Robert E. Lee Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert E. Lee Jr.
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| Born | October 27, 1843 Arlington House, Virginia, U.S.
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| Died | October 19, 1914 (aged 70) |
| Resting place | Lee Chapel Washington and Lee University Lexington, Virginia, U.S. |
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Notable work
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Recollections and Letters of General Robert E. Lee (1904) |
| Parent(s) | Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Custis |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | Confederate States |
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 Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1862–1865 |
| Rank |  Captain |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Robert Edward "Rob" Lee Jr. (born October 27, 1843 – died October 19, 1914) was the sixth of seven children of famous Confederate General Robert E. Lee and Mary Anna Randolph Custis. Rob Lee Jr. followed his father into the military during the American Civil War. After the war, he became a farmer, a businessman, and an author.
Contents
Growing Up: Rob Lee's Early Life
Rob Lee was born and grew up at Arlington House. This home was located across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. He was very close to his father, who he was named after, and his sister, Mildred Childe Lee.
During the 1850s, Rob attended boarding schools. His father was a career U.S. Army officer. He served in the Mexican–American War and was the leader of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Unlike his father and two older brothers, Rob did not plan to have a military career. He never served in the United States Army. In 1860, he started studying at the University of Virginia.
Serving in the Civil War
When the American Civil War began in 1861, Rob's father and his two older brothers, Custis and Rooney, chose to serve Virginia. They joined the Confederate Army. In 1862, Rob joined them, even though his mother was worried. He became a private in the Rockbridge Artillery.
A Son on the Battlefield
During the Battle of Sharpsburg in September 1862, young Robert was fighting with his artillery group. His father, General Lee, rode up to them. Rob was covered in black powder from the fighting. His father did not recognize him at first. When Rob finally spoke, asking if they would fight again, his father recognized his voice. General Lee said, "Yes, my son. You must do what you can to drive those people back."
After the Maryland Campaign, Rob was promoted to Captain. He became an aide to his older brother, George Washington Custis Lee. His brother was a major general and an aide to the Confederate President Jefferson Davis. They were involved in defending Richmond, Virginia.
Near the end of the war, Rob disappeared for almost a month. His horse was hurt during the retreat from Petersburg. By the time he found another horse, the Union soldiers were between him and his father's army. He rode south. He was in Greensboro, North Carolina, when Jefferson Davis learned that General Lee had surrendered at Appomattox.
Life After the War
All four Lee men survived the Civil War. After the war, Rob Lee lived and farmed at Romancoke Plantation. This plantation was on the north bank of the Pamunkey River in King William County. He received it from his mother's father, George Washington Parke Custis. Romancoke was about four miles from the Town of West Point.
Rob Lee also became a writer. He collected his memories of his family and his life in a book. It was called Recollections and Letters of General Robert E. Lee (1904). This book is a valuable source of information about daily life at Arlington House when he was young. It also shares many interesting details about his father's life.
Robert E. Lee Jr. passed away in 1914. He was buried with his parents and siblings in the Lee Chapel in Lexington, Virginia. His father and brother Custis had both been presidents of the college there. Today, that college is known as Washington and Lee University.
Family Life
Rob Lee was married twice. He married Charlotte Haxall in 1871, but she passed away the next year. They did not have any children who survived.
In 1894, Rob Lee married Juliet Case. They had two daughters, Anne Carter Lee and Mary Custis Lee.
Rob's mother, Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee, was the only child of George Washington Parke Custis. George Washington Parke Custis was the grandson of Martha Dandridge. Martha Dandridge was married to George Washington. This means Rob Lee Jr.'s mother was connected to George Washington's family.
