Robert E Lee Tells His Story of Resigning from the U.S. Army to Fight for the Confederacy

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My name is Robert E. Lee, and my name is forever tied to one of the most difficult chapters in American history—the Civil War. I was a soldier, a general, and a leader, but my choices and actions have been debated ever since. Some see me as a brilliant military strategist, while others see me as a man who fought for the wrong cause. Let me tell you my story, and you can decide for yourself.

I was born on January 19, 1807, in Virginia, into a family with a proud military tradition. My father, "Light-Horse Harry" Lee, had been a hero of the American Revolution, but he fell into financial trouble, and our family struggled. I knew early on that I would have to build my own future. I was accepted into the United States Military Academy at West Point, where I worked hard and graduated second in my class—without a single demerit.

For most of my early career, I served in the U.S. Army as an engineer, helping build forts and improve national defenses. When the Mexican-American War broke out in the 1840s, I finally got the chance to prove myself in battle. I fought under General Winfield Scott and played a key role in victories that helped the U.S. win the war. My leadership and courage earned me recognition, and I was seen as one of the army’s most promising officers.

By the 1850s, tensions between the North and South were rising over slavery and states’ rights. I personally did not support secession, and I believed that slavery was a great moral and political evil. But at the same time, I felt my first loyalty was to my home state of Virginia. When the Civil War began in 1861, President Abraham Lincoln offered me command of the Union Army, but I could not bring myself to take up arms against my own people. Instead, I resigned from the U.S. Army and accepted command of the Confederate forces.

Leading the Army of Northern Virginia, I fought against the Union for four long years. I won battles against larger and better-equipped armies, using strategy, speed, and daring to defeat my opponents. Victories at Second Manassas, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville made me a legendary commander. But the war was brutal, and the losses were heavy on both sides. My greatest gamble was in 1863 at Gettysburg, where I led my army north, hoping for a decisive victory. But we were defeated, and from that moment on, the war turned against us.

By 1865, my army was exhausted, outnumbered, and surrounded. On April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Court House, I surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the Civil War. Grant treated me and my soldiers with respect, allowing us to return home instead of punishing us. I was grateful for that, and I urged my men to accept the war’s outcome and help rebuild the country.

After the war, I was not imprisoned or executed—I was allowed to live peacefully, though I lost my home and citizenship (which was later restored after my death). I became president of Washington College (now Washington and Lee University), where I encouraged young men to look forward, not backward. I believed that reconciliation was the only path forward for the country. I died on October 12, 1870, leaving behind a complicated legacy.

Some remember me as a brilliant general who fought for his homeland. Others see me as a man who chose the wrong side of history by defending a government that sought to preserve slavery. I cannot change how history judges me, but I can tell you this: war is a terrible thing, and a nation divided against itself cannot stand. I hope my story serves as a lesson that unity and peace are always better than conflict and destruction. Thank you for listening.

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