If asked about Robert E. Lee, most people would answer that he was the most famous Confederate general in the Civil War - but here William Floyd Junior looks at Lee’s life before the Civil War. It includes his early education, his time at the United States Military Academy, both as a student and later as superintendent, his long career as an army engineer, the Mexican-American War, and his time in the regular U.S. Army.
Robert E. Lee at age 31 in 1838. He was then a Lieutenant of Engineers in the US Army.
Early life
Robert’s father was the famous, “Light Horse Harry Lee,” of Revolutionary War fame and a close friend of George Washington. He served in the Continental Congress and was governor of Virginia. In April of 1782, Harry married Matilda Lee, a second cousin. When Matilda’s father died, he left the family home, Stratford, to Matilda, her sister, and mother. Matilda’s mother and sister would move away leaving their shares of the property to Harry. Harry would begin to sell off parcels of Stratford’s property to cover his debts. After Matilda’s death, Harry would marry Ann Hill Carter. In the following years, Harry would be jailed twice for not paying his debts.
When Harry returned home, Ann insisted that they move to Alexandria, where they could be among friends and family and the children could receive a proper education. In Alexandria, Harry would continue to write his memoirs while trying to play the role of military hero. In the summer of 1813, he left on a ship for Barbados. In early March 1818, Harry left Nassau for the southern United States in an effort to return to his family. Harry would pass away on March 25, 1818, at Cumberland Island Georgia.
The person who did the most to teach Robert the ways of a gentleman was his mother. She would send one son to Harvard, one into the Navy, and another to the United States Military Academy. Robert’s early years were pleasant enough despite his mother’s failing health and the family’s limited income. With the absence of his siblings, Robert became the man of the house, taking care of all the family’s business and looking after his mother.
West Point
Robert’s earliest education began with his mother, before attending Eastern View, a family school maintained by the Carter family. Robert would then attend the Alexandria Academy where he would be introduced to Latin, the Classics, and become an excellent student in mathematics. After finishing at the Alexandria Academy, it was decided that Robert would attend West Point, a major factor being financial. Tuition at the United States Military Academy was free but after graduating the student had to commit to one year in the regular Army.
In 1825, the United States Military Academy at West Point was a school whose primary emphasis was on engineering. Robert, of course, met all the necessary requirements. Appointments to the Academy were made by the President from nominations made by the Secretary of War. Robert would be one of six candidates accepted from Virginia.
After a series of test at the school, Robert officially became a cadet (Freshman/Plebe) on June 28. The day at West Point officially began at 5:30 A.M. and ended at 10:00 P.M. The day was filled with classes and military activities. At the end of his first year, Robert was ranked third in his class without any demerits and promoted to staff sergeant, an unusually high rank for a plebe. In his second year, he would be appointed an “assistant professor of mathematics,” in which he tutored fellow cadets, being paid $10.00 a month.
In his third year, Robert began scientific studies. He would not be taking a mathematics course but would continue his tutoring duties. Chemistry, Natural Philosophy, and Physics became his major courses of study. He would also take a variety of military studies classes. Lee, along with all other cadets would take compulsory dance classes. In addition, he would be chosen Corps Adjutant. During the summer of 1828, Robert would spend most of his time with his mother, whose health was becoming progressively worse. She would pass away on July 26, 1829, with Robert at her side.
On September 1, Robert began his final year at the Academy. He continued with military studies and added courses in Chemistry, Geology, Ethics, Rhetoric, and Practical Economy. It made for a very long day as in past years. He would pass all of his final exams and graduate second in his class. He would ask to be assigned to the Engineer Corps.
Early career
Brevet 2nd Lieutenant Lee would soon receive his first orders. He was to report to Major Samuel Babcock at Cockspur Island, Georgia by the middle of November. Cockspur was a God forsaken spot where Lee would help prepare the site for the building of a new fort. Lee would spend a good amount of time in water up to his armpits. By January of 1830, Lee had taken over the majority of the work.
In the summer of 1830, Lee would spend part of his time in Northern Virginia, returning to Cockspur on November 10. He would find the ditches filled and the wharf destroyed. He would immediately begin repairs. There would also be a new commanding officer, Lieutenant J.K.F. Mansfield. With Mansfield on the job, Lee became a luxury that the Corps could not afford.
Lee would soon receive orders to report for duty at Old Point Comfort, Virginia, located on the tip of the Virginia peninsula, which was the location of Fort Monroe. Lee would take charge of building Fort Wool, a short distance offshore from Fort Monroe on a manmade island. Lee’s primary task at Fort Wool was the supervision of the placement of loadstone, which he found incredibly tedious.
Lee was stationed at Fort Monroe from 1831 to 1834, directing some of the last phases of construction of Fortress Monroe. Lee’s work would become much more demanding with the absence of the Superintending Engineer, becoming involved in practically all phases of construction.
During his time at Fort Monroe, Robert would marry Mary Custis at Arlington. They would soon travel to the fort and set up housekeeping. The couple’s first child was born on September 16, 1832. The baby boy would be named George Washington Custis Lee.
In November 1834, Lee went to work as assistant to the chief of the Engineering Department (Corps) in Washington. Lee was meticulous and paid attention to every detail. However, after four months in Washington, Lee asked to be reassigned. By the summer of 1835, he would be surveying the boundary between Ohio and Michigan led by his friend, Andrew Talcott.
The work was not expected to take more than a month but turned out to take the entire summer. The work involved a number of complicated mathematical calculations and take Lee as far as the Great Lakes. Lee would arrive back in Washington in early October to find his wife very sick. Lee became worn down by Mary’s illness and the shear tedium of work. A slow but temporary improvement in Mary’s health and the beauty of Arlington helped to cheer Lee up.
Major challenge
Lee’s next assignment, and probably the most challenging of his career, was the taming of a portion of the Mississippi River, the major transportation route in the Midwest, and St. Louis the major hub and transportation center. However, the route of the river did not remain constant, gradually changing over time. In one case the river would change in such a way that could leave St. Louis landlocked.
By the end of June 1837 Lee would be on his way to his new assignment at St. Louis. Lee’s plan for saving the St. Louis harbor would be to throw the full current of the Mississippi on to the western (Missouri) side. In turn the current would wash away the built-up sand. Lee’s plan was to work with the river, not against it, and allow the Mississippi to do most of the work.
Lee’s hard work would pay off, with the stronger force of water pounding against the head of Duncan’s Island, its sand and silt began washing away. By the end of the construction season, some 700 feet of the island had disappeared. In addition, the channel across the bar between Bloody Island and Duncan’s Island had been deepened by seven feet.
Work on the Mississippi at St. Louis would come to an end and Lee would return to Arlington in December 1839 and was eventually reassigned to the Chief Engineer’s office in Washington.
Lee’s next assignment would be to upgrade the forts, which protected New York City. This work would be all encompassing for Lee, performing all of the administrative duties and supervising construction. At the end of this assignment, Lee would travel to West Point to consult on the new cadet barracks and serve on the Board of Examiners.
Mexican-American War
With the start of the Mexican-American War, Lee would be chosen to serve on the staff of commanding general Winfield Scott. Lee’s first assignment in this position would be to scout locations for the placement of artillery for the attack on the city of Vera Cruz. After the American victory at Vera Cruz, Scott’s forces would move inland but would soon be confronted by Santa Anna’s army on the national road. Again, the reconnaissance of the engineers, including Lee, would play a vital role in Scott’s attack. For his part Lee would be promoted to Brevet Major.
The Mexican Army soon realized they were in a bad position and would retreat to Mexico City. The engineers would again play an important role in the taking of the city. This would lead to the Mexican surrender on May 25, 1848. Lee would leave Mexico the following June.
Lee would soon be back at Arlington spending as much time as possible with his family and would begin work at the Chief Engineer’s Office in Washington. Lee would be commissioned a colonel on August 24. Around this same time, he would receive his next assignment, the building of the foundation for a fort to protect Baltimore from an attack by water.
The work at Baltimore required almost hourly supervision on Lee’s part. In late July Lee would develop a fever, which was most likely malaria. He would leave the site, with General Totten’s permission, until his health improved. Towards the end of summer, Lee would be part of an inspection tour of other facilities but would soon ask to be relieved due to his ongoing illness.
Back to West Point
Lee would not return to Baltimore until the end of August. Work under Lee’s supervision continued but on May 28 he received a letter that would change everything. The orders stated that he would assume the position of Superintendent at West Point the following September. This was a job he really did not want but would reluctantly accept it. On August 23 he left for West Point and assumed his assigned duties.
At the time of his arrival, there was an aggressive building program underway which fit right in with Lee’s vast experience. Congress had approved funds for a riding hall, the expansion of the cadet hospital, cavalry stables, and officer’s quarters. These projects were begun under Lee’s tenure, but the majority of the construction was done in 1855.
In March 1855, Lee would become part of the regular army, again a position he had not sought out. The change from staff to line did not include a pay raise. Transfer also meant a complete break from the Corps of Engineers and, once again, long periods of time away from his family. On March 31, 1855, Lee relinquished command at West Point.
Little did Lee know that the most difficult part of his life was still in front of him.
What do you think of Robert E. Lee’s early life? Let us know below.
Now read William’s article on three great early influences on Thomas Jefferson here, and Walter H. Taylor, Robert E. Lee’s indispensable man, here.
