Lee Lee in Mexico

[Mark F. Jenkins]

As I recuperated from a bit of a sore throat, I watched the PBS four-part series The U.S.-Mexican War on DVD. (I have to admit that the way I became aware of the series was because they used some Henry Walke images, but that's a small part of it...) I noted the number of times Lee's name came up, particularly as he carried out this or that special mission for Winfield Scott, and small wonder that Scott thought highly of him! He definitely seems to have earned his pay on the campaign from Veracruz to Mexico City, particularly at Cerro Gordo and Contreras.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Robert E. Lee as Lieutenant of Engineers, U. S. Army in 1838

At the beginning of the Mexican war he was assigned to duty as chief engineer of the army under General Wool, his rank being that of captain. His abilities as an engineer, and his conduct as a soldier, won the special admiration of General Scott, who attributed the fall of Vera Cruz to his skill, and repeatedly singled him out for commendation. Lee was thrice brevetted during the war, his last brevet to the rank of colonel being for services at the storming of Chapultepec.

http://www.robertelee.org/