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2
Boyhood in Virginia
     
    It was a fine summer day 28 years after the Revolution. A battered old coach rolled down a long driveway. Inside was Harry Lee’s wife, Ann Carter Lee. With her were the children, Charles, Smith and Annie.And on her lap sat her little boy, Robert. He was three years old.
    Harry Lee was taking his family away from Stratford, the great brick house of the Lees.
    After the Revolution, things had been hard for Light Horse Harry. The famous soldier had tried to make money. But he had lost the money he had. He had even been sent to jail because he could not pay back money he had borrowed.
    And so there had been bad days at Stratford after Robert E. Lee was born. No one farmed the land. Few friends visited.
    Now the Lees had to leave. It cost too much to live in the big house.
    It was hard to leave. Stratford was one of the finest houses in Virginia. Lees had lived there for almost 100 years. In one room both the Lees who signed the Declaration of Independence had been born. And in 1807, Robert E. Lee had been born in that same room.
    Harry Lee had to leave Stratford. But he could not leave Virginia. He loved his state. Once he had said, “Virginia is my country.”
    So the family moved to Alexandria, a small town of brick houses in Virginia. It was near Washington, the new capital of the United States.
    But Light Horse Harry could not stay long. Things went wrong again.One of his friends was attacked by a mob. Harry tried to help and was badly hurt. He almost died. The American government sent the old hero to a far-off island to get well. But he never did. And he never saw his family again. He died a few years later on his way home to Virginia.
    Mrs. Lee and the children lived in a small house now. But Robert was happy. There was green Virginia country all around. Robert could ride and hunt, or swim in the river.

     
    When Robert was 13, Charles went to work and Smith joined the Navy. Now Robert was head of the family. He had to take care of his mother and sisters.
    Mrs. Lee was often sick. Robert took care of her after school. Often he carried her to her coach. The Lee’s Negro coachman, Nat, would drive them around Alexandria.
    Many things in the town made Robert think of his father and the Revolution. He went to the church George Washington had gone to. People told stories about George Washington and Light Horse Harry in the war. Robert heard about Washington’s funeral.
    Light Horse Harry had spoken there. He had said Washington was “First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen.”
    Robert wanted to be like his father and the great Washington.
    Robert decided to go to West Point, the United States Military Academy. After four years there he would be an army officer. And West Point was free. This would help the Lees. They had very little money.
    But it was hard to get into West Point. Robert worked hard. People sent letters to the government. They said he should go. His teacher called him a fine student and a gentleman. Robert got in.

 

3
At West Point
     
    Many young soldiers in fine uniforms stood in long rows. A famous French general had come to see the cadets at West Point.
    It was July, 1825. Robert E. Lee had come to the Academy just a month before. Today he was in dress uniform for the first time.
    It was an exciting day for Robert. The famous Frenchman was General Lafayette. He had fought in the American Revolution. He had helped George Washington and Light Horse Harry beat the English.
    Robert had already met Lafayette. A few months before, the great man had visited Alexandria. After a big celebration he had called on the Lees. Robert was very proud.
    Now Robert was at West Point to learn to be a soldier like Lafayette.
    West Point was in New York. It was a beautiful place on the Hudson River. But life was hard for the cadets. The buildings were old and uncomfortable. The work was hard.
    Cadet Lee got up at dawn. He had to study all morning and march on the