Robert E. Lee Biography - He was born on January 19th 1807, in Westmoreland County, Virginia, the son of revolutionary war hero, Henry Lee and died on October 12th 1870. Robert was the commanding general of the Confederate forces during the American Civil war. Lee also served in the Mexican American War, and played a major role in the wars victory. Before the civil war broke out, President Abraham Lincoln offered Robert E. Lee the command of United States, or Union army. Lee was against the secession, but his loyalty lied in his homeland Virginia, which was a confederate or Southern State. Robert ended up becoming Commanding General of the confederate forces under Jefferson Davis, who was the Confederate President.
Robert E. Lee fought in many battles including Gettysburg, Second Manassas, the battle of Cold Harbor and eventually surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, and the civil war ended shortly thereafter.
Robert E. Lee is also famous for his quotes, which you can view some of below:
"There are few, I believe, in this enlightened age, who will not acknowledge that slavery as an institution is a moral and political evil."
"It is well that war is so terrible - otherwise we should grow too fond of it." (Battle of Fredericksburg, 13 Dec, 1862)
"We must forgive our enemies. I can truly say that not a day has passed since the war began that I have not prayed for them." (from "A Life of General Robert E. Lee", by J. E. Cooke)
"My experience of men has neither disposed me to think worse of them, or indisposed me to serve them; nor in spite of failures, which I lament, of errors which I now see and acknowledge; or of the present aspect of affairs; do I despair of the future. The truth is this. The march of Providence is so slow, and our desires so impatient; the work of progress is so immense and our means of aiding it so feeble; the life of humanity is so long and are thus discouraged. It is history that teaches us to hope."
"My experience through life has convinced me that, while moderation and temperance in all things are commendable, abstinence from spiritous liquors is the best safeguard of morals and health."
Lee's definition of a gentleman:
"The forebearing use of power does not only form a touchstone, but the manner in which an individual enjoys certain advantages over others, is a test of a true gentleman. The power which the strong have over the weak, the magistrate over the citizen, the employer over the employed, the educated over the unlettered, the experienced over the confiding, even the clever over the silly; the forebearing and inoffensive use of all this power or authority, or a total abstinence from it when the case admits it, will show the gentleman in a plain light. The gentleman does not needlessly and unnecessarily remind an offender of a wrong he may have committed against him. He cannot only forgive, he can forget; and he strives for that nobleness of self and mildness of character, which imparts sufficient strength to let the past be but the past. A true man of honor feels humbled himself when he cannot help humbling others"
Lee's views on admitting defeat and rejoining the United States, in a letter to former Virginia governor Letcher after the war:
"The questions which for years were in dispute between the State and General Government, and which unhappily were not decided by the dictates of reason, but referred to the decision of war, having been decided against us, it is the part of wisdom to acquiesce in the result, and of candor to recognize the fact.
"The interests of the State are therefore the same as those of the United States. Its prosperity will rise or fall with the welfare of the country. The duty of its citizens, then, appears to me too plain to admit of doubt. All should unite in honest efforts to obliterate the effects of war, and to restore the blessings of peace. They should remain, if possible, in the country; promote harmony and good feeling; qualify themselves to vote; and elect to the State and general Legislatures wise and patriotic men, who will devote their abilities to the interests of the country, and the healing of all dissensions. I have invariably recommended this course since the cessation of hostilities, and have endeavored to practice it myself."
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