Robert E. Lee Timeline 1807—January 19 Robert E. Lee is born at 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. 1829— Lee graduates 2ndin his West Point class. * He becomes the first student to graduate without having received a single demerit. * Fellow cadets give Lee the nickname “Marble Model”. * He is commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Corps of Engineers. 1831— Lee marries Mary Custis (great-granddaughter of
Martha Washington) at her family’s plantation Arlington House. * The Lees have seven children during their marriage. 1846— The
Mexican War begins. 1847— Lee serves on the staff of
General Winfield Scott and is promoted to brevet major. 1852— Lee becomes superintendent of West Point. 1859—October 18 Lee leads troops in putting down John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry. 1861—April General Winfield Scott offers Lee command of the Union Army 1861—April 17 The Virginia convention votes in favor of secession. 1861—April 22 Lee resigns from the United States Army. 1861— Lee accepts command of the military and naval forces of Virginia. * Virginia state forces become part of the Confederate forces. * Lee is sent to defend western Virginia. * Lee purchases his famous warhorse, Traveller. * Lee is called to
Richmond to serve as a military advisor to President Davis. 1862—June 1 Lee is given command of the Army of Northern Virginia after
General Joseph Johnston is wounded. 1862-1863— Lee leads the Army of Northern Virginia to multiple victories—Seven Days Battles, Second Manassas,
Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville— but his two attempts to win battles in the North end in failure—first in Maryland (Sept. ’62) at the
battle of Sharpsburg/Antietam and second in Pennsylvania (July ’63) at the battle of Gettysburg. 1864— Lee faces
Grant in the Wilderness, at Spotsylvania Courthouse, and at Cold Harbor. 1864—May 13 The first step in making Lee’s Arlington home into a national cemetery occurs when
Union soldiers are buried on the property. 1864—June 15 The
siege of Petersburg begins. * For nine months, Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia holds trenches outside of Petersburg faced by
Grant’s
Army of the Potomac. 1865—January 1 Lee is made general-in-chief of Confederate Forces. 1865—April 2 The siege of Petersburg ends when
Grant attacks Lee’s position. 1865—April 9
Lee surrenders to Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia. 1865—October Lee becomes president of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia. 1870— October 12, The General dies after suffering a stroke at age 63. | 
