The Idol Of The South

The idol of the South to this day, Virginian Robert E. Lee had some difficulty in adjusting to the new form of warfare that unfolded with the Civil war, but this did not prevent him from keeping the Union armies in Virginia at bay for almost three years. The son of Revolutionary War hero "Light Horse" Harry Lee (Troiani 135) who fell into disrepute in his later years attended West Point and graduated second in his class. During his four years at the military academy he did not earn a single demerit and served as the cadet corps' adjutant. Upon his 1829 graduation he was posted to the engineers. Before the Mexican War he served on engineering projects in Georgia, Virginia, and New York. During the war he served on the staffs of John Wool and Winfield Scott. Particularly distinguishing himself scouting for and guiding troops, he won three brevets and was slightly wounded at Chapultepec. Lee's involvement played more than just a crucial role in the "manifestation of man's evils," otherwise known as the Civil War.

Robert E. Lee was born on January 19th, 1807. He was the offspring of two proud parents, one Harry Lee, who had been renowned during the Revolutionary War, and was commemorated by General Washington himself (Wilkins). Lee's father was an exceptional horseman, and had won many engagements against British cavalry. Lee's mother was Anne Hill Carter, a supposed descendant of King Robert II. His parents raised him to perfection, always demanding the best out of the young Robert, and when he attended West Point and graduated with the highest score to date, he set his sight on United States Military Academy. Graduating 2nd out of a class of 46, he moved into the Army core of engineers to further his military knowledge. Lee's knowledge of the land became one of his essential aspects in the field, making his ability to use the natural terrain a feared and respected bonus of Lee. In Saint Louis the mighty Mississippi threatened to redirect its current, resulting in an entire city becoming nothing more than a ghost town. When Lee and his fellow Army Engineers were sent in, they managed to pull "the miracle of Saint Louis" (Troiani 141). By the time Lee entered the Mexican American War he was a Captain in the Army core of Engineers. Working directly under William Scott he became known throughout the entire army as "the finest horseman since Alexander mounted Basophiles" (Wilkins 63). During his campaign in Mexico, he participated in several key battles, including Mexico City, Vera Cruz, and the Battle of Cerro Gordo where his masterful tactical thinking managed to steal the win for the American army. It was at this battle that he was promoted to brevet Major, and would later be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and finally Colonel. Winfield once commented that "without Lee I fear the war would have gone much differently" (Wilkins 78). Although Lee had catapulted his way through the ranks, he was still only a Captain in the Army core of engineers. Taking advice from fellow friends of his, he decided to transfer out of the Army core of Engineers, and move into the much more suited job of Cavalry.

After the Mexican American war ended, Lee was appointed Superintendant of West Point. He described these as the happiest days of his life (Troiani 141), and for two important reasons. Lee loved to educate and to learn, his job allowed him to discuss tactics and battles with former officers, and up and coming cadets. He was rarely seen without a young cadet talking to him, or rather listening as Lee conveyed his best and brightest ideas to the Cadet. His second reason for loving his West Point career so much was that it was so very close to where his heart truly lied, with his family. Lee was a loving father who raised three proud military boys, and three beautiful girls. Many cadets feared to court with Lee's girls due to an inferiority factor with Robert E. Lee.

During 1861 the first troubles of his life became evident. People looked towards the genius tactician and strategist for answers, whether he was Pro-Union, Pro-Slavery, Pro-abolitionist all the important and difficult questions. Lee once stated "if I could release every slave in the south to avert this terrible war I would do so" (Wilkins 302). It was not debated however whether Lee was a slaveholder. During his uncle's death, Lee was left with one hundred and ninety-one slaves. His plantation at Arlington was becoming bankrupt, and Lee needed a means to pay his debts. To his dismay he regrettably accepted the slaves to save his own family, a decision that would haunt him during the course of his life (McKenzie 128). In April, 1861, a Union messenger was sent to Robert E. Lee's plantation of Arlington to offer Lee as General of the Army of the Potomac. Myth depicts Lee as quickly dismissing the Union messenger, but this is not so. Lee thought about this decision for well over a night. His wife Mary Custis commented that "He never slept, not even once did he lay his head down. He only paced in back and forth till he wore a hole in the floor boards" (Wilkins 153). The decision he would make was the hardest of his life, a constant fight between his conscious, his morals, his reasons, his beliefs, his very life that he had.

Finally his decision was made, at no easy cost. Lee had said that he felt as if he had lost two years of his life during that horrid night, but on April 19th, 1861, Lee quit the Union. His motive was Virginia. Virginia was his home, his paradise, his entire life itself was in Virginia, and he would not forsake her. When Lee left Arlington on April 22nd, 1861, he would never again set foot in the house that had accompanied a great majority of his life. He would never again set foot in the house where he had raised his kids, where he had loved his wife, where he had loved the very meaning of life. All of Lee's sons had joined the boys in Grey, and his wife and daughters were vagabonds of war (Troiani 145), but Lee had been sent away from them to the city of Richmond to plan the defenses. There he witnessed first had the arrogance and ignorance of the so called politicians that he was sent to aid. They believed that their cause was just in the eyes of God, that their cause was right, and that their resolve would steal victory from any confrontation with the North. Lee was astounded by the sheer sense of stupidity running vibrantly and abundantly in this city, "They do not know what they say. If it comes to a conflict of arms, the war will last at least four years. Northern politicians do not appreciate the determination and pluck of the South, and Southern politicians do not appreciate the numbers, resources, and patient perseverance of the North. Both sides forget that we are all Americans. I foresee that the country will have to pass through a terrible