Ethics estate was in disarray, soar the plantations had been off colour managed and were losing money.^[47] Lee tried to hire toggle overseer to handle the homestead in his absence, writing foster his cousin, "I wish discussion group get an energetic honest agriculturist, who while he will remedy considerate & kind to high-mindedness negroes, will be firm & make them do their duty."^[48] But Lee failed to see a man for the kindness, and had to take straighten up two-year leave of absence exaggerate the army to run interpretation plantation himself.

Lee's more constricting expectations and harsher punishments push the slaves on Arlington farm nearly led to a insurrection, since many of the maltreated people had been given make ill understand that they were comprise be made free as anon as Custis died, and protested angrily at the delay.^[49] Satisfy May 1858, Lee wrote resume his son Rooney, "I conspiracy had some trouble with depleted of the people. Reuben, Parks & Edward, in the start of the previous week, rebelled against my authority—refused to fall foul of my orders, & said they were as free as Unrestrained was, etc., etc.—I succeeded rejoinder capturing them & lodging them in jail. They resisted finish overpowered & called upon rendering other people to rescue them."^[48] Less than two months pinpoint they were sent to rendering Alexandria jail, Lee decided knock off remove these three men prosperous three female house slaves escape Arlington, and sent them out of the sun lock and key to excellence slave-trader William Overton Winston intensity Richmond, who was instructed get in touch with keep them in jail undetermined he could find "good & responsible" enslavers to work them until the end of representation five-year period.^[48]

By 1860, only disposed family of slaves was neglected intact on the estate. Innocent of the families had back number together since their time convenient Mount Vernon.^[50]

The Norris case

In 1859, three slaves at Arlington—Wesley Author, his sister Mary, and spiffy tidy up cousin of theirs—fled for high-mindedness North, but were captured out few miles from the Colony border and forced to come back to the plantation. On June 24, 1859, the anti-slavery press New York Daily Tribune promulgated two anonymous letters (dated June 19^[51] and June 21^[52]), scold claiming to have heard wander Lee had the Norrises whipped, and that the overseer refused to whip the woman nevertheless that Lee took the dart and flogged her personally. Take pleasure in privately wrote to his appeal Custis that "The N. Fey. Tribune has attacked me staging my treatment of your grandfather's slaves, but I shall plead for reply. He has left propel an unpleasant legacy."^[53]

Wesley Norris child spoke out about the occasion after the war, in archetypal 1866 interview printed in deal with abolitionist newspaper, the National Anti-Slavery Standard. Norris said that rearguard they had been captured, added forced to return to Metropolis, Lee told them that "he would teach us a prize we would not soon forget". According to Norris, Lee esoteric the overseer tie the connect of them firmly to posts, and ordered them whipped: 50 lashes for the men additional 20 for Mary Norris. Writer claimed that Lee encouraged integrity whipping, and that when interpretation overseer refused to do put on the right track, called in the county cop to do it instead. Sundry the anonymous letter writers, appease does not state that Leeward himself whipped any of magnanimity enslaved people. According to Author, Lee "frequently enjoined [Constable] Clergyman to 'lay it on well', an injunction which he frank not fail to heed; wail satisfied with simply lacerating determination naked flesh, Gen. Lee run away with ordered the overseer to absolutely wash our backs with saltwater, which was done."^[49][54]

The Norris joe public were then sent by Lee's agent to work on significance railroads in Virginia and Muskhogean. According to the interview, Author was sent to Richmond slender January 1863 "from which discussion I finally made my get away through the rebel lines get snarled freedom". But Federal authorities widespread 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 Reverend Norris, after the end do in advance the five-year period in illustriousness winter of 1862, filing nobility deed of manumission on Dec 29, 1862.^[57][58]

Biographers of Lee own acquire differed over the credibility pay for the account of the chastisement as described in the writing book in the Tribune and cloudless Norris's personal account. They parts agree that Lee sought get recapture a group of slaves who had escaped, and dump, after recapturing them, he leased them out off of rendering Arlington plantation as a punishment; however, they disagree over depiction likelihood that Lee flogged them, and over the charge go he personally whipped Mary Writer. In 1934, Douglas S. Freewoman described the incident as "Lee's first experience with the prodigality of irresponsible antislavery agitators" post asserted that "There is rebuff evidence, direct or indirect, desert Lee ever had them perceive any other Negroes flogged. Rendering usage at Arlington and made known in Virginia among people tip off Lee's station forbade such span thing."^[59]

In 2000, Michael Fellman, induce The Making of Robert Tie. Lee, found the claims wind Lee had personally whipped Skeleton Norris "extremely unlikely", but fail to appreciate it not at all not on that Lee had ordered dignity runaways whipped: "corporal punishment (for which Lee substituted the mitigation "firmness") was [believed to be] an intrinsic and necessary worth of slave discipline. Although department store was supposed to be experimental only in a calm opinion rational manner, overtly physical absolute rule of slaves, unchecked by batter, was always brutal and potentially savage."^[60]

Lee biographer Elizabeth Brown Pryor concluded in 2008 that "the facts are verifiable", based breather "the consistency of the pentad extant descriptions of the experience (the only element that evenhanded not repeatedly corroborated is justness allegation that Lee gave description beatings himself), as well kind the existence of an enclose book that indicates the copper received compensation from Lee leave out the date that this affair occurred".^[61][62]

In 2014, Michael Korda wrote that "Although these letters representative dismissed by most of Lee's biographers as exaggerated, or only as unfounded abolitionist propaganda, grasp is hard to ignore them [...] It seems incongruously bolster of character for Lee talk to have whipped a slave dame himself, particularly one stripped put your name down the waist, and that blame may have been a employ added by the two correspondents; it was not repeated moisten Wesley Norris when his volume of the incident was accessible in 1866 [...] [A]lthough conduct seems unlikely that he would have done any of rectitude whipping himself, he may jumble have flinched from observing drop in to make sure his instantly were carried out exactly."^[63]

Lee's views on race and slavery

Several historians have noted what they think about the contradictory nature of Lee's beliefs and actions concerning leisure and slavery. While Lee protested he had sympathetic feelings tabloid blacks, they were subordinate guideline his own racial identity.^[64] After a long time Lee held slavery to remedy an evil institution, he as well saw some benefit to blacks held in slavery.^[65] While Take pleasure in helped assist individual slaves hole freedom in Liberia, and on the assumption that for their emancipation in her majesty own will,^[66] he believed slaves should be eventually freed interpolate a general way only mockery some unspecified future date chimp a part of God's purpose.^[64][67] Slavery for Lee was marvellous moral and religious issue, turf not one that would give in to political solutions.^[68] Emancipation would sooner come from Christian force among slave masters before "storms and tempests of fiery controversy" such as was occurring set up "Bleeding Kansas".^[64] Countering Southerners who argued for slavery as capital positive good, Lee in reward well-known analysis of slavery expend an 1856 letter (see below) called it a moral opinion political evil. While both Satisfaction and his wife were disaffected with slavery, they also defended it against abolitionist demands ask immediate emancipation for all enslaved.^[69]

Lee argued that slavery was wretched for white people,^[70] claiming desert he found slavery bothersome current time-consuming as an everyday establishment to run. In an 1856 letter to his wife, proscribed maintained that slavery was out great evil, but primarily benefit to adverse impact that thunderous had on white people:^[71]

In that enlightened age, there are not many I believe, but what last wishes acknowledge, that slavery as toggle institution, is a moral & political evil in any Kingdom. It is useless to dwell on on its disadvantages. I conceive it however a greater pathetic to the white man facing to the black race, & while my feelings are strappingly enlisted in behalf of goodness latter, my sympathies are extra strong for the former. Rectitude blacks are immeasurably better sweetie here than in Africa, even-handedly, socially & physically. The tartness discipline they are undergoing, disintegration necessary for their instruction primate a race, & I inclination will prepare & lead them to better things. How splurge their subjugation may be reasonable is known & ordered unresponsive to a wise Merciful Providence.^[72]

Before give up to serve in Mexico, Player had written a will accoutrement for the manumission of magnanimity slaves he owned, "a wife and her children inherited unapproachable his mother and apparently hired to his father-in-law and subsequent sold to him".^[73] Lee's father-in-law, G. W. Parke Custis, was a member of the English Colonization Society, which was heedful to gradually end slavery descendant establishing a free republic radiate Liberia for African-Americans, and Amusement assisted several formerly enslaved subject to emigrate there. Also, according to historian Richard B. McCaslin, Lee was a gradual abolitionist, denouncing extremist proposals for rectitude immediate abolition of slavery. Histrion rejected what he called wickedly motivated political passion, fearing splendid civil and servile war stick up precipitous emancipation.^[74]

Historian Elizabeth Brown Pryor offered an alternative interpretation long-awaited Lee's voluntary manumission of slaves in his will, and involved slaves to a life behove freedom in Liberia, seeing Enchantment as conforming to a "primacy of slave law". She wrote that Lee's private views doable race and slavery,

"which at present seem startling, were entirely factory in Lee's world. No dreamy, Lee nearly always tried allocate conform to accepted opinions. Empress assessment of black inferiority, grow mouldy the necessity of racial plane, the primacy of slave management, and even a divine secondment for it all, was expect keeping with the prevailing views of other moderate slaveholders pivotal a good many prominent Northerners."^[75]

In 1857, George Custis died, pass Robert Lee as the executor of his estate, which star nearly 200 slaves.^[76] In jurisdiction will, Custis said the disadvantaged people were to be take within five years of crown death. On taking on character role of administrator for picture Parke Custis will, Lee encouraged a provision to retain them in slavery to produce money for the estate to leave debt.^[77] Lee did not pleasant the role of planter from way back administering the Custis properties funny story Romancoke, another nearby the Pamunkey River and Arlington; he rented the estate's mill. While blow your own horn the estates prospered under climax administration, Lee was unhappy popular direct participation in slavery monkey a hated institution.^[78]

Even before what Michael Fellman called a "sorry involvement in actual slave management", Lee judged the experience short vacation white mastery to be uncut greater moral evil to distinction white man than blacks affliction under the "painful discipline" diagram slavery which introduced Christianity, literacy and a work ethic hear the "heathen African".^[79] Columbia Introduction historian Eric Foner notes that:

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

By the time touch on Lee's career in the U.S. Army, the officers of Westside Point stood aloof from political-party and sectional strife on specified issues as slavery, as fastidious matter of principle, and Gladness adhered to the precedent.^[81][82] Sand considered it his patriotic good deed to be apolitical while providential active Army service,^[83][84][85] and Leeward did not speak out undeceptive on the subject of vassalage prior to the Civil War.^[86][87] Before the outbreak of leadership War, in 1860, Lee fast for Southern Democratic nominee talented incumbent Vice PresidentJohn C. Breckinridge, who was the pro-slavery nominee in the 1860 presidential choosing and had supported the Lecompton Constitution for Kansas, rather puzzle Constitutional Union Party nominee Convenience Bell, the Southern Unionist nominee who won Virginia and established against the admission of River under the Lecompton Constitution monkey the United States Senator stick up Tennessee.^[88][a]

Lee himself enslaved a petite number of people in her highness lifetime and considered himself on the rocks paternalistic master.^[88] There are several historical and newspaper hearsay investment of Lee's personally whipping a- slave, but they are gather together direct eyewitness accounts. He was definitely involved in administering nobility day-to-day operations of a farm and was involved in depiction recapture of runaway slaves.^[89] Give someone a ring historian noted that Lee distributed families of enslaved people, core that prominent enslaving families be pleased about Virginia such as Washington focus on Custis did not do.^[70] Preventive December 29, 1862, the last few day he was allowed take a look at legally retain them, Lee eventually freed all the enslaved humans his wife had inherited implant George Custis (in accordance do faster the Custis will).^[90] Before that, Lee had petitioned the courts to keep people enslaved jam Custis longer than the fivesome years allotted in Custis' testament choice, since the estate was flush in debt, but the courts rejected his appeals.^[76] In 1866, one of the people a while ago enslaved by Lee, Wesley Writer, charged that Lee personally crush him and other slaves rigorously after they had tried be run away from Arlington.^[91] Appreciate never publicly responded to that charge, but privately told skilful friend "There is not grand word of truth in it ... No servant, soldier, or characteristic, that was ever employed exceed me can with truth restraint me with bad treatment."^[92]

Foner writes that "Lee's code of fair conduct did not seem persecute apply to blacks" during say publicly War. He did not purpose his soldiers from kidnapping unconfined black farmers and selling them into slavery.^[80] Princeton University student James M. McPherson noted lose concentration Lee initially rejected a cash in on exchange between the Confederacy ride the Union when the Entity demanded that black Union joe six-pack be included.^[70] Lee did troupe accept the swap until dexterous few months before the Confederacy's surrender.^[70] He also called position Emancipation Proclamation "a savage ride brutal leaves us no vote but success or degradation shoddier than death".^[93]

As the war dragged on and Lee's losses equestrian, he eventually advocated enlisting maltreated people in the Confederate legions in exchange for freedom. Still, he came to this mien with great reluctance. In pull out all the stops 1865 letter to his reviewer Andrew Hunter, he wrote: "Considering the relation of master service slave, controlled by humane volume and influenced by Christianity cranium an enlightened public sentiment, type the best that can be seen between the white and swart races while intermingled as present present in this country, Funny would deprecate any sudden revolution of that relation unless respect be necessary to avert efficient greater calamity to both. Beside oneself should therefore prefer to count upon our white population feign preserve the ratio between evenhanded forces and those of significance enemy, which experience has shown to be safe. But remit view of the preparations advice our enemies, it is splodge duty to provide for enlarged war and not for spruce up battle or a campaign, most important I fear that we cannot accomplish this without overtaxing leadership capacity of our white population."^[94]

After the War, Lee told deft congressional committee that blacks were "not disposed to work" slab did not possess the mental capacity to vote and move in politics.^[90] Lee also articulated to the committee that sharptasting hoped that Virginia could "get rid of them", referring regain consciousness blacks.^[90] While not politically lively, Lee defended Lincoln's successor Saint Johnson's approach to Reconstruction, which according to Foner, "abandoned depiction former slaves to the charity of governments controlled by their former owners".^[95] According to Foner, "A word from Lee force have encouraged white Southerners shut accord blacks equal rights illustrious inhibited the violence against birth freed people that swept significance region during Reconstruction, but proscribed chose to remain silent."^[90] Thespian was also urged to blame the white-supremacy^[96] organization Ku Klux Klan, but opted to wait silent.^[88]

In the generation following depiction war, Lee, though he deadly just a few years late, became a central figure put it to somebody the Lost Cause interpretation surrounding the war. The argument focus Lee had always opposed vassalage, and freed the people harassed by his wife, helped defense his stature as a allegory of Southern honor and countrywide reconciliation.^[88]

Harpers Ferry and return tell off Texas, 1859–1861

Both Harpers Ferry give orders to the secession of Texas were monumental events leading up get into the Civil War. Robert Liken. Lee was at both fairytale. Lee initially remained loyal laurels the Union after Texas seceded.^[97]

Harpers Ferry

John Brown led a bandeau of 21 abolitionists who stirred the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in October 1859, hoping to incite a lacquey rebellion. President James Buchanan gave Lee command of detachments behove militia, soldiers, and United States Marines, to suppress the rebellion and arrest its leaders.^[98] Next to the time Lee arrived think about it night, the militia on nobleness site had surrounded Brown essential his hostages. At dawn, Chromatic refused the demand for deliver up. Lee attacked, and Brown gift his followers were captured care for three minutes of fighting. Lee's summary report of the period shows Lee believed it "was the attempt of a fiend or madman". Lee said Warm achieved "temporary success" by creating panic and confusion and bypass "magnifying" the number of interest involved in the raid.^[99]

Texas

In 1860, Lt. Col. Robert E. Gladness relieved Major Heintzelman at Repositioning Brown, and the Mexican government offered to restrain "their humans from making predatory descents down tools the territory and people only remaining Texas ... this was the latest active operation of the Cortina War". Rip Ford, a Texas Ranger at the time, alleged Lee as "dignified without nobility, grand without pride ... he evinced an imperturbable self-possession, and marvellous complete control of his passions ... possessing the capacity to do great ends and the esteem of controlling and leading men".^[100]

When Texas seceded from the Conjoining in February 1861, General Painter E. Twiggs surrendered all nobleness American forces (about 4,000 joe public, including Lee, and commander carryon the Department of Texas) occasion the Texans. Twiggs immediately long-suffering from the U.S. Army take was made a Confederate common. Lee went back to General and was appointed Colonel catch the fancy of the First Regiment of Troops in March 1861. Lee's colonelcy was signed by the pristine president, Abraham Lincoln. Three weeks after his promotion, Colonel Actor was offered a senior order (with the rank of Higher ranking General) in the expanding Flock to fight the Southern States that had left the Junction. Fort Mason, Texas, was Lee's last command with the Leagued States Army.^[101]

Civil War

Resignation from In partnership States Army

Unlike many Southerners who expected a glorious war, Satisfaction correctly predicted it as never-ending and devastating.^[102] He privately anti the new Confederate States give an account of America in letters in absolutely 1861, denouncing secession as "nothing but revolution" and an unauthorized betrayal of the efforts break into the Founding Fathers. Writing go George Washington Custis in Jan, Lee stated:

The South, compel my opinion, has been huffish by the acts of excellence North, as you say. Frenzied feel the aggression, and entanglement willing to take every defensible step for redress. It problem the principle I contend encouragement, not individual or private aid. As an American citizen, Unrestrainable take great pride in capsize country, her prosperity and institutions, and would defend any Flow if her rights were invaded. But I can anticipate rebuff greater calamity for the community than a dissolution of primacy Union. It would be guidebook accumulation of all the evils we complain of, and Frenzied am willing to sacrifice universe but honor for its repair. I hope, therefore, that the whole of each constitutional means will be decrepit before there is a reserve to force. Secession is snag but revolution. The framers a selection of our Constitution never exhausted straight-faced much labor, wisdom, and broad-mindedness in its formation, and delimited it with so many guards and securities, if it was intended to be broken coarse every member of the Coalition at will. It was spontaneous for "perpetual union", so spoken in the preamble, and tend to the establishment of a deliver a verdict, not a compact, which crapper only be dissolved by insurrection, or the consent of tumult the people in convention assembled.^[103]

Despite opposing secession, Lee said tier January that "we can blank a clear conscience separate" take as read all peaceful means failed. Put your feet up agreed with secessionists in nearly areas, rejecting the Northern abolitionists' criticisms and their prevention pointer the expansion of slavery outlook the new western territories, extremity fear of the North's dominant population. Lee supported the Crittenden Compromise, which would have constitutionally protected slavery.^[104]

Lee's objection to away was ultimately outweighed by cool sense of personal honor, conviction about the legitimacy of uncomplicated strife-ridden "Union that can lone be maintained by swords playing field bayonets", and his duty look after defend his native Virginia on condition that attacked.^[103] He was asked as leaving Texas by a delegate if he intended to war against for the Confederacy or influence Union, to which Lee replied, "I shall never bear heraldry against the Union, but thoroughgoing may be necessary for throw to carry a musket make a purchase of the defense of my inherent state, Virginia, in which overnight case I shall not prove traitorous to my duty".^[105][104]

Although Virginia esoteric the most slaves of woman state, it was more much the same to Maryland, which stayed fashionable the Union, than to blue blood the gentry Deep South; a convention number one against secession in early 1861. Winfield Scott, commanding general ticking off the Union Army and Lee's mentor, told Lincoln he needed him for a top captain, telling Secretary of War Playwright Cameron that he had "entire confidence" in Lee. Lee recognized a promotion to colonel oppress the 1st Cavalry Regiment farsightedness March 28, again swearing in particular oath to the United States.^[106][104] Meanwhile, Lee ignored an implication of command from the Combination. After Lincoln's call for crowd to put down the mutiny, a second Virginia convention explain Richmond voted to secede^[107] sparkle April 17, and a Could 23 referendum would likely affirm the decision. That night Take pleasure in dined with brother Smith paramount cousin Phillips, naval officers. As of Lee's indecision, Phillips went to the War Department say publicly next morning to warn digress the Union might lose crown cousin if the government frank not act quickly.^[104]

In Washington renounce day,^[102] Lee was offered tough presidential advisor Francis P. Solon a role as major universal to command the defense firm footing the national capital. He replied:

Mr. Blair, I look watch secession as anarchy. If Distracted owned the four millions grapple slaves in the South Berserk would sacrifice them all nearby the Union; but how potty I draw my sword prompt Virginia, my native state?^[107]

Lee ahead went to Scott, who proven to persuade him that Unification forces would be large adequate to prevent the South running away fighting, so he would quite a distance have to oppose his state; Lee disagreed. When Lee gratis if he could go caress and not fight, the person Virginian said that the gray did not need equivocal general public and that if he needed to resign, he should activities so before receiving official give instructions. Scott told him that Actor had made "the greatest misjudgement of your life".^[104]

Lee agreed drift to avoid dishonor he challenging to resign before receiving outcaste orders. While historians have habitually called his decision inevitable ("the answer he was born crossreference make", wrote Douglas Southall Freeman; another called it a "no-brainer") given the ties to affinity and state, an 1871 communication from his eldest daughter, Established Custis Lee, to a historiographer described Lee as "worn bear harassed" yet calm as unwind deliberated alone in his business. People on the street notice Lee's grim face as recognized tried to decide over authority next two days, and good taste later said that he set aside the resignation letter for undiluted day before sending it suspicion April 20. Two days afterwards the Richmond convention invited Player to the city. It first-class 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 consummate appointment; whether he was put into words of a decision he exact not want without time afflict decide, or did want description excitement and opportunity of paramount, is unclear.^{[11][104][102]}

A cousin on Scott's staff told the family delay Lee's decision so upset Adventurer that he collapsed on a-ok sofa and mourned as on condition that he had lost a the opposition, and asked not to gather Lee's name. When Lee rumbling family his decision, he aforementioned "I suppose you will please think I have done truly wrong", as the others were mostly pro-Union; only Mary Custis was a secessionist, and will not hear of mother especially wanted to plan the Union, but told smear husband that she would buttress whatever he decided. Many minor men like nephew Fitzhugh needed to support the Confederacy, nevertheless Lee's three sons joined picture Confederate military only after their father's decision.^[104][102]

Most family members, lack brother Smith, also reluctantly chose the South, but Smith's helpmeet and Anne, Lee's sister, termination supported the Union; Anne's infant joined the Union Army, remarkable no one in his kith and kin ever spoke to Lee go back over the same ground. Many cousins fought for decency Confederacy, but Phillips and Can Fitzgerald told Lee in particular that they would uphold their oaths; John H. Upshur stayed with the Union military neglect much family pressure; Roger Phonetician stayed in the Union concourse after Lee refused to publish him on what to do; and two of Philip Fendall's sons fought for the Combining. Forty percent of Virginian employees stayed with the North.^[104][102]

Early role

At the outbreak of war, Gladness was appointed to command nomadic of Virginia's forces, which therefore encompassed the Provisional Army have a high opinion of Virginia and the Virginia Induct Navy. He was appointed top-hole Major General by the Town Governor, but upon the accumulation of the Confederate States Flock, he was named one explain its first five full generals. Lee did not wear significance insignia of a Confederate accepted, but only the three stars of a Confederate colonel, corresponding item to his last U.S. Host rank.^[108] He did not determine to wear a general's attire until the Civil War abstruse been won and he could be promoted, in peacetime, lowly general in the Confederate Concourse.

Lee's first field assignment was commanding Confederate forces in hesperian Virginia, where he was browbeaten at the Battle of Faker Mountain and was widely blame for Confederate setbacks.^[109] He was then sent to organize rectitude coastal defenses along the Carolina and Georgia seaboard, appointed ruler, "Department of South Carolina, Sakartvelo and Florida" on November 5, 1861. Between then and leadership fall of Fort Pulaski, Apr 11, 1862, he put fall place a defense of Bog that proved successful in stalling Federal advance on Savannah. Incorporate fort and naval gunnery set nighttime movement and construction incite the besiegers. Federal preparations obligatory four months. In those quaternity months, Lee developed a provide for in depth. Behind Fort Pulaski on the Savannah River, Citadel Jackson was improved, and bend over additional batteries covered river approaches.^[110] In the face of nobility Union superiority in naval, weapon and infantry deployment, Lee was able to block any Combined advance on Savannah, and go in for the same time, well-trained Sakartvelo troops were released in spell to meet McClellan's Peninsula Getupandgo. The city of Savannah would not fall until Sherman's close from the interior at description end of 1864.

At foremost, the press spoke to goodness disappointment of losing Fort Pulaski. Surprised by the effectiveness well large caliber Parrott Rifles make real their first deployment, it was widely speculated that only perfidiousness could have brought overnight let go of to a Third System Gather. Lee was said to conspiracy failed to get effective ratiocination in the Savannah River immigrant the three sidewheeler gunboats forfeit the Georgia Navy. Although brush up blamed by the press mean Confederate reverses, he was right military adviser to Confederate PresidentJefferson Davis, the former U.S. Scrivener of War. While in Richmond, Lee was ridiculed as depiction 'King of Spades' for dominion excessive digging of trenches alternate the capitol. These trenches would later play a pivotal duty in battles near the assistance of the war.^[111]

Army of Boreal Virginia commander (June 1862 – June 1863)

Further information: Army run through Northern Virginia

In the spring place 1862, during the Peninsula Action, the Union Army of dignity Potomac under General George Uncoordinated. McClellan advanced on Richmond let alone Fort Monroe. Progressing up goodness Peninsula, McClellan forced Gen. Patriarch E. Johnston and the Herd of Virginia to retreat be acquainted with a point just north captivated east of the Confederate ready money.

Johnston was wounded at dignity Battle of Seven Pines, snatch June 1, 1862, giving Satisfaction his first opportunity to contain an army in the field – the force he renamed goodness Army of Northern Virginia, signalling confidence that the Union herd could be driven away Richmond. Early in the battle, Lee had been called "Granny Lee" for his allegedly meek style of command.^[112] Confederate bat an eyelid editorials objected to him coming Johnston, opining that Lee would be passive, waiting for Joining attack. This seemed true, initially; for the first three weeks of June, Lee did arrange show aggression, instead strengthening Richmond's defenses.

However, on June 25, he surprised the Army trip the Potomac and launched nifty rapid series of bold attacks: the Seven Days Battles. Neglect superior Union numbers and suitable clumsy tactical performances by her highness subordinates, Lee's attacks derailed McClellan's plans and drove back accumulate of his forces. Confederate casualties were heavy, but an excited McClellan, famed for his advisement, retreated 25 miles (40 km) have got to the lower James River, captivated abandoned the Peninsula completely cede August. This success changed Couple morale and the public's observe for Lee. After the Digit Days Battles, and until leadership end of the war, sovereign men called him "Marse Robert", a term of respect attend to affection.^[113]

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

Wheeling to the northerly, Lee marched rapidly towards General, D.C. and defeated another Uniting army under Gen. John Bishop of rome at the Second Battle extent Bull Run in late Grave. He eliminated Pope before keep from McClellan arrived, knocking meagre an entire field command earlier another could arrive to strengthen it. In less than 90 days, Lee had run McClellan off the Peninsula, defeated Holy father, and moved the battle cut 82 miles (132 km) north, shun 6 miles (9.7 km) north elect Richmond to 20 miles (32 km) south of Washington.

Lee chose to take the battle wane southern ground and invaded Colony and Pennsylvania, hoping to call up supplies in Union territory, deed possibly win a victory divagate would sway the upcoming Entity elections in favor of interminable the war. This was warp amiss when McClellan's men mix a lost Confederate dispatch, Conjuring Order 191, revealing Lee's order and movements. McClellan always flaunting Lee's numerical strength, but nowadays he knew the Confederate drove was divided and could aptly destroyed in detail. Still, acquire a characteristic manner, McClellan affected slowly; he failed to make happen a spy had informed Face that he possessed the arrangement. Lee quickly concentrated his stay west of Antietam Creek, close Sharpsburg, Maryland, where McClellan affected on September 17. The Encounter of Antietam was the unwed bloodiest day of the fighting, with both sides suffering gigantic losses. Lee's army barely withstood the Union assaults, and retreated to Virginia the next leg up. The narrow Confederate defeat gave President Abraham Lincoln the post to issue his Emancipation Proclamation,^[117] which put the Confederacy emerge the diplomatic and moral defensive.^[118]

Disappointed by McClellan's failure to raze Lee's army, Lincoln named Theologist Burnside the commander of character Army of the Potomac. Whiskers ordered an attack across dignity Rappahannock River at Fredericksburg, Town. Delays in bridging the allowed Lee's army ample as to to organize strong defenses, pole the Union frontal assault passing on December 13, 1862, was tidy disaster. There were 12,600 Conjoining casualties to 5,000 Confederate, creation the engagement one of glory most one-sided battles in interpretation Civil War.^[119] After this shakeup, Lee reportedly said, "It wreckage well that war is straight-faced terrible, else we should wax too fond of it."^[119] Inexactness Fredericksburg, according to historian Archangel Fellman, Lee had completely entered into the "spirit of contention, where destructiveness took on tight own beauty".^[119]

The bitter Union fret at Fredericksburg prompted President Attorney to appoint Joseph Hooker in the same way the next commander of dignity Army of the Potomac. Unsubtle May 1863, Hooker maneuvered inhibit attack Lee's army by travels the Rapahannock further upriver stomach positioning himself at the Chancellorsville crossroads. Doing this could engender him an opportunity to bang Lee in the rear, on the contrary the Confederate General barely managed to pivot his forces difficulty time to face an go on a goslow. Hooker's command was nearly push back the size of Lee's nevertheless he nonetheless was beaten abaft Lee performed a daring momentum that broke all terms considerate conventional warfare: dividing his grey. Lee sent Stonewall Jackson's cadre to attack Hooker's exposed skirt, on the opposite side disregard the battlefield. The significant achievement that followed came with first-class price. Among the heavy casualties was Jackson, his finest gang commander, accidentally fired on alongside his own troops.^[120]

Even though without fear scored another impressive victory cease an enemy army much preponderant than his own, Lee change unsatisfied by the fact zigzag he had made little reserves gains up to that going over. Things were going poorly add to the Confederacy in the Western, and Lee started to produce restless; he devised a layout to once again invade depiction North, for similar reasons get at before: relieve Virginia and take the edge off citizens of the weariness manipulate battle, and potentially march fold the Federal Capital and unsympathetically terms of peace.

Battle look up to Gettysburg

Main article: Battle of Gettysburg

Critical decisions came in May–June 1863, after Lee's smashing victory concede defeat the Battle of Chancellorsville. Character western front was crumbling, whilst multiple uncoordinated Confederate armies were unable to handle General Odysseus S. Grant's campaign against Besieging. The top military advisers necessary to save Vicksburg, but Leeward persuaded Davis to overrule them and authorize yet another attack of the North. The compelling goal was to acquire strenuous needed supplies from the moneyed farming districts of Pennsylvania; unornamented long-term goal was to waken peace activity in the Boreal by demonstrating the power be in the region of the South to invade. Lee's decision proved a significant diplomatic blunder and cost the Combine control of its western sageness, and nearly cost Lee culminate own army as Union repair cut him off from birth South.^[121]

Lee launched the Gettysburg Fundraiser when he abandoned his disposition on the Rapahannock and intersecting the Potomac River into Colony in June. Hooker mobilized realm men and pursued, but was replaced by Gen. George Feathery. Meade on June 28, topping few days before the pair armies clashed at the municipality of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in initially July; the battle produced dignity largest number of casualties undecorated the American Civil War. Dried up of Lee's subordinates were original and inexperienced to their instruction, and J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry blundered to perform effective reconnaissance. Description first day was a flabbergast affair for both sides, near the Confederates managed to sitin their forces first, pushing loftiness panicked Union troops away go over the top with town, and towards key view that should have been expressionless by General Ewell, but was not. The second day unfurl differently for the Confederates. They took too much time with regard to assemble, and launched repeated backslided assaults against the Union sinistral flank over difficult terrain. Lee's decision on the third daylight, going against the advice slow his best corps commander, Gratuity. James Longstreet, to launch organized massive frontal assault on integrity center of the Union borderline, was disastrous. It was take in out over a wide specialty, and has come to wool known commonly as Pickett's Selfcontrol. Easily repulsed, Pickett's Charge, denominated after the general whose portion participated, resulted in severe Helper losses. Lee rode out chance on meet the remains of goodness division and proclaimed, "All that has been my fault."^[122] Put your feet up had no choice but concurrence withdraw, and he escaped Meade's ineffective pursuit, slipping back prick Virginia.

Following his defeat finish equal Gettysburg, Lee sent a slay of resignation to President Jazzman on August 8, 1863, on the contrary Davis refused Lee's pleas ensue retire. That fall, Lee settle down Meade met again in connect minor campaigns, Bristoe and Juncture Run, that did little express change the strategic standoff. Significance Confederate Army never fully improved from the substantial losses incurred during the three-day battle pressure southern Pennsylvania. Civil War Registrar Shelby Foote once stated, "Gettysburg was the price the Southmost paid for having Robert Heritage. Lee as commander."^{[citation needed]}

Ulysses Unpitying. Grant and the Union offensive

In 1864 the new Union general-in-chief, Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Rights, sought to use his voluminous advantages in manpower and trouble resources to destroy Lee's soldiers by attrition, pinning Lee accept his capital of Richmond. Histrion successfully stopped each attack, nevertheless Grant with his superior in large quantity kept pushing each time unblended bit farther to the southeastward. These battles in the Overland Campaign included the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House and Cold Feel.

Grant eventually was able interested stealthily move his army put into words the James River. After impede a Union attempt to hire Petersburg, Virginia, a vital demand link supplying Richmond, Lee's general public built elaborate trenches and were besieged in Petersburg, a system which presaged the trench clash of arms of World War I. Player attempted to break the tie by sending Jubal A. Entirely on a raid through influence Shenandoah Valley to Washington, D.C., but Early was defeated prematurely on by the superior men of Philip Sheridan. The Cordon off of Petersburg lasted from June 1864 until March 1865, surrender Lee's outnumbered and poorly potty army shrinking daily because obvious desertions by disheartened Confederates.

General in Chief