On January 19, America celebrates the birthday of the outstanding military leader Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 — October 12, 1870). Only in the states of Alabama and Mississippi is this date celebrated on the 3rd Monday of January.
Robert Lee — is one of the famous American commanders, commander of the Confederate Army of the Southerners in the Civil War of 1861—1865. Thanks to the talent of the general, the South, which did not have an industrial base and, therefore, the ability to fully support the army, managed to inflict a number of sensitive defeats on the northerners.
Once a teacher at the military academy at West Point, the general taught military science to his future opponents — Grant, Sherman, and other northern military leaders. And although the northerners won the final victory in the war, the winning side still treated Robert E. Lee with sincere respect and emphasized respect.
In 2003, the film «Gods & Generals » was released in video, which colorfully and truthfully shows the image of Robert E. Lee. The film tells the story of the time when the American nation split, from 1861 to 1863, which culminated in the Battle of Chancellorsville.
Today, many historians, assessing the personality and work of Robert E. Lee, consider him a talented commander, but a very multifaceted and controversial personality. In his native state of Virginia, he is remembered and appreciated, as during his lifetime, and in a number of higher military institutions in some countries of the world they study Robert E. Lee’s combat tactics, as they consider them an example of military art.