Robert E. Lee is born at Stratford
Hall in Westmoreland County, VA. * Lee’s father “Light-Horse Harry Lee” was
a hero of the American Revolution and a friend of George Washington.
1829—
Lee graduates 2ndin his West Point
class. * He becomes the first student to graduate without having received a
single demerit. * Fellow cadets give Lee the nickname “Marble Model”. * He
is commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Corps of Engineers.
1831—
Lee marries Mary Custis
(great-granddaughter of Martha Washington) at her family’s plantation
Arlington House. * The Lees have seven children during their marriage.
General Robert E.
Lee
1846—
The Mexican War begins.
1847—
Lee serves on the staff of General
Winfield Scott and is promoted to brevet major.
1852—
Lee becomes superintendent of West
Point.
1859—October 18
Lee leads troops in putting down John
Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry.
1861—April
General Winfield Scott offers
Lee command of the Union Army
1861—April 17
The Virginia convention votes in
favor of secession.
1861—April 22
Lee resigns from the United
States Army.
1861—
Lee accepts command of the military
and naval forces of Virginia. * Virginia state forces become part of the
Confederate forces. * Lee is sent to defend western Virginia. * Lee
purchases his famous warhorse, Traveller. * Lee is called to Richmond to
serve as a military advisor to President Davis.
1862—June 1
Lee is given command of the Army of
Northern Virginia after General Joseph Johnston is wounded.
1862-1863—
Lee leads the Army of Northern
Virginia to multiple victories—Seven Days Battles, Second Manassas,
Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville— but his two attempts to win battles
in the North end in failure—first in Maryland (Sept. ’62) at the battle
of Sharpsburg/Antietam and second in Pennsylvania (July ’63) at the battle
of Gettysburg.
1864—
Lee faces Grant in the Wilderness, at
Spotsylvania Courthouse, and at Cold Harbor.
1864—May 13
The first step in making Lee’s
Arlington home into a national cemetery occurs when Union soldiers are
buried on the property.
1864—June 15
The siege of Petersburg begins.
* For nine months, Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia holds trenches outside
of Petersburg faced by Grant’s Army of the Potomac.
1865—January
1
Lee is made general-in-chief of
Confederate Forces.
1865—April 2
The siege of Petersburg ends
when Grant attacks Lee’s position.
1865—April
9
Lee surrenders to Grant at Appomattox
Courthouse, Virginia.
1865—October
Lee becomes president of
Washington College in Lexington, Virginia.
1870—
October 12, The General dies after
suffering a stroke at age 63.