ole four years' course, never received a reprimand, and
graduated second only to one in his class. From 1829 until 1834, he
served as assistant engineer in the building of forts in the South, and
later was assistant astronomer; aiding in determining the boundary of
Ohio. When the Mexican war broke out he was appointed chief engineer for
the army under General Scott.

During this war he served with great distinction, being successively
breveted major, lieutenant-colonel and colonel, and was wounded once;
certain it is that Robert E. Lee gave ample proof of his ability in the
Mexican war. In the interim between the Mexican and Civil wars he served
his country in various ways, being for some three years superintendent
of the West Point Military Academy.

In 1855 two new regiments were formed. Of the second regiment Albert
Sidney Johnson was made colonel; Lee, lieutenant-colonel; Hardee and
Thomas, majors; Van Dorn and Kirby Smith, captains; among the
lieutenants were Stoneman and Hood. One can see that the officers of
that regiment were composed of men of no small calibre. When Lincoln was
elected Lee was in Texas, but he obtained a leave of absence and hurried
to his home in Virginia. General Lee was held in very high esteem by
General Scott, who was then at the head of all the Union armies. General
Scott was getting very old, too old for active service, and it is stated
that he felt strongly inclined to name Lee as his successor, but Lee had
other views on the question and he joined his fortune with that of the
South.

Perhaps a letter written to his sister will more clearly portray Lee's
convictions and motives at the breaking out of hostilities than
anything that can be found elsewhere in history:--"The whole South is in
a state of revolution into which Virginia has been drawn after a long
struggle; and though I recognize no necessity for this state of things
and would have forborne and pleaded to the end for redress of
grievances, real or supposed, yet in my own person I had to meet the
question whether I should take part against my native State. With all my
devotion to the Union and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American
citizen, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand
against my relatives, my children, my home."

These were the words of General Lee to his sister. The idea of certain
power reserved from the "central power," as they termed it, had been
inculcated since Jefferson and Madiso