Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/89

 UNDER THE CONFEDERACY

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and Anne Hill (Carter) Lee, grandson of Henry and Lucy (Grymes) Lee, and of Charles and Anne Butler (Moore) Carter. In 181 1 Gen. Henry Lee removed his fam- ily from Stratford to Alexandria^ Virginia, where Robert received his preparatory edu- cation, at the academy under W. B. Leary, and at the high school of which Benjamin Hallowell, a Quaker, was head-master. He was graduated from the United States Mili- tary Academy, second in his class of 1829, was commissioned second lieutenant of en- gineers and assigned to duty in the engi- neer bureau, Washington. In September, 1S31, he was ordered to duty on the defences at Hampton Roads, where he remained, 1831-35. He was promoted first lieutenant in 1S35 and became assistant to the chief engineer at \\'ashington. He was commis- sioned captain of engineers in 1836 and made astronomer of a joint commission created by the legislature of Ohio and Michigan to determine the boundary line bttween those states. In 1837-40 he was employed on the Upper Mississippi in con- structing levees above St. Louis, Missouri. He was on topographical duty in Washing- ton, 1840-41, and on fortifications in New York harbor, 1841-45. In January, 1846, he v/as ordered to report to Gen. Zachary Tay- lor on the Rio Grande, and was made chief engineer on the staff of Gen. Wool and took part in the engagement at Palo Alto, May 8. at Reseca do la Palma, May 9, and in the capture of Matamoras, May 18. Later Capt. Lee was made chief engineer on the staff of Gen. Winfield Scott, at Vera Cruz. On March 13, Capt. Lee supported by the Pal- metto regiment of South Carolina and the First New York Volunteers, made a recon- noissance of the Mexican lines, designated

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the position of the assaulting batteries to be constructed of sand-bags within one thousand yards of the rock masonry walls of the city, and March 22 bore under a flag of truce a demand for surrender. This be- ing denied two days were given to remove the women and children, when the army and navy opened fire, and on March 29 the Mexicans capitulated. The American troops were without transportation, the Mexicans having cleared the country- of horses and mules. The situation was desperate as yel- low fever threatened the place. In this emergency Capt. Lee became responsible for the honesty of a Texan soldier. Col. Tom Kinney, and the commanding general on his recommendation paid over to Kinney 5p50,-

000 in gold for six thousand mules to be delivered within three days. The contract was carried out by bribing the paroled Mexicans, and the army moved toward the city of Mexico. At Cerro Gordo Pass, April 14, 1847, the engineering skill of Lee sur- mounted the advantage of position and the Mexicans under Santa Anna were defeated, as they were at every stand through the valley to the city of Mexico. On September 13. 1847, at the head of the storming party, he planted the flag of South Carolina on the wall of Mexico city, and the following day Capt. Lee rode at the right of Gen. Scott at the head of his army of ten thousand men. In 1858, referring to this campaign. Gen. Scott said: "My success in the Mexi-* can war was largely due to the skill and valor of Robert E. Lee. He is the greatest military genius in America ; the best soldier

1 ever saw in the field; and if opportunity offers he will show himself the foremost captain of his time."

He was brevetted major, lieutenant-colo-