Overview
Since his military school days, Robert E. Lee excelled as a soldier. He was the first cadet to receive the rank of sergeant while at West Point, where he graduated at the head of his class in artillery and tactics and ranked second in his class overall. Lee continued his distinguished military career, and was asked by Abraham Lincoln to take control of the entire Union Army against the Confederates. Instead, although he opposed secession, Lee fought out of loyalty for his native Virginia during the Civil War. He rose to the rank of general, due to his tactical successes in battle against a stronger opponent. After four years of bloody war, the Confederate Army was defeated. Lee surrendered them to Union general Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia on April 9, 1865. Today, Lee is remembered for his character and devotion to duty, and he remains an iconic figure of American military leadership.
From ex-slaves and abolitionists to military leaders and presidents, Leaders of the Civil War Era presents a full picture of some of the most important figures who lived during this tumultuous time in U.S. history. Each volume is a key resource for students and general readers who want to know more about the people who shaped our country into what it is today.