Warmatrix

Robert Edward Lee was the leading general on the Confederate side in the American Civil War. He scored some resounding victories against numerically stronger forces, though in the end lost the war.
Lee was born in 1807 CE in Virginia, the fourth child of Henry Lee III, the governor of that state. Though part of an aristocratic family, his family was not rich because his father made ill judged investments that landed him in debtor's prison. Nonetheless the parents ensured that he received good education. His father escaped his debtors to the West Indies when Lee junior was 6 years old and died five years later. Recommendation by William Henry Fitzhugh, a relative, got the young Lee enrolled at the Westpoint military academy in 1825 CE. His record at the academy was exemplary; after four years he graduated 2nd of his class. When he returned home, his mother was dying and perished soon afterwards.
In the early years of his professional career he served at Fort Monroe, along the great rivers and at Fort Hamilton. He worked as engineer and supervisor and rose to the rank of captain. His chance for actual battlefield experience came with the Mexican-American war, where he participated in Winfield Scott's Mexico City campaign. There he displayed bravery and initiative and won the admiration of Scott. He received brevet promotion to colonel, but officially remained a captain of the engineers.
Lee was tidy and punctual, patient and disciplined. He had a strong sense of honor, duty and responsibility. All these traits he acquired from his mother, as his father was away for most of his youth. He was reserved and seldom showed his feelings, which benefited him in dealings with politicians. However he was also mallable and often bent over backwards to fulfill the wishes of others.
From 1848 CE to 1852 CE he was stationed at Fort Carroll. Next the War Department appointed him as superintendent at the military academy of West Point, despite Lee's objections, who considered it a 'snake pit'. There he educated many men who would later serve under him, but also against him. In 1855 CE he was relieved to be transferred to the Second Cavalry regiment in Texas. This meant a break from staff jobs and return to combat, mostly countering Apache and Comanche raids.
In 1857 CE his father-in-law died, leaving behind both vast landholdings and large debt, which Lee took upon him. He had to manage the plantation by himself for several years, fighting an economic uphill battle. The black slaves there had expected to be liberated, but found Lee unwilling to do so. In this matter his thoughts were as Confederate as any of his fellows.
In 1861 CE seven states seceded from the Union, starting the American Civil War. During earlier conflicts in Texas Lee remained loyal with the Union, but when his native Virginia left it he stuck to his roots, declined a promotion to major general, resigned from the army and sided with the Confederates instead.
Lee was appointed commander of Virginia's forces and soon after promoted to general. His first battle, at Cheat Mountain, was a defeat and his timid style of command earned him the nickname 'Granny Lee'. Next he was assigned to strengthen the coastal defenses, especially at Savannah. A year later he turned the tables, winning the Seven Days Battles. His prestige rose; his nickname was now changed to 'Marse Robert'. As most troops on both sides were mostly inexperienced in war, Lee could do little to direct his men and won because of his aggressive maneuvers. Later there were a few defeats and mostly victories, most noteworhty at Fredericksburg.
In battle, Lee frequently displayed aggression. He often won despite being outnumbered, because he combined tactical insight with seizing the initiative and skillful maneuvering. But his fierceness also led to great losses in lives and several heavy defeats in battles that should have been fought with more caution, or not at all. On a strategic level, Lee recognized that he had to take the fight to the enemy, like the Union generals did. Yet he never managed to do so, keeping stuck in defending the south.
In 1863 CE Lee won his greatest victory at the Battle of Chancellorsville, where he divided his forces two times, defying all conventional military wisdom. His success was marred by the death of his trusted lieutenant, Stonewall Jackson, who was accidentally shot dead by his own troops. In the next battle, at Gettysburg, Lee launched a fatally ill judged charge that led to an even greater defeat. The tide started to turn in favor of the Union. His main opponent, Ulysses Grant, fought a relentless campaign of attrition. Lee defeated the northerners several more times, but the victories were costly and unlike the Union, the Confederacy had neither the manpower nor the industrial strength to replenish them. Lee was appointed general-in-chief in 1865 CE, though by then he could do little more than make a fighting retreat. In the Battle of Appomattox Court House he was surrounded and surrendered to Grant, ending the war.
Afterwards Lee remained an influential figure, using his diplomatic skills to help healing the rift between north and south. He reversed his opinion on slavery, though did not support voting rights for the former slaves. He became president of Washington College and occupied that position admirably until his death in 1870 CE.