Hey!

    You won't believe what I found out! I have known for a while that I am related to Robert E. Lee. At first I was upset because I thought he was mean. But I read a book about him and my dad told me about him. And now I am proud to be related to him!

    He was one of the greatest generals in American history. His father had died when he was a child. But he always remembered what his father had always told him, “Virginia is my country”. He had grown up in Virginia and felt as though it was a part of him. When he was about 14 he went to West point, the United States Military Academy. After four years there he would become a army officer. When he was 21 years old he graduated from West point and came home. Robert was a engineer in the army now.

     His mother, Mrs. Lee was very very sick. She soon died. Robert was very sad. He loved his mother very much.

     Not long after Mrs. Lee’s death Robert started visiting a girl named Mary Custis. Her father was George Washington Parke Custis. He was the adopted son of George Washington ( the president ). Very soon Robert asked Mary to marry him. She said yes. They had seven children. The important things to Robert were his duty to the American army and his duty to his family.

      Robert was a soldier, but he had never fought in a battle. That soon changed when war broke out between America and Mexico in 1846. He was sent to fight. He said his good-byes and went off to war. The war lasted two years.

When he came home every one was happy to see him. He gave them all big hugs and kisses.

      The army was pleased with Robert’s work.. They asked him to be head of west point. He liked running west point. His oldest son Custis was now a cadet.

     There were troubles brewing between the north and the south. Mostly because of slavery. It was against the law in the north. But was allowed in the south. Most people knew that slavery was wrong. People who lived on big farms said they needed them to work ( I think if they want them to work they should pay them ). Robert knew it was wrong to have slaves. He said "it was bad for the slave and worse for the man who owned him". He freed the slaves his family gave him. Some of them wanted to go back to Africa and he paid for there tickets and made sure they got there safe. Robert E. Lee didn’t tell others to free their slaves. And he thought the north had no right to tell the south what to do about slavery. He thought it made the trouble worse to argue about slavery.

     On November 6, 1860 America elected a new president. His name was Abraham Lincoln and he was against slavery. The south did not like him. They were mad. The south did not want to be a part of the United States any more. They voted to leave the union. They joined to make a new country, the Confederate States of America. They chose their own president. His name was Jefferson Davis. The confederates knew Lincoln might fight back to keep the country together. They asked Robert to be a general in their army. He said no. Robert E. Lee thought states had no right to leave the Union. He hoped Virginia would not do it.

“ if Virginia stands by the Union, so will I,” he had said.

      In April, 1861, Confederates fired on fort Sumter in South Carolina. War had begun. President Lincoln wanted Robert to lead the Union army. Again Robert said no. Virginia might join the Confederacy. He could never lead an army against his own state. Robert loved the United States Army. But he felt his fist duty was to Virginia. He could not forget his fathers words, “Virginia is my country”. Robert E. Lee left the United States army. He said he would not fight again unless Virginia needed him.

      On April 17 Virginia joined the Confederacy. Robert was asked to lead Virginia’s army. He could not say no.

I really skipped around a lot so I hope you got the idea. Robert E. Lee was nice and I sure did learn a lot.

      Oh yeah, I am related to George Washington. If you remember Robert marred Mary who was daughter of George Washington Parke Custis who was adopted son of George Washington. Robert and Marry had seven children and we know we are related to one of the children.

SO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                         Your friend,

                                                                Anne