Robert E. Lee Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 - October 12,
1870) was born at Stratford, in Westmoreland County, Virginia,
son of Revolutionary War hero Henry Lee ("Lighthorse Harry").
Lee is best remembered in his role of commanding general of the
Confederate forces during the American Civil War. Like Hannibal
and Rommel, his victories against superior forces in a losing
cause made him as famous if not more famous than the general who
defeated him. Lee entered West Point in 1825. When he graduated
(second in his class of forty six) in 1829 he had not only
attained the top academic record but was the first cadet (and so
far the only) to graduate the Academy without a single demerit.
He was commissioned as second lieutenant in the engineers. Lee
served for seventeen months at Fort Pulaski on Cockspur Island,
Georgia. In 1831, he was transferred to Fort Monroe, Virginia,
as assistant engineer. While he was stationed there, he married
Mary Anna Randolph Custis, the great-granddaughter of Martha
Washington. T