When the war ended, Lee returned to his former duties in the Engineer Corps of the U.S.A., and was placed in charge of the works, then in process of construction, at Fort Carroll, near Baltimore.  His assignment to the duty of thus superintending the military defences of Hampton Roads, New York Bay, and the approaches to Baltimore, in succession, would seem to indicate that his abilities as engineer were highly esteemed.  Of his possession of such ability there can be no doubt.  The young officer was not only thoroughly trained in this high department of military science, but had for his duties unmistakable natural endowments.  This fact was clearly indicated on many occasions in the Confederate struggle—­his eye for positions never failed him.  It is certain that, had Lee never commanded troops in the field, he would have left behind him the reputation of an excellent engineer.

In 1855 he was called for the first time to command men, for his duties hitherto had been those of military engineer, astronomer, or staff-officer.  The act of Congress directing that two new cavalry regiments should be raised excited an ardent desire in the officers of the army to receive appointments in them, and Lee was transferred from his place of engineer to the post of lieutenant-colonel in the Second Cavalry, one of the regiments in question.  The extraordinary number of names of officers in this regiment who afterward became famous is worthy of notice.  The colonel was Albert Sydney Johnston; the lieutenant-colonel, R.E.  Lee; the senior major, William J. Hardee; the junior major, George H. Thomas; the senior captain, Earl Yan Dorn; the next ranking captain, Kirby Smith; the lieutenants, Hood, Fields, Cosby, Major, Fitzhugh Lee, Johnson, Palmer, and Stoneman, all of whom became general officers afterward on the Southern side, with the exception of Thomas, and the three last named, who became prominent generals in the Federal army.  It is rare that such a constellation of famous names is found in the list of officers of a single regiment.  The explanation is, nevertheless simple.  Positions in the new regiments were eagerly coveted by the best soldiers of the army, and, in appointing the officers, those of conspicuous ability only were selected.  The Second Regiment of cavalry thus became the corps d’elite of the United States Army; and, after Albert Sydney Johnston, Robert E. Lee was the ranking officer.

Lee proceeded with his regiment to Texas, remaining there for several years on frontier duty, and does not reappear again until 1859.

Such was the early career in the army of the soldier soon to become famous on a greater theatre—­that of a thoroughly-trained, hard-working, and conscientious officer.  With the single exception of his brief record in the Mexican War, his life had been passed in official duties, unconnected with active military operations.  He was undoubtedly what is called a “rising man,” but he had had no opportunity to display the greatest faculties of the soldier.  The time was coming now when he was to be tested, and the measure of his faculties taken in one of the greatest wars which darken the pages of history.