Robert E. Lee

Timeline of Important Historical figures

1807

January 19

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1807 - January 19 Robert E. Lee was born in Stratford Hall in Westmoreland County, VA. * Lee's father, "Light-Horse Harry Lee", was a hero of the American Revolution and a friend of George Washington.

Robert E. Lee

This is how war is so terrible. We must believe too fond of him.

1831

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1847

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1829

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1829 Lee graduates second in his class from West Point. * He becomes the first student to graduate without receiving a single demerit. * Fellow cadets give Lee the nickname "Marble Model". * He is commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Corps of Engineers.

1846

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1852

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1859

October 18

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1852 Lee becomes West Point superintendent.

1847 Lee is part of General Winfield Scott's staff and is promoted to Commander brevet.

1846 The Mexican War begins.

1831 Lee marries Mary Custis (Martha Washington's great-granddaughter) on his family's plantation, Arlington House. * The Lees have seven children during their marriage.

1859 - October 18 Lee leads the troops to put down John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry.

1861

April

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1861 - April General Winfield Scott offers Lee command of the Union Army

1861

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1862

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1861

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1861 - April 17 The Virginia convention votes in favor of secession.

1861

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1862 - 63

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1864

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April 17

April 22

June 1

1862 - 1863 Lee leads the Northern Virginia Army to multiple victories: Seven Days Battles, Second Manassas, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, but his two attempts to win battles in the north fail, first in Maryland (September 1962) at the Battle of Sharpsburg / Antietam. and second in Pennsylvania (July 63) at the Battle of Gettysburg.

1862 - June 1 Lee receives command of the Army of Northern Virginia after General Joseph Johnston is wounded.

1861 Lee accepts command of the Virginia military and naval forces. * Virginia state forces become part of the Confederate forces. * Lee is sent to defend West Virginia. * Lee buys his famous war horse, Traveler. * Lee is called to Richmond to serve as a military adviser to President Davis.

1861 - April 22 Lee resigns from the United States Army.

1864 Lee confronts Grant in the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Courthouse, and Cold Harbor.

1864

May 13

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1864 - May 13 The first step in turning Lee's Arlington home into a national cemetery occurs when Union soldiers are buried on the property.

1865

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1865

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1864

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1864 - June 15 The siege of Petersburg begins. * For nine months, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia maintains trenches outside Petersburg against Grant's Army of the Potomac.

1865

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1865

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1870

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June 15

January 1

April 9

April 2

October

1865 - October Lee becomes president of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia.

1865 - Abril 9 Lee turns himself in to Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia.

1865 - April 2 The siege of Petersburg ends when Grant attacks Lee's position.

1865 - January 1 Lee is named General-in-Chief of the Confederate Forces.

1870 October 12, El General dies after suffering a stroke at age 63.