Robert E. Lee was born on January 19, 1807 at Stratford in Westnoreland County, Virginia to Ann Carter and "Light Horse Harry" Lee. He attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he met Jefferson Davis, the future confederate president, and graduated second in the class of 1829. While attending West Point he did not receive any demerits and was the cadet corps' adjutant, which is a staff officer who helps a commanding officer with administrative affairs.
             Before the Mexican War, Lee served as an engineer on projects in Georgia, Virginia, and New York. During the war he distinguished himself as a scout and troop guide, he also won three brevets, which are commissions promoting an officer in rank without an increase in pay. He became the superintendent of the military academy in Baltimore in 1852. In 1855 the mounted arm was expanded and Lee accepted the lieutenant colonelcy of the 2nd Cavalry so that he could escape the extremely slow promotion process of the engineers. He was stationed in western Texas until his father-in-law died in 1857 which forced him to take a series of leaves to settle the estate.
             In 1859 he was called to lead a force of marines, join with the militia on the scene, and to put an end to John Brown's Harper's Ferry Raid. He again served in Texas until 1861 when he was called to Washington by Winfield Scott who tried in vain to retain Lee in the U.S. service. He rejected command of Union's field forces the day after Virginia seceded.
             He said on April 20, 1861 in a letter to his sister, "With all my devotion to the Union and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American citizen, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand against my relatives, my children, my home. I have therefore resigned my commission in the Army, and save in defense of my native State, with the sincere hope that my poor services may never be needed, I hope I may never be called on to draw my sword..."
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