In Lee’s life, he would achieve much that some men only dream of coming close to. Lee attended the Military Academy of West Point. He graduated second in his class rising quickly in 1829 (Biography: General Robert E. Lee 1). This helped Lee to be recognized as a brilliant tactician by his peers and higher ranking officers. Lee would later go on to show that he was able to use his knowledge in a combat environment, and not just in the classroom. Before the outbreak of the American Civil War, Lee was offered command of the Federal forces but declined it. Lee became the army officer as well as commander of the Army of Northern Virginia for the Confederate States of America (Lee, Robert Edward 3). Lee would prove himself to be one of the greatest
