Robert E. Lee, became an unforgettable man to the south, due to his actions during the Civil War. Today you can find many statues of him in the south, proving his importance to the Civil War.

Robert E. Lee refused president Lincoln's request for him to lead the Union, saying that he could not fight his people of Virginia.When offered to lead the forces of the Confederates he accepted, becoming the leader of the Confederate Generals in June 1861, after Virginia voted to separate from the union on April 18. These decisions later branded him as a traitor.

Lee and his Generals

Lee and his army won many battles up until the battle of Antietam where 14,000 of his men were killed, wounded or captured by the Union. After the another defeat in the Battle of Gettysburg, the Confederate army was losing the war. On April 9, 1865, Lee was forced to surrender to Ulysses S. Grant, the commander of the Federal forces. He was then to be hang a traitor for betraying his oath as an officer and not siding with the Union. He was not executed however due to Lincoln and Grant saving him from trial.

Robert E. Lee had lived a good life from January 19, 1807 to his death, on October 12, 1870, due to a large stroke. Robert had been married and had seven children. He retired in April 1865 from the army and there after became the president of a small southern college and lived a happy life not involved with politics.

Citiations

• "Lee and Traveller." <i>Lee and Traveller</i>. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2015.
• "Robert E. Lee at Chancellorsville [on Horseback, Being Cheered by Troops], May 2, 1863." Robert E. Lee at Chancellorsville [on Horseback, Being Cheered by Troops], May 2, 1863. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2015
• Bio.com. A&E Networks Television. Web. 8 Dec. 2015. 2015.http://www.biography.com/people/robert-e-lee-9377163#final-years
• Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations. Web. 8 Dec. 2015. <http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/robert-e-lee.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/?referrer=http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/robert-e-lee.html>.
• "Robert E. Lee." History.com. A&E Television Networks. Web. 9 Dec. 2015. <http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/robert-e-lee>.
• "A Patriot's History of the USA." A Patriots History of the United States RSS. Web. 10 Dec. 2015."http://www.patriotshistoryusa.com/teaching-materials/bonus-materials/american-heroes-general-robert-e-lee/
• http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/robertele402201.html