Robert E. Lee

Hello, my name is Robert E. Lee. I was born on January 19th, 1807, at a large house called Stratford Hall in Virginia. My family had a long history in America. My father, Henry 'Light-Horse Harry' Lee, was a hero in the American Revolution and a friend of George Washington. Growing up, I loved Virginia, with its green hills and wide rivers. I learned about duty, honor, and serving your country. My family didn't have much money, so I knew I would have to work hard to make my own way in the world. I decided that I wanted to be a soldier, just like my father had been. It felt like the best way I could serve the United States, a country my own family had helped create.

When I was 18 years old, in 1825, I went to the United States Military Academy at West Point. It was a very famous and difficult school for training army officers. I studied hard and followed all the rules, and in 1829, I graduated second in my class without ever getting a single demerit, which is a mark for bad behavior. For the next thirty years, I proudly served in the United States Army. I worked as an engineer, helping to build forts and map rivers to make our country stronger and safer. I also served as a soldier in the Mexican-American War from 1846 to 1848, where I was recognized for my bravery and skill as a leader. I loved my country and my career in the army. I thought I would serve in that uniform for the rest of my life.

As the years went on, the United States began to argue with itself. The northern states and the southern states disagreed about many things. One of the biggest and most terrible disagreements was over the issue of slavery. I believed slavery was a great evil. The arguments grew so strong that, in 1861, some southern states, including my home state of Virginia, decided to leave the United States to form their own country, called the Confederate States of America. This was the start of the American Civil War. At that time, President Abraham Lincoln asked me to take command of the entire United States Army. It was the hardest decision of my life. I had served the United States for my whole career, but I could not imagine raising my sword against my home, my family, and my fellow Virginians. With a heavy heart, I resigned from the U.S. Army and chose to defend Virginia.

I soon became a general in the Confederate Army and was eventually given command of the Army of Northern Virginia. For four years, from 1861 to 1865, our country was torn apart by war. It was a terribly sad time, with Americans fighting against fellow Americans. As a general, I led my soldiers in many famous battles. My army was often smaller than the Union Army we were fighting, but my men were brave and we won several victories. However, the Union Army was very powerful, and the war caused immense suffering for everyone. Finally, on April 9th, 1865, I met with the Union general, Ulysses S. Grant, at a small house in a village called Appomattox Court House. I surrendered my army to him. It was a difficult day, but it was a necessary step to end the fighting and begin healing our divided nation.

After the war, I wanted to do everything I could to help bring the country back together. Instead of continuing a life in politics or the military, I chose a quieter path. In the fall of 1865, I accepted an offer to become the president of a small school in Virginia called Washington College. I believed that education was the best way to help the South recover and to build a peaceful future. I worked to expand the school, adding new classes in science, journalism, and law. I told my students to forget the past bitterness of the war and to become good, hardworking citizens of a reunited United States. Helping to shape the minds of young men felt like the most important work I could do.

I lived to be 63 years old. My life was spent as a soldier and later as an educator during one of the most difficult times in American history. Today, people study my story to understand the painful choices people had to make during the Civil War and the importance of working for peace.