yeah, that came from whitehorse harry lee. robert lee's mother, virginia carter, and the carters were the first among the first families of virginia. robert lee himself embarked on a military career entering west point in 1825. he did so marvelously well he was commissioned upon graduation in 1829, into the elites corps of engineers, were he overtook coastal engineering projects, ranging from georgia to new york city to the st. louis waterfront. he earned his most impressive military bouquets, however, serving under winfield scott in the mexican war, serving as his chief aide in mexico city in 1847. from there, robert lee served as superintendent of west point. and from 1857 to 1861, he was lieutenant colonel of the second cavalry. he was also weave the commander of the first u.s. cavalry. then with the outbreak of the civil war, he was offered field command of the united states forces in dealing with the secession estates. at that moment, he turned his back on more than 30 years of service. and took command, first of the virg