A Life of General Robert E. Lee

General Lee assumed command of the army on the 3d of June. A week afterward, Jackson finished the great campaign of the Valley, by defeating Generals Fremont and Shields at Port Republic.Such had been the important services performed by the famous ''Stonewall Jackson,'' who was to become the ''right arm'' of Lee in the greater campaigns of the future. Retreating, after the defeat of General Banks, and passing through Strasburg, just as Fremont from the west, and the twenty thousand men of General McDowell from the east, rushed to intercept him, Jackson had sullenly fallen back up the Valley, with all his captured stores and prisoners, and at Cross Keys and Port Republic had achieved a complete victory over his two adversaries. Fremont was checked by Ewell, who then hastened across to take part in the attack on Shields. The result was a Federal defeat and retreat down the Valley. Jackson was free to move in any direction and his army could unite with that at Richmond for a decisive attack upon General McClellan.

This untoward event rendered it necessary to find a new commander for the army without loss of time. General Lee had returned some time before from the South, and to him all eyes were turned. He had had no opportunity to display his abilities upon a conspicuous theatre--the sole command he had been intrusted with, that in trans-Alleghany Virginia, could scarcely be called a real command--and he owed his elevation now to the place vacated by General Johnston, rather to his services performed in the old army of the United States, than to any thing he had effected in the war of the Confederacy. The confidence of the Virginia people in his great abilities had never wavered, and there is no reason to suppose that the Confederate authorities were backward in conceding his merits as a soldier. Whatever may have been the considerations leading to his appointment, he was assigned on the 3d day of June to the command of the army, and thus the Virginians assembled to defend the capital of their State found themselves under the command of the most illustrious of their own countrymen.

By the latter part of that month, General McClellan, in command of an army of more than one hundred thousand men, landed on the Peninsula between the James and York Rivers, and after stubbornly-contested engagements with the forces of General Johnston, advanced up the Peninsula--the Confederates slowly retiring. In the latter part of May, a portion of the Federal forces had crossed the Chickahominy, and confronted General Johnston defending Richmond.Such was the serious condition of affairs in the spring of 1862. The Federal sword had nearly pierced the heart of Virginia, and, as the course of events was about to place Lee in charge of her destinies, a brief notice is indispensable of the designs of the adversaries against whom he was to contend on the great arena of the State.

''Heaven bless you! Heaven bless you! and give you wisdom for your important and arduous duties!''These were the last words uttered during the interview. General Lee pressed the dying man's hand, released it, stood for several minutes by the bedside motionless and in perfect silence, and then went out of the room.On the next morning Bishop Meade expired

''The time will yet come when his superior abilities will be vindicated, both to his own renown and the glory of his country.'' The time was now at hand when these abilities, if the individual possessed them, were to have an opportunity to display themselves.

The War Begins''when reenforcements subsequently reached the field under General Kirby Smith and General Early, the Federal troops retreated in great disorder toward Washington.''

Lee in 1861. ''Never do a wrong thing to make a friend or keep one.'' ''Duty is the sublimest word in our language ... do your duty in all things ... you cannot do more.''

Lee Resigns. '' He went with his State because he believed it was his duty to do so, and because, to ascertain what was his duty, and perform it, was the cardinal maxim of his life.'' Lee's sense of duty to his State was so strong, he left his Estate, Arlington, Martha Washington's furniture and china, and over 25 years of service to the Union behind to ''Draw his sword'' for a cause he disagreed with.

Lee's Reception at Richmond.For weeks, reports had been rife that he had determined to adhere to the Federal Government in the approaching struggle. Such an event, it was felt by all, would be a public calamity to Virginia and the general joy may be imagined when it was known that Lee had resigned and come to fight with his own people. He assumed command, therefore, of all the Virginia forces, in the midst of universal public rejoicing and the fact gave strength and consistency to the general determination to resist the Federal Government to the last.

Robert E.Lee faces one of the most difficult decisions of his life thus far. He is given every reason except one to remain in the Union Arny. If he chose to remain in the Union Army a promotion was imminent, and he would no doubt soon command that Army. His loyalty, however, like most men of the era was with his home state, Virginia

Lee enters West Point, graduates 2nd in his class, without a demerit. Receives high praise for his work as an engineer in the Mexican War. Joins an elite group of West Point grads. Commands a force of Marines putting down the rebellion at Harpers Ferry.

A description of the place of Robert E. Lee's birth

Light Horse Harry Lee

The Lee's of Virginia

From A Life of General Robert E. Lee. by John Esten Cooke, published as an audio book at http://www.audiobooksbymikevendetti.com