This book was about the war expert, Robert E Lee. He was born into a very poor family. His father died at when Robert was young. Robert was then in charge of taking care of the whole family because of his sickly mother. He then went off to a military academy where he became second in his whole class. He cam home to take care of his mother, and she soon passed away. He married his cousin and then went to war. He was the commander in charge for the Confederate part of the Civil War. He didn't want to betray his home of Virginia. He soon had to surrender to the Union. He hated war and never wanted to talk of it again. ( )

Robert E Lee was born on January 19, 1807 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. His father was "Light-Horse Harry" Lee, a hero of the Revolutionary War and governor of Virginia. His mother was Ann Hill Lee. HE was one out of five children. His father had lost a large sum of his money and their furniture were sold. Robert's father had been in debt that he was locked in Westmoreland County jail. One year later, he was released and they family moved to a smaller house. His father died and then his mother got sick. He cared for his mother and everything else that needed to be done because his brothers and sisters were too young to help out. He was a very excellent student. Robert started his career of a soldier by entering the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1825. His favorite subject at West Point was engineering. He graduated second in a class of eighty-seven and made lieutenant in the United States Army. Then his mother had died. He married Mary Anne Randolph Custis and they had seven children. He was sent to St. Louis, Missouri to build a dike in the Mississippi River to keep city from flooding. Then he went to New York City to repair forts that guarded the harbor. Also he went to San Antonio, Texas then to Mexico after United States declared war on Mexico in 1846. He was a scout, exploring enemy territory to get information and directed the building of bridges that supported heavy army guns that were dragged into the battle. For thirty-six hours, he was on his horse riding and fighting in the battles for Cerro Gordo and Mexico City. He also helped plan some of the fighting for the Battle of Veracruz. He was called the greatest military genius in America. In 1852, He was named superintendent of the United states Academy at West Point. He took a real interest in each cadet. Then in 1855, he become lieutenant colonel and sent to Texas frontier to help protect setters from the attacks from the Native Americans. In the 1850's the country was divided over the issue of slavery. owning slaves were allowed in the Southern states but wasn't allowed in the Northern states. South Carolina voted to leave the Union and other slave states followed and formed the Confederate States of America. On April 12, 1861, Confederate troops fired at a U.S. Government Fort in South Carolina, the Civil War had began. There were only eleven states in the Confederacy and twenty-three in the Union. He felt slavery was evil and freed his own. President Lincoln chose him to be field commander of the Union army but on April 1861, he was appointed commander of the army of Virginia. Later after that he was named a general in the Confederate army and adviser to president of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis. He won the "Seven Days' Battles" , where many Confederate soldiers died but Richmond was saved. The Confederate army won a victory at Manassas, Vi ginia, in the second battle of Bull Run, which was won because of Lee's strategy and leadership of his general, Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. He believed it was better to attack then to be attacked, but the Union leader, knew the plans and Lee retreated. one year later, Lee and his soldiers defeated the Union forces but his general "Stonewall" died. In 1863, Lee and his soldiers went to Pennsylvania to fight in the Battle of Gettysburg. During the first three days, on both sides soldiers were dying quickly, wounded, or taken prisoner. Lee then turned back to Virginia, his soldiers unable to fight. The Battle Gettysburg was the turning point in the war. He was named General in Chief of the Armies of the Confederate States in 1865. Then on April 9, 1865, General Lee surrendered his forces to Ulysses S. Grant, commander of the Union armies. On October 1865, He was president of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia. He then died in his home on the college campus on October 12, 1870. Robert E. Lee was a brave, wise, and gentle and also a great general and leader of men. ( )

This is the biography of Robert E. Lee. We follow him from the time he was a boy, to him going off to West Point and becoming a lieutenant in the army. He became known as the greatest military leader in America. During the Civil War, he led the Confederate army and won. He and his troops lost several wars after that. This is a great way to teach students about the wars fought in the United States and also about great American leaders. The illustrations are very detailed, so students can get a clearer picture of what happened during Robert E. Lee's command. I would use this book in a social studies class with fourth and fifth grade. ( )

This is a great book to teach students about the Civil War. It's an easy way for students to learn about the history of the war and how this brave man became the General in Chief. It starts from when he was born, marriage, Civil War, president of Washington College, and his death. ( )

In this story we get to see Robert E. Lee as he is a boy growing into the sucessful man he was. He was a war hero, a General in Chief, a president of Washington College, and a husband. ( )