Lee, Henry, IV (brother), 13, 47, 74; scandal involving, 39–41; Stratford Hall and, 19, 39
Lee, Lucy Grymes (paternal grandmother), 5
Lee, Mary Anne Custis (wife), 260; appearance, 48, 73; Arlington and, 63, 67, 70–71, 90, 92, 99, 102, 169, 187, 224, 288, 294, 415, 613, 613n; army life and, 63; in Baltimore with Lee and children, 166–67, 169; Battle of First Manassas and, 269; birth of first child, 70; birth of second child and difficulties, 79–80; in Brooklyn, New York with Lee and children, 98–102; character of, 48–49, 159, 223, 241–42, 313, 415, 489, 642, 645, 675, 684; children, 56, 92n, 99; Civil War residences, 242, 260, 288, 294, 304, 313, 316, 414, 415, 604, 605, 638, 641; death of daughter Annie, 489; death of mother and, 182–83; engagement and wedding, 53–55; family and wealth, 38, 48; “in the hands” of Federal troops, 316–17; health and debilitating arthritis of, 49, 56, 79–80, 91, 98, 184, 198, 214, 223–24, 294, 348, 638, 674, 684, 688; honeymoon, 61–62; housekeeping, cooking, child rearing and, 91, 98, 159–60; knitting and sewing for Lee, 641; Lee as president of Washington College and, 683; Lee’s courtship of, 38, 51–52; Lee’s letters to, xxv, xxxvii, 70–71, 73, 79, 98, 107, 111, 114, 118, 119, 130, 134, 138, 147, 183, 191–92, 194–95, 196–97, 220–21, 239, 253–54, 259, 270, 272, 275, 281, 289, 304, 422, 490, 505–6, 605, 633, 641, 644; Lee’s resignation from U.S. Army and, 230; Lee’s warning about Federal advance and, 313, 317;
Lee, Mary Anne Custis (wife) in Lexington, VA, 684, 688, 691; as most important person in Lee’s life, 55–57; move to Derwent cottage, 679–80, 682; note left on door of White House plantation, 316; post-war life, 675, 679–80, 682, 684, 688–89, 691; reaction to eviction from Arlington, 241–42; religion and, 48–49, 161; in Saint Louis with Lee, 89–93; on secession, 224; at Shirley, 285; slaves owned by, 48, 63, 72, 184, 240; travel to spas by, 223–24, 281, 688; in West Point with Lee and children, 172, 184–85
Lee, Mary Custis (daughter), 90, 92n, 159, 260, 641; character of, 682; as Civil War nurse, 269, 414; Jeb Stuart’s recovery of copybook, 294–95, 295n; Lee’s letters to, 272; post-war life, 678, 679; in Richmond with Lee, 294; at Staunton, 679, 682; on Traveller, 294
Lee, Matilda, 10
Lee, Mildred Childe, “Milly” or “Precious Life” (daughter), 92n, 102, 160, 171, 174, 224, 239, 242, 260, 294, 414–15, 488–89, 604, 641, 674; cat of, 261, 688; as Civil War nurse, 269; Lee’s letters to, 272; post-war life, 677, 678, 682, 684, 688
Lee, Richard (“The Immigrant”), 3–5
Lee, Richard Bland, 68
Lee, Richard Henry, II (“Richard the Scholar”), 5
Lee, Robert E[dward]: American citizenship restored, posthumously, 671, 677; appearance and bearing of, 34, 44, 48, 160, 233, 286–87, 331, 537, 673, 674; birth, 13; Brady’s historic photographs, 673–74; cardiovascular disease, 215, 506, 507, 530, 691, 692; death, 692–93; Grant’s opinion of, 34, 163, 163n; men’s devotion to, 17; as myth, secular saint, and martyr, 21, 39, 163, 189, 245, 610, 614, 632–33, 638–39, 671n, 681, 682; as national hero, 671; roadside historic plaques and, 673
CHARACTER, TEMPERAMENT, AND BELIEFS, 529n; ambition and, 81; beliefs compared to John Brown’s, xlii; brisk activity and temperament of, 26, 83, 91, 111, 676; charisma, 246; complexity of, summary of characteristics, 161–64, 614; contrasted with his wife’s, 48–49, 159; courage of, 17, 42, 144–45, 450–51, 481, 639, 681; decisiveness of, 293–94, 357–58; disappointment and self-doubts about military career, xv, 69, 78, 99, 101, 102, 191, 197, 198, 213, 214–15; dislike of emotional personal confrontations, xxxvii, 18, 271, 282, 403, 425, 442, 505, 563, 564, 565, 567, 582–83; distrust of politics and politicians, 18, 232, 640; essential character, 70, 458, 488, 490, 563, 565, 600, 680, 681–82, 693; flaws of his father and, 18, 41–42; influence of eighteenth century on, 22–23, 183; interest in science and mechanics, 168–69; Lee family motto, 1; love of animals, 62, 158, 638–39; love of family and enjoyment of relatives, 21, 55, 63, 93, 158–60, 171, 197, 198; loyalty of, xli, 212; as “Marble Man,” 21, 34, 80–81, 231, 244, 356, 530, 553–54, 665; money and, 14, 94, 165, 165n, 179, 187, 187n, 201–2; nerves of steel, 305, 439, 477, 481, 600–601; piety and religion of, 20–21, 55, 160–63, 160n, 183, 192, 195–96, 425, 446, 547, 593, 612, 613, 681; reserve, dignity, and related traits, 37, 70, 235, 236, 246, 283, 425, 439, 449, 489–90, 530; romantic personality of, 73, 119–20, 593; on secession, xl–xli, xlii, 37, 193, 212, 217, 221; sense of humor, 21, 38, 62, 179; slavery and race, beliefs about, xxiii, xxvi, xxvii, xli, 67–69, 167, 180–81, 182, 189, 193, 194–96, 216, 218, 221, 233, 643, 680–81, 687; summary of character, as cadet at West Point, xxiv; teasing, flirtation, and admiration of pretty women, 21, 38, 51, 62–63, 72–74, 81, 429; treatment of blacks, post-war, 680, 686–87; various traits, 17n, 30, 87, 428–29; Victorian sentimentality, 62–63; as Virginia aristocrat, xl, 44, 118, 212, 219; virtues of his father and, 17–18; virtues taught by his mother, 14, 18, 20–21; as warrior and risktaker, 37, 42, 428, 552–53, 600–601, 621–22; Washington’s influence, xli–xlii, 6, 57, 70, 183, 217, 230; wife’s influence, 55–57
FAMILY AND HOME LIFE: advice given by, 164–65, 169–70, 170n, 171, 175–76, 188, 212–13; Arlington and, xvi, xxiii, 6, 158–60 (see also Arlington, Alexandria, Virginia); Carter (maternal) relatives, 21; children of and parenting role, 56, 70, 79, 80, 90, 92n, 93, 101–2, 158–60, 162, 164–65, 169–71, 175–76, 197–98, 212–13, 215, 224–25, 375, 414–15, 488–89, 604–5, 641, 645, 647, 675, 678–79; Christmas and, 171; conservatism of family, 219, 219n; death of daughter Annie, 489–90; death of father-in-law, 198; death of grandson Rob, 348; death of mother-in-law and, 182–83; death of sister Mildred, 191–92; family history, 3–6; father-in-law and, 46–47, 52; father-in-law’s financial affairs and, xv, xxiii–xxiv, xxv, 198; father of, ambivalence toward, 7, 13–14, 16, 17; great houses in his family, 5–6, 11, 14; Lee relatives, 22; mother and, 14, 18, 20–21, 26; mother’s death and estate, 45–46; quarters and early marriage at Fort Monroe, 61–63, 67; wife, Mary and, 48–49, 51–52, 55–57, 67, 70–72, 79, 158–60
MILITARY GENIUS OF, 43, 432, 681; ability to change plans quickly, 421; ability to remove poor commanders, 282; aggressiveness in battle, 326; artillery, use of, 76; art of fortification and, 60–61, 76, 166, 282, 624; audacity and, 344, 359, 359n, 391–92, 399, 401–2, 404, 431–32, 439, 509; basic lessons of Napoleon’s generalship, xxiv,, 34–35, 185; Battle of Cerro Gordo and, 134; characteristic shared with Charles XII of Sweden, 36; defense of Richmond, 301, 303–4; establishment of goals and, 310; eye for defensive positions, 624; favorite tactic (swift-moving flank attack), 327, 513; ferocity in battle and, 37, 621–22; freedom given to commanders (also a negative), 310; gift for turning reluctant men into proper soldiers, 188; grasp of strategic opportunities, 404–5; as “greatest tactician in American military history,” xxiv; master of defense and genius of offense, 255; mental agility and, 36–37; as model of generalship, 625; obstinacy and willpower and, 83; outthinking Johnston, 304; patience and, 231; qualities of the young Napoleon, Lee and, 35, 76; weaponry, technology, and, 168–69
1807–1831 (YOUTH AND WEST POINT YEARS): admittance to West Point, 23–26; at Alexandria Academy, 23; campaigns of Napoleon and, 34–35; character development and, 44–45; early childhood, 13, 19–20, 22–23; at “family school,” Eastern View, 22; home visit and Mary Anna Randolph Curtis, 38; lessons in Army life, 53; mathematics and, 32, 34; mother’s death, 45;
Lee, Robert E[dward] posting at Cockspur Island, GA, 49–53; rank of Brevet Second Lieutenant, 44; in Savannah, 51, 52, 53; slave, Nat, and, 50–51, 52–53; strategic sense of, 53; studies in military science, 43; at West Point, 29–38, 42–44; West Point graduation, 44 1831–1846
(EARLY MILITARY CAREER AND MARRIED LIFE), 59–102; blacksmith for, 77–78; on board of examiners, West Point, 100; commuting to War Department in Washington, 77–78; engagement and wedding, 53–55; Fort Monroe and Fort Wool projects, 60–61, 63, 66–67, 69, 74–75; as Gratiot’s assistant in Washington, 75, 76–78, 80–82; Gratiot�
��s dismissal from command and, 93–94; inspection of coastal forts in the Carolinas, 96–97; Mississippi channel project and, xv, xxiv, 82–95; New York City’s fortresses, assignment at, 97–102; posting to Old Point, VA, 53, 54; promotion to captain, 92; promotion to first lieutenant, 80; promotion to second lieutenant, 74; return to Arlington and birth of fifth child, 95; science of hydraulics and, 59–60; Scott and, 100; “Toledo War” and, 78–79
1846–48 (MEXICAN WAR), xxiv, 106–55; advance on Mexico City, 130–32, 139, 141–42; approaches to Mexico City studied, 140, 140n; Battle and Siege of Vera Cruz, 123–29; Battle for Mexico City, 145–54; Battle of Cerro Gordo, 133–38, 133, 134n, 275; at Brazos, 123; courage under fire, 144, 146; fainting episode, 153; first active service, 108; first experience of warfare, 128–29; first time under fire, 125; fortifications at Buena Vista, 121; horses, Grace Darling and Creole, 108, 110, 118–19, 119n, 123, 155, 158; on lack of justice of the war, 104; legend begins at Churubusco, 148; lesson on difference between maps and actual terrain, 109; lessons learned from Scott, 154; lessons of command, 150–51; lessons on reconnaissance, 109, 120–21; march south, 114, 118–21; Molino del Ray and, 150, 151–53; at Monclova, 110–11, 113; orderly for, James Connally, 107n, 108, 109, 110, 119, 119n; orders to report to San Antonio de Bexar, Texas, 106–7; “party of pioneers” led by, 109–10, 114; pony called Santa Anna, 155, 158; promotion to brevet major, 139; at Puebla de los Angeles, 139–41; reaction to death and destruction of war, 130, 138; reconnaissance and, 120–21, 128, 133, 137, 139, 141–42, 143, 147, 150, 154; return home (June, 1948), 154–55; road construction, 108, 109–10, 114; at Saltillo, 118; Scott and, 123–24, 126, 127, 135, 139, 143–48, 150–51; “the Sharpening of Swords, [and] the grinding of bayonets,” 106, 106n; transformation from military engineer to daring soldier and hero, 126, 129, 139; Wool and, 108, 110, 113, 121; Worth and, 118
1848–1860 (PEACETIME AND HARPER’S FERRY), 157–210; at Arlington with family, 158–60, 198–210; command of the Department of Texas, 210, 213–15; construction of Fort Carroll, 166–72; disappointment in army career, xv, 157; John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry and, xxiii, xxv–xxxvii, 201, 210; leave from Army to settle father-in-law’s estate, 198–210; Lee suffers fever (malaria), 167; as member of court-martials, 188, 192, 197, 201, 210; offered military command of Cuban revolutionary junta, 167–68; rank of lieutenant colonel or Brevet Colonel, xv, xvn, 186; Second U.S. Cavalry, Texas and, xv, xvi, xxiv–xxv, xl–xli, 186–98, 210, 220; slaves of father-in-law and controversy, 200–209, 212–13; as superintendent, West Point, xxiv, xxv, 172–85; U.S. politics and, 180; at War Department, completing maps, 166
1861–1865 (CIVIL WAR YEARS): age and stressors on, 507; analysis of generalship, 422–26; appearance change, 282; Appomattox, final battle and surrender, 34, 650–70; at Arlington with family, 212; “armored railroad battery,” 378; avoidance of oratory, 244–45; Battle of Antietam, 475–85; Battle of Chancellorsville, 508–21, 511; Battle of Cheat Mountain, 273–80, 273n, 274, 282; Battle of Cold Harbor, 42, 629–31; Battle of the Crater, 635–36; Battle of First Manassas, 267, 267n, 268, 269, 270; Battle of Fredericksburg, 494–504, 495; Battle of Gettysburg, 523–601; Battle of Mechanicsburg, 348; Battle of Sayler’s Creek, 649–50, 652; Battle of Second Manassas, 435, 437, 439, 440, 441, 442–58, 453; Battle of Seven Pines, 323–25, 328–29; Battle of South Mountain, 474; Battle of Wilderness, 617–24; as commander, Army of Northern Virginia, 325, 326, 334, 348; command of the Department of the South, 285; costs of siding with the Confederacy, 317, 609; Council of War (August 15, 1862), 413–14, 415–16; Council of War (August 24, 1862), 427; Council of War (June 23, 1862), 327, 340; court-martial proceedings and, 407; criticism and nicknames, 280, 281, 285, 307, 334, 348, 403, 423–25, 573; CSA offers commission to, 226, 231–33, 235–36, 238; as Davis’s chief advisor, 285, 300, 301; death of Jeb Stuart, 625–26; declines offer of Union Army command, 227–28, 238; defense of Richmond, 76, 166, 185, 298–99, 300–301, 329; defensive war fought by after Gettysburg, 609; defensive war impossibility and, 423–24; detention in Texas (1861), 222–23; earthworks, fortifications, and, 43, 185, 282, 286, 287, 288, 307, 318, 329, 614, 632; effect of his presence on his men, 282, 363, 600–601, 603, 610, 629, 633–34, 634n, 638–39; emancipation of Custis slaves, 317, 506; emotional cabinet meeting (1862), 319–20; expecting the impossible from his men, 471, 574, 593, 601; formation of a Confederate Army (spring 1861), 231–61; general in chief of the Confederate Army, 640, 643–44; giving away of presents to, 633, 641; Grant and, 616–17; hands-off style of command, 403, 442–46, 558, 564, 573, 574, 582–83, 625; headquarters at Coosawhatchie, SC, 286, 288; headquarters at Jefferston, 427; adquarters at Widow Dabb’s house, 340, 341, 346, 414; health of, 506–7, 530, 628; horses during the war, 272–73, 283, 284 (see also Traveller); innovative use of artillery, 332; kit and belongings, 222; leadership defined by swift movement, 111; as legend, 287, 445, 485, 610, 632–33, 640; lessons learned from Scott, 393–94, 426; Longstreet and, 341, 413–16, 418n, 427, 442–43, 444, 445, 454, 467, 526–27; Maryland campaign, 460–86; McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign and, 304–8;
Lee, Robert E[dward] military discipline and, 425; near capture of, 429–30; opinions about, 243, 244; orders to report to Washington (1861), 222, 223; Pope’s papers confiscated, 422; prediction about the war, 242–43, 247; problem of ambiguous orders, 348, 354; promotion to full colonel (U.S. Army), 225–26; rallying the troops, 363; rank in Confederate Army, 254; resignation offered to Davis, 609; resignation of U.S. Army commission (1861), 168, 230, 238; response to Custer’s proposed execution of Confederate prisoners, 163, 163n; retreat to Virginia (1863), 603–4; Richmond office, 235, 235n, 292; sample of typical order, 250; secession and, 215–23; Seven Days Battles, 343–95, 398 (see also specific battles); skill in fortifications and extension of war, 166; slaves with, 270, 270n; Special Orders, No. 191, 468–70, 474; staff of, 238, 353, 425; state of mind (1865), 644–45; Stonewall Jackson, bond with and belief in, 295–96, 303, 311, 330, 332, 340, 361, 381, 398, 402, 403, 409, 430, 442, 443, 467, 512–13, 517, 518, 527, 534; strategic errors, summary, 534–35, 628; strategic vision of, 330, 332, 405, 408, 409, 414, 416, 418, 418n, 422, 423, 424, 427, 428, 431, 465, 473, 507, 512–13, 524, 525, 526, 529; strike at Pope at Gordonsville, 400, 401, 402; swords of, 658, 658n, 669, 673; as symbol of the cause, 640; tactics of Napoleon and, 293; thrown from Traveller, 455–56, 473; Traveller (see Traveller); uniform, 233, 254, 282, 429, 610n, 658, 673, 684; weaponry and, 326–28, 326n, 378, 506; Western Virginia Campaign and, 272–80; winter quarters (1862-1863), 504–5). See also specific battles and campaigns
1865–1870 (POST-WAR YEARS), 671–93; adulation of Lee, 689–90; advice for rebuilding the South, 675; Brady’s historic photographs of, 674; Congressional testimony of, 680, 685; death, 692–93; domestic life, 688; farewell address to his army, 672; Federal restrictions on, 678; financial concerns post-war, 675; Grant and, 688; happiness and, 689; health deterioration, 689, 691; Lee as item of curiosity, 671–72, 674, 676; move to Derwent cottage, 677, 679, 682; North’s fears about, 684, 688; pardon sought, 675, 676–77; post-war deprivations, 674; post-war ride to White House, 675–76; as president of Washington College, 39, 43, 682–88; prevention of lynching by, 685; Reconstruction and, 686–87; recovery of household goods and family silver, 684; stricken on September 28, 1870, 692; trial of Jefferson Davis and, 688; Valentine’s bust of, 691; visit to Annie’s grave in White Sulphur Springs, 689–90; visit to his father’s grave, Cumberland Island, 690; visit to Shirley, 691; visit to White House, 691
Lee, Robert E., Jr. “Rob,” (son), 92n, 99; Battle of Antietam and, 159, 487–88; Battle of Second Manassas and, 451–52; in the Confederate Army, 242, 294, 375, 414, 451, 504; escape from Union at Hickory Hill, 604–5; father’s sword, 658n; on Lee’s character, 158–59; Lee’s return from Mexican War and, 158, 160; living at West Point, 174, 175, 176–77; “mammy” Eliza, 159; memories of his father, 169, 375, 415, 451–52, 487–88, 504–5, 629, 632–33; pony called Santa
Anna and, 158; post-war life, 675, 676, 684; on Traveller, 285; at University of Virginia, 185, 197
Lee, Sydney Smith (brother), 23, 38, 45, 46, 55, 178; Civil War and, 225, 229, 244; Lee’s resignation from U.S. Army and, 230–31; Siege of Vera Cruz and, 128–29
Lee, Thomas, 6
Lee, William Fitzhugh “Rooney” (son), 160, 171, 174; birth of son, 214; in the Confederate Army, 242, 272, 279, 334n, 414, 421, 422, 428, 488, 504, 531n; death of son, 348; death of wife and children, 605, 613; at Harvard, 185, 197; illness of, 489; kidnapping and imprisonment of, 604–5, 677; marriage of, 212; at Pamunkey River plantation, 239; post-war life, 675, 676; ride back to Richmond after surrender, 673; in Saint Louis with Lee, 90; severing of finger tips, 101–2; in the U.S. Army, 201; White House plantation and, 212, 217, 294, 313; wife at Hickory Hill, 335; wounding at Battle of Brandy Station, 531, 604
Lee Considered (Nolan), 423
Lee Girls, The (Coulling), 295n, 414, 609, 677
Lesage, Alain-René, 35
Letcher, John, 232–33, 232n, 246, 279
Lexington, VA, 684. See also Washington College, Lexington, VA
Liberia, 68
Life and Campaigns of Lieut. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, The (Dabney), 368n
Life of George Washington (Everett), 220
Life of Washington (Everett), xli–xlii
Lincoln, Abraham, 225, 245, 262, 462, 634; advance on Richmond and, 493, 493n; Battle of Fredericksburg and, 504; on the black race, 68; Burnside and, 496; defense of Washington, D.C. and, 299; Emancipation Proclamation, 486, 506; fear of attack on Washington, 405, 405n; Fort Sumter and, 226, 227, 237; Gettysburg Address, 220n; Grant and, 611, 612; Halleck and, 400; Hooker and, 509, 520, 535, 541–42; inauguration, not attended by Lee or Custis family, 223; Lee and, 225, 228; McClellan and, 293, 299, 339, 354, 373–74, 401, 408, 438, 461, 462, 491; Meade and, 611; on peace terms, 656; Proclamation issued after firing on Fort Sumter, 227, 237–38; reelection, 642; replaces McClellan with Burnside, 492; ride through captured Richmond, 648–49; secession threats on election of, xli, 215–16, 217; views on slavery, 216; views on states’ rights, 216; Virginia and, 226
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