CSN Lee, Sydney Smith - Captain

Sydney Smith Lee

:CSA1stNat:
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Born: September 2, 1802

Birth Place: Camden, New Jersey

Father: Major General Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee 1756 – 1818
(Buried: Lee Chapel, Lexington, Virginia)​

Mother: Anne Hill Carter 1779 – 1829
(Buried: Lee Chapel, Lexington, Virginia)​

Wife: Anna Mason 1811 – 1896
(Buried: Old Christ Church, Alexandria, Virginia)​

Younger Brother: General Robert E. Lee

Children:

Major General Fitzhugh Lee 1835 – 1905​
(Buried: Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia)​
Captain Henry Carter Lee 1842 – 1889​
(Buried: Christ Church Episcopal Cemetery, Alexandria, Virginia)​

Occupation before War:
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1820: On December 30, at the age of 18, Lee was appointed Midshipman in the United States Navy​
1828: Promoted to Lieutenant on May 17​
1847: Fought in the Battle of Veracruz during the Mexican–American War with his brother Robert E. Lee; and afterwards was stationed there​
1850: Promoted to Commander on June 4​
1853: Accompanied Commodore Perry to Japan while commanding his flagship USS Mississippi
Commander Lee served as commandant of the U.S. Naval Academy and Philadelphia Navy Yard.​
Resigned from U.S. Navy service on April 17, 1861​

Civil War Career:

1861: On April 22, Lee accepted a commission as commander in the Confederate States Navy​
Assigned as commanding officer of the Gosport Navy Yard in Norfolk, Virginia​
Oversaw the raising, and refit of the USS Merrimac, into the ironclad CSS Virginia, as well as the quick repairs on the Virginia after the Battle at Hampton Roads​
When U.S. Navy re-took Gosport, Lee was put in charge of the Confederate batteries at Drewry's Bluffs, Virginia​
1864: On May 6, Lee became chief of the Confederate Navy's Bureau of Orders and Detail, and was promoted to Captain​

Occupation after War:

1865 – 1869: Farmer in the State of Virginia​

Died: July 22, 1869

Place of Death: Richlands, Virginia

Age at time of Death: 66 years old

Burial Place: Old Christ Church Cemetery, Alexandria, Virginia

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I feel as if he's the "Forgotten Lee" of that era when you consider his considerable service with the USN pre-war and his family connections. Not to mention his service to the Confederacy although he didn't seem as invested in that cause.
 
I feel as if he's the "Forgotten Lee" of that era when you consider his considerable service with the USN pre-war and his family connections. Not to mention his service to the Confederacy although he didn't seem as invested in that cause.
I feel this way about a lot of Navy officers it seems the army has dominated the entire war and people forget about these navy commanders.
 
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