Robert E. Lee was a Virginian and West Point graduate who served in the U.S. Army for more than 30 years. When Virginia seceded, he resigned and joined the Confederacy.
From 1862 he commanded the Army of Northern Virginia, winning several battles before defeats at Gettysburg and in the final campaigns of 1864 and 1865.
After the War
Lee became president of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia, now Washington and Lee University.
A Debated Legacy
How Lee is remembered remains debated, and many statues and names honoring him have been removed or changed in recent years.
Explore More
Ohio is full of Civil War history. Visit the Ohio History Connection in Columbus, Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery, the Sherman House Museum in Lancaster, Grant’s birthplace in Point Pleasant, and Morgan’s Raid markers across southern and eastern Ohio. County historical societies often hold letters, photos, and flags from local regiments, so check with yours too.
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