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“It is well that war is so terrible, or we should grow too fond of it.”
― Robert E. Lee
“Go home all you boys who fought with me and help build up the shattered fortunes of our old state”
― Robert E. Lee, Wit and Wisdom of Robert E. Lee

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Lee recognized that the key to ultimate success was a victory on Northern territory.

Peninsula Campaign

He successfully drove back the efforts of Union general George McClellan in the Peninsula campaign.

This success was due to his aggressiveness and fearlessness.

Second Bull Run (Manassas)

During August 29-30 he defeated General John Pope.

This success was due to his love for fighting a war.

Fredericksburg

On December 13 he defeated General Ambrose Burnside.

This success is again due to dauntlessness during combat.

Battle of Chancellorsville

May 1-4, 1863

The bloodiest one-day battle of the war, but also the greatest victory for the South

The victory at Chancellorsville gave Lee great confidence in his army.

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He served as military advisor to President Jefferson Davis until June 1862.

He was given command of the wounded General Joseph E. Johnson's embattled army on the Virginia peninsula.

He then renamed his command the Army of Northern Virginia, which would become the most famous and successful of the Confederate armies.

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From 1852 to 1855 he served as superintendent of West Point.

In 1855 he left the academy to take a position in the cavalry.

In 1859 he was called to put down abolitionist John Brown’s raid at Harpers Ferry.

In April 1861 Abraham Lincoln offered him the command of the Federal forces, but he declined and accepted a general’s commission in the newly formed Confederate Army.

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Robert E. Lee Video - Robert E. Lee - HISTORY.com

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The general leads to Confederate forces in the Civil War, and in the process gains mythic status.

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Robert E. Lee's Life Before the Civil War 

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Robert E. Lee's Life Before the Civil War 

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He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated second in the class of 1829.

He served 17 years as an officer in the Corps of Engineers.

He served during the 1846 war with Mexico as a member of General Winfield Scott's staff, after which he earned three brevets for courage as well as the rank of colonel.

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Even though the south lost the Civil War, Robert Edward Lee can still be considered the greatest war general of this war due to the many victories he led his army to as well as his optimistic attitude throughout the entirety of the war.