What made Robert E. Lee such an inspiring leader that was admired by all? Many factors were responsible for Lee's fame. His father "Light Horse Harry" Lee was a respected leader himself. Then his own hard work, leadership and talents gained him respect and admiration while at West Point. His daring maneuvers and skills earned respect and acknowledgment from military leaders while in Mexico. Lee's own sense of loyalty and duty, his daring triumphs and his losses brought admiration, respect and loyalty from all the south. He was also feared and admired in the north.

In 1825 Lee's family pulled some strings to get him into West Point Military Academy which would be his first step in gaining much admiration. At the end of his first year Lee came out third in his class with no demerits to his name and was appointed Staff Sergeant of Cadets. At West Point Lee left a good impression with his fellow cadets. Some found him intimidating while others admired him.

"His personal appearance surpassed in manly beauty that of any cadet in the corps. Though firm in his position and perfectly erect, he had none of the stiffness so often assumed by men who affect to be very strict in their ideas of what is military"[pg.28] -Fellow cadet at West Point of Robert E. Lee.

After a two week period of oral testing at West Point Lee emerged first in Artillery and Tactics and overall he was second in his class. He was able to chose his branch of service and he chose a Commission as lieutenant of engineers.

On Sept 21 Lee rode to San Antonio to report for duty. Lee helped to direct an engineering team which cleared the way for the advancing army. Lee volunteered for scouting duty and after locating the Mexican Army he received a promotion to Inspector General. Lee was then sent to the Gulf Coast to report to General Scott. Lee helped in the bombing of Veracruz and was singled out for praise by General Scott.

General Scott took his army inland to the mountains. They came across a fortified Mexican Army blocking a pass. The Mexicans assumed the regions to the left and right were impassable. Lee found a way and led an attack from the back and General Scott led a frontal assault. Lee received a promotion to Major for "coolness and gallantry."[pg.38], General Scott.

"I tell you that if I were on my death bed tomorrow, and the president of the United States would tell me that a great battle was to be fought for liberty or slavery of the country, and asked my judgment as to the ability of a commander, I would say with my dying breath, "Let it be Robert E. Lee!"[pg.38] -Winfield Scott, United States General in the Mexican War.

Lee once again proved his ability and skill as a scout and engineer when he found a way through a lava bed which had been deemed impassable. Lee received another promotion to Lieutenant Colonel.

"The greatest feat of physical and moral courage performed by an individual, in my knowledge, pending the campaign."[pg.38] -General Scott of Lee during the capture of Mexico City.

Lee was asked to command Virginia's army and he traveled to Richmond to accept. At stops along the way there were crowds of people cheering their support for Robert Lee. Lee pulled 3 armies together to halt the advance of federal troops. Virginians were upset that the son of Light Horse Harry had not pushed the Union troops out of Virginia and started to criticize him. Lee was transferred to defend the coast of South Carolina, another impossible task.

Lee saw the advance of McDowell's army in Virginia towards Richmond as a large threat. When General Johnston was wounded fatally Lee was given Command of the army of Northern Virginia. After an advance of McDowell's army General Lee then pushed McDowell's army away from Richmond and across the river. He was called "Richmond's Savior" and cheered whenever he rode by.

"If there is any man in either army head or shoulders above every other audacity, it is General Lee! ...He will take more desperate chances and take them quicker than any general in this country, North or South."[pg.61] - Joseph Ives, Confederate Colonel.

Three weeks after the battle of Gettysburg Lee offered his resignation but President Davis refused to accept it.

After the surrender of at the Appomattox Lee went to an apple orchard where he paced for the entire afternoon. When he made the return ride to his tent the road on either side was lined with cheering men. Even the officers wept openly. When Lee returned to his home crowds gathered and removed their hats in appreciation for the General. As the 1870's came to a close Lee's health began to diminish. He and his daughter Ann started a tour of the south. News of his journey raced ahead of him and at stops along the way there were mobs of supporters and people cheering and showing their admiration for Lee. Lee did not fully understand the crowds and said:

"Why should they care to see me?" he asked, "I am only a poor old Confederate."[pg.105] -General Lee

On October 11 Lee became delirious and he screamed, "Tell Hill he must come up!"[pg.105] The next morning he rose and said, "Strike the tent." [pg.105] and then General Lee died shortly afterwards.

"Robert E. Lee became a figure of epic proportions for not only the south but for the entire nation."[pg. 105] -Warren Brown, Author.

Lee's career showed a continual effort to fight for what he believed in even in failure. Lee's sense of loyalty and duty helped him overcome his own feelings and fight a civil war, even though he did not believe in the reasons for the war. These characteristics helped to make Lee the inspiring leader that was admired by all.