The life of Lee up to the beginning of the great conflict of 1861-’65 is of moderate interest only, and we shall not dwell at length upon it.  He was employed on the coast defences, in New York and Virginia; and, in 1835, in running the boundary line between the States of Ohio and Michigan.  In September, 1836, he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant; in July, 1838, to a captaincy; in 1844 he became a member of the Board of Visitors to the Military Academy; in 1845 he was a member of the Board of Engineers; and in 1846, when the Mexican War broke out, was assigned to duty as chief engineer of the Central Army of Mexico, in which capacity he served to the end of the war.

Up to the date of the Mexican War, Captain Lee had attracted no public attention, but had impressed the military authorities, including General Winfield Scott, with a favorable opinion of his ability as a topographical engineer.  For this department of military science he exhibited endowments of the first class—­what other faculties of the soldier he possessed, it remained for events to show.  This opportunity was now given him in the Mexican War; and the efficient character of his services may be seen in Scott’s Autobiography, where “Captain Lee, of the Engineers,” is mentioned in every report, and everywhere with commendation.  From the beginning of operations, the young officer seems to have been summoned to the councils of war, and General Scott particularly mentions that held at Vera Cruz—­so serious an affair, that “a death-bed discussion could hardly have been more solemn.”  The passages in which the lieutenant-general mentions Lee are too numerous, and not of sufficient interest to quote, but two entries will exhibit the general tenor of this “honorable mention.”  After Cerro Gordo, Scott writes, in his official report of the battle:  “I am compelled to make special mention of Captain R.E.  Lee, engineer.  This officer greatly distinguished himself at the siege of Vera Cruz; was again indefatigable during these operations, in reconnoissance as daring, as laborious, and of the utmost value.”  After Chapultepec, he wrote:  “Captain Lee, so constantly distinguished, also bore important orders for me (September 13th), until he fainted from a wound, and the loss of two nights’ sleep at the batteries.”

We may add here the statement of the Hon. Reverdy Johnson, that he “had heard General Scott more than once say that his success in Mexico was largely due to the skill, valor, and undaunted energy of Robert E. Lee.”

For these services Lee received steady promotion.  For meritorious conduct at Cerro Gordo, he was made brevet major; for the same at Contreras and Cherubusco, brevet lieutenant-colonel; and, after Chapultepec, he received the additional brevet of colonel—­distinctions fairly earned by energy and courage.