Show HISTORY BIRTHDAY Y OF ROBERT E. E LEE LEE January January 19 Robert E E. Lee regarded by military authorities as the ablest strategist developed d during the Civil War was born bor- bora at a t Stratford Westmoreland county Virginia on n January ar 19 He lIe lIeI II I was wall the son eon of Harry Lee known know n as Light Horse ILlg t t Harry one of the distinguished soldiers of the American Revolution His mother was Anne Hill Bill Carter a daughter of Charles Charles' Carter of the well known Virginia family Lees Lee's fath fath- father er died in 1818 Lee than eleven years old was left with wilh the care of his invalid mother lIe He entered West Point in 1825 and graduated at the head of the class four years later He lIe entered the army as a brevet second lieutenant of engi engi- On June 30 1831 he married Mary Iary Ann Randolph Curtis the only daughter of George Wash Wash- Washington Washington ington Parke Curtis grandson of Martha 1 Washington In 1846 he Ire was ordered to San Antonia Texas and participated as an engineer in i n the Mexican l war While thus engaged en engaged engaged he was promoted to the rank of captain in recognition of his services Shortly afterwards he was advanced to bravet colonel Against his wishes he was appoint appoint- appointed ed to the post of the superintendent superintendent dent at West Point which position position tion he held for three years He lie was a Whig loyal to the Union and when secession movement began he hoped it might be settled I I peaceably He lIe believed that his I first I st loyalty was to his state of f Vir ginia As possibility of war be be- between between tween the north and south ap approached ap- ap approached It he was offered field com corn comI of the United States Stats army I He lie declined and shortly resigned A few days later he was placed in command of the Virginia for for- ces lie He was soon made military advisor to Jefferson Davis president president dent of the and given the rank of general In a short time he was placed in command of the Confederate forces In spite of lack of men and supplies he lie con conducted conducted conducted ducted the war with great bril bril- After his surrender he lie re re- returned returned re- re returned turned to Richmond as paroled a prisoner of f war He lie was appointed president of Washington College at Lexington Virginia and administered admin it in his usual capable man tier nero His death occurred on October 12 1870 |