Robert E. Lee's Military Career and the Civil War

Robert E. Lee was born in 1807 to General Light-Horse Harry Lee and graduated second in his class from West Point in 1829. He wed Mary and they had seven children together. Lee began his military career in the Engineer Corps, attaining the rank of second lieutenant in 1833 and captain by 1838. His first combat experience came during the Mexican-American War in 1848, where he received a brevet promotion to major. In 1861, he became a Confederate general but turned down a command in the U.S. Army. On June 1, 1862, he named his army the Army of Northern Virginia, going on to defeat three Union forces and claim victory at the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862. After retreating to Virginia post-Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.