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Robert E. Lee was born.
He was born in Stratford Hall in Westmoreland County, Virginia. -
Henry Lee III dies
Nicknamed "Light Horse Harry", Henry Lee III was an American patriot, and also the ninth Governor of Virginia. He was a very big part of the American Revolution, and earned the nickname "Light-Horse Harry". He is the father of Robert E. Lee. -
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Lee enters Alexandria Academy.
When Lee's father died when Lee turned 11, the family was left deeply in debt. This caused his family to move to Alexandria, Virginia so that he could get a good education. Later on, he attended Alexandria Academy, and was soon considered a top student and excelled in mathematics. -
Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson is born.
Stonewall Jackson was born in Clarksburg, Virginia (now West Virginia). He will soon be one of Robert E. Lee's most outstanding generals within the Army of Northern Virginia. -
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Robert E. Lee enters the United States Military Academy.
By the end of his first year, he had already achieved the rank of sargeant. -
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Robert E. Lee graduates fom the U.S. Military Academy.
Lee was the head of his class in artilery and tactics. He was also ranked second overall in his class. -
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Anne Hill Carter dies
Anne Hill Carter, Robert E. Lee's mother, died sometime during 1829. She was also very wealthy. -
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Lee is stationed at Fort Monroe.
He played a major role in the final construction of Fort Monroe. Also, this lead to his marriage later on in his life. -
Lee marries Mary Anna Randolph Custis.
While at Fort Monroe, Lee met Mary Custis. They soon got married and later had 7 children: 3 boys, 4 girls. Mary Custis is the great-granddaughter of Martha Washington. -
Siege of Veracruz
The Battle of Veracruz was a siege that lasted for 20 days during the Mexican-American War. After 20 days, the U.S. army amrched into Mexico city after the Mexican army surrendered. -
Battle of Cero Gordo
In this battle during the Mexican-American War, over 3,000 soldiers from the Mexican Army were captured. The U.S. ended up taking yet another victory from the Mexicans. This also lead to Lee earning the rank of Brevet Major, since he discovered where the Mexican Army was staying. -
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Lee became Superintendent of West Point
After graduating from West Point, Lee became part of the U.S. Army. He distinguished himself in the Mexican War earning three honorary field promotions. One of his many accomplishments was becoming Superintendent of West Point. -
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Jefferson Davis puts Lee in Command of the Army of Northern Virginia.
During May of 1862, Joseph E. Johnston was wounded during the Peninsular Campaign. So, Jefferson Davis put Lee into the command of the Confederate's strongest army, which he later renamed the Army of Northern Virginia. -
Battle of South Mountain
he Battle of South Mountain was a part of the Maryland Campaign of the American Civil War. Three battles were fought for possession of three South Mountain passes: Crampton's, Turner's, and Fox's Gaps. General George B. McClellan, commanding the Union Army, needed to pass through these gaps. But, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia kept them from passing for an entire day before retreating. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was the first major battle in the Civil War to take place on Northern soil. Unfortunately, Robert E. Lee, along with his Confederate Army, lost this battle. But, they fought hard. By the end of the day, there were baout 23,000 deaths, making it the bloodiest single-day battle in American history. -
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First Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg, is remembered as one of the most one-sided battles of the Civil War. The Union Army suffered many casualties against the powerful Confederate defenders. This eventually led to a Confederate victory, with the help of Robert E. Le's leadership. -
Battle of Gettysburg
This battle had the largest amount of deaths out of al the battles during the Civil War. It is also described as the war's turning point. Lee began leading his troops through the Shenandoah Valley to make another attack on the North. Buyt, on July 1, 1863, Lee's troops collided with the Union Army. The fighting lasted for 3 days, and eventualy led to a Union Victory. -
Lee surrrenders.
"It would be useless and therefore cruel to provoke the further effusion of blood, and I have arranged to meet with General Grant with a view to surrender." -Robert E. Lee. Lee's surrender marked the end of the American Civil War. -
Battle of Appomattox Court House
The Battle of Appomattox Court House was the final attempt Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia made before it surrendered to the Union Army under General Grant near the end of the American Civil War. Lee's final stand was at Appomattox Court House, where he attacked in order to break through the Union force, which he assumed consisted entirely of cavalry. When he realized that the cavalry was backed up by lots of Union infantry, he had no choice but to surrender. -
Robert E. Lee dies.
After suffering a stroke on September 20, 1870, that left him unable to speak, Lee soon died around 9 a.m. He was burried under Lee Chapel at Washington and Lee University.
