- Joined
- Jul 19, 2016
- Location
- Spotsylvania Virginia
For a novice, and sometimes seasoned civil war enthusiast, the name Lee can be confusing. General Robert E. Lee’s father, Henry Lee, earned his nickname, “Lighthorse Harry”, for his splendid horsemanship and famous cavalry exploits during our war for independence. His youngest son Robert E. Lee very likely would have followed his father’s equestrian exploits had the opportunity presented itself. But the famous son chose the army engineering corps for his military profession after finishing second in his class at the US Military Academy. Never-the-less, he was a fine horseman in his own right.
Those two Lee’s are well publicized by history. But when one gets to the civil war the sir name expounds all-the-more. Robert E. Lee had three sons and a nephew, all serving in the cavalry which is the actual topic in this post.
George Washington Custis Lee - Courtesy Wikipedia
George Washington Custis Lee, (or “Custis”) was Robert E. Lee’s older son. After finishing at the top of his West Point Class, he chose to serve in the US Cavalry where he gained recognition for his equestrian skill. When Virginia succeeded from the Union, Custis resigned his commission and followed his father in defense of his native Virginia at the rank of captain. He was initially assigned to the confederate engineers building fortifications around Richmond where he advanced to colonel. Although a fine horseman, he received a rank of Brigadier General, as aide-de-camp for President Davis. Custis was discouraged from taking command by the President, but encouraged by his father. But when he asked his father for a command, the elder Lee replied that his son’s duty was to obey his superior [Davis].
William Henry Fitzhugh Lee – Courtesy Wikipedia
The second oldest Lee son, William Henry Fitzhugh (W.H.F. or Rooney or often spelled Roony by family and friends) would prove to be a more prominent cavalry leader and horseman than his older brother. He had mixed results starting as a captain in western Virginia, then promoted to Major under Thomas Jackson’s command in the Shenandoah Valley, followed by being assigned to Stuart, then his cousin Fitzhugh Lee. By the last year of war, he had risen to second in command to the Army of Northern Virginia cavalry, following Stuart’s death and Wade Hampton’s departure to South Carolina.
Robert E. Lee Jr. Courtesy Wikipedia
At the on-set of war, Lee’s youngest son, Robert E. Lee Jr. (“Rob”) was a student at the University of Virginia. Being under military age at the start of the war, he joined the South Guard, a unit made up of students. When he turned eighteen, and despite his mother’s concerns, he left school and enlisted as a private in the Rockbridge Artillery where he rose to Captain. During the winter of ’62 –’63 he joined his bother “Rooney” cavalry command as aide-de-camp where he saw action at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Upon Rooney’s capture in 1863, he then transferred to the ordnance department in Richmond. Following the Union victory at Gettysburg, Rob rejoined his brother’s old regiment where he served until the end of the war.
Fitzhugh Lee – Courtesy Wikipedia
There is yet another Lee, that can add confusion. Robert E. Lee’s brother, Carter Smith Lee’s son Fitzhugh (“Fitz”) Lee also served as an able cavalryman. After joining the confederate army in 1861 as a lieutenant in the cavalry, he served in nearly every major conflict in the east until the end of the war eventually rising to Major General. Cavalry Commander J.E.B. Stuart once sited Lee as “The finest cavalry officer on the continent”.
Those two Lee’s are well publicized by history. But when one gets to the civil war the sir name expounds all-the-more. Robert E. Lee had three sons and a nephew, all serving in the cavalry which is the actual topic in this post.
George Washington Custis Lee - Courtesy Wikipedia
George Washington Custis Lee, (or “Custis”) was Robert E. Lee’s older son. After finishing at the top of his West Point Class, he chose to serve in the US Cavalry where he gained recognition for his equestrian skill. When Virginia succeeded from the Union, Custis resigned his commission and followed his father in defense of his native Virginia at the rank of captain. He was initially assigned to the confederate engineers building fortifications around Richmond where he advanced to colonel. Although a fine horseman, he received a rank of Brigadier General, as aide-de-camp for President Davis. Custis was discouraged from taking command by the President, but encouraged by his father. But when he asked his father for a command, the elder Lee replied that his son’s duty was to obey his superior [Davis].
William Henry Fitzhugh Lee – Courtesy Wikipedia
The second oldest Lee son, William Henry Fitzhugh (W.H.F. or Rooney or often spelled Roony by family and friends) would prove to be a more prominent cavalry leader and horseman than his older brother. He had mixed results starting as a captain in western Virginia, then promoted to Major under Thomas Jackson’s command in the Shenandoah Valley, followed by being assigned to Stuart, then his cousin Fitzhugh Lee. By the last year of war, he had risen to second in command to the Army of Northern Virginia cavalry, following Stuart’s death and Wade Hampton’s departure to South Carolina.
Robert E. Lee Jr. Courtesy Wikipedia
At the on-set of war, Lee’s youngest son, Robert E. Lee Jr. (“Rob”) was a student at the University of Virginia. Being under military age at the start of the war, he joined the South Guard, a unit made up of students. When he turned eighteen, and despite his mother’s concerns, he left school and enlisted as a private in the Rockbridge Artillery where he rose to Captain. During the winter of ’62 –’63 he joined his bother “Rooney” cavalry command as aide-de-camp where he saw action at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Upon Rooney’s capture in 1863, he then transferred to the ordnance department in Richmond. Following the Union victory at Gettysburg, Rob rejoined his brother’s old regiment where he served until the end of the war.
Fitzhugh Lee – Courtesy Wikipedia
There is yet another Lee, that can add confusion. Robert E. Lee’s brother, Carter Smith Lee’s son Fitzhugh (“Fitz”) Lee also served as an able cavalryman. After joining the confederate army in 1861 as a lieutenant in the cavalry, he served in nearly every major conflict in the east until the end of the war eventually rising to Major General. Cavalry Commander J.E.B. Stuart once sited Lee as “The finest cavalry officer on the continent”.