Robert E Lee was an American general known for commanding the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War from 1862 until his surrender in 1865. In June 1861, Lee took command of the Army of Northern Virginia, which he lead for the rest of the war. Colonel Lee resigned from the United States army two days after he was offered command of the Union army and three days after his native state Virginia, seceded from the Union. Lee opposed secession although he was a loyal son of Virginia. His official resignation was only one sentence, He wrote a longer explanation to his friend and mentor, General Winfield Scott later that day. Lee had fought under Scott during the Mexican War and he revealed to his former commander the depth
