Home > American Civil War > Robert E. Lee Biography

Born January 19, 1807
Westmoreland County, Virginia
Died October 13, 1870
Lexington, Virginia

Confederate general

As commander of the Army of Northern Virginia,
became the Confederacy's most famous military
leader of the Civil War

General Robert E. Lee ranks as the most famous and beloved Confederate soldier to fight in the American Civil War. As commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, he masterminded many of the South's greatest military victories. Combining clever battlefield strategy with inspiring leadership, he nearly engineered an ultimate Confederate victory. As the conflict progressed, however, improved performance by the larger Union Army proved too much for Lee to overcome. Lee's decision to surrender in the spring of 1865 did not hurt his reputation among his fellow Southerners, though. In fact, the postwar South embraced Lee as its greatest...