On April 12th 1861 one of the bloodiest wars in United States history began and would divide the nation for five hellish years. This "Civil War" would pit brother against brother, father against son and even friends and friends. As one after another of the southern states succeeded, the reverend leaders that lived within their territories succeeded with them. Men like General Robert E. Lee, James Ewell Brown Stuart , Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, and Major General George Pickett resigned their positions with the United States Army and supported their states by enlisting in the Confederate Army. With the aid of these general's vast knowledge of military warfare and the respect from their men, these Generals would allow the Confederacy to fight for as long as they did. .
On April 17th 1861 a referendum was held within the Virginian convention. This convention was called due to the use of military force Union President Abraham Lincoln issued against the already succeeded states. The first vote, occurring on April 4th showed many of the counties within the Virginian boarders against the idea of succession. A vote only two weeks later though revealed that the majority of counties west of the Blue Ridge mountain range changed their votes, mainly due to many of them being tobacco growing farmers on the border with North Carolina. With the majority needed to succeed thanks to the support of the counties, Virginia would go on to succeed. This succession would also lead to the creation of a new state due to the concentration of Pro Union counties east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. West Virginia would enter the war on the Union side, while Virginia on the Confederacy. With the love of the state of Virginia being so great, a man by the name Robert E. Lee resigned his services to the Union and joined up to fight against the government he defended for so many years. .
Born to Henry and Anne Lee on January 19, 1807 Lee's life would be destined for the military at a very early age.
