| Robert E. Lee
was born at Stratford in Virginia on January 19, 1807. As
a young man, he pursued his interests in engineering at
West Point upon appointment by Andrew Jackson. At this
point in his life his genius as a military strategist
appeared, and he was singularly honored upon graduation
when he was named Cadet-Adjutant. He ranked second
scholastically in his class. His integrity was further
demonstrated by the fact that he completed four years of
military training at West Point without receiving a single
demerit - a feat difficult to duplicate.
While serving in the Army
of the United States, his loyalty and devotion to the
South compelled him to refuse a generalship in the Union
Army and to return once more to Virginia and the
Confederate Army. When the war was over, once more his
mettle as a man came to the fore as he gallantly strove to
help the South regroup and reconstruct its tattered and
torn remnants of glory. Lee and his famous horse,
Traveler, became symbols of honor and glory for all men to
emulate.
Not only was he successful
on the battlefield, as a military commander, he began in
1865 a second career as President of Washington College,
which later became Washington and Lee University. His
statesmanship was further exemplified when upon his
acceptance of the Presidency of the college he spoke these
words stating the conditions under which he accepted:
"I think it is the duty of every citizen in the
present condition of the country, to do all in his power
to aid in the restoration of peace, and harmony, and in no
way oppose the policy of the State or General Government
directed to that end. It is particularly incumbent on
those charged with the instruction of the youth of the
country to set them an example of submission to authority,
and I could not consent to be the subject of animadversion
(unfavorable comment) upon the college."
On September 15,
1865, he started his new post. Few realized what this step
would mean to the South when this great man took "the
road from Appomattox to Lexington, the road from civil
contention to the wiser and wider education of
Confederates, their younger brothers, their sons, and
their son's sons." And so with pride we hail to thee
and thy name forever - Robert E. Lee a great man.
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