Introduction

Hello. My name is Robert Edward Lee. I was born in Stratford, Virginia on January 19, 1807. Continuing in the military tradition of my father, I entered West Point and graduated second in my class. After graduating, I served in many military duties in Georgia, Virginia, New York, and Mexico over the next 23 years. Because of my outstanding work serving the military, my reputation grew.

On April 19, 1861, I was faced with one of the toughest decisions of my life. Just the previous day, President Lincoln himself had offered me field command of the entire United States Army, however, my homeland, Virginia had recently seceded from the Union to join the Confederacy. After hours of consideration, I came to a decision. "The choice was a difficult one, but I am first and foremost a Virginian," so I resigned from the United States Army and accepted the command...