1829: West Point Graduate - 2nd out of 45 - finished with no demerits during his four years of study

1829: Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in Corps of Engineers

August 11, 1829: Ordered to Cockspar Island, Georgia

Was involved in the early stages of construction of what was to become known as Fort Pulaski

1831: Transferred to Fort Monroe at the tip of Virginia Peninsula - Duties ranged from budgeting to designing buildings

1834: Transferred to Washington, D.C. as Gen. Gratiot's assistant

Mid 1835: Was assigned to assist Andrew Talcott surveying Michigan's southern border

Summer of 1835: Helped lay out the border between Ohio and Michigan

October 1836: Promoted to 1st Lieutenant

1837: Surveyed for the St. Louis harbor for the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers

August 1842: Promoted to Captain

Mexican-American War

One of General Winfield Scott's chief aides

April 18, 1847: Battle of Cerro Gordo - Promoted to Brevet Major

August 19, 1847: Battle of Contreras

August 20, 1847: Battle of Churubusco

September 13, 1847: Battle of Chapultepec

Received additional Brevet promotions to Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel, but his permanent rank was Captain with the engineers

After the war, spent 3 years at Fort Carroll in Baltimore which was interrupted by surveying and updating maps of Florida

In 1849, Lee was approached by Cuban Revolutionary Narcisco Lopez to forcibly liberate Cuba from Spain, but Lee denied as it was inconsistent with his duties

1852: Appointed Superintendent of  the Military Academy at West Point. Lee call the academy a "snake pit," but the War Department insisted and he obeyed

While at West Point, Brevet Colonel Lee improved the buildings and courses

Lee's son George Washington Custis Lee graduated in 1854

Received a promotion as 2nd in command of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment

Served under Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston at Camp Cooper, Texas

1857: Father-in-Law died creating a crisis with Lee being the executor of his will, which consisted of hundreds of slaves against massive debts. The will stated the slaves were to be emancipated over the next five years.

Lee wanted to hire an overseer who could handle the plantation, be an energetic honest farmer and would be considerate and kind to the Negroes. Lee failed to find the right man for the job.

Took a two-year leave of absence to run the plantation himself. Lee was more strict and gave harsher punishments. Almost led to a slave revolt as the slaves expected to be freed.

October 1859: John Brown seized the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry, VA. trying to incite a slave rebellion

Lieut. Stuart was in Washington, D.C. at the time Brown invaded Harper's Ferry and was sent by Secretary Floyd to retrieve Lee to ask for assistance at Harper's Ferry

Lee took the train to Harper's Ferry. By the time Lee had arrived, the local militia had surrounded Brown and the armory. At dawn, Lee sent Stuart to the doors of the armory requesting Brown's surrender. Stuart recognized Brown and a short fight followed.

Lee's report concluded that Brown was deluded.

February 1861: Texas seceded and General David E. Twiggs surrendered the U.S. forces in Texas numbering about 4,000 men. Lee went back to Washington

March 1861: Appointed Colonel of the 1st Regimental Cavalry which was signed by President Lincoln

March 5, 1861: Lee visits General Scott and discussed the prospects with other officers

Lee demanded to see Gen. Scott alone as Scott's military secretary secretary stated Lee had concurred with Twigg's surrender in Texas. This insinuation was an insult to Lee.

From the outset of the crisis, Lee had said "I wish no other flag than the 'Stars Spangled banner,' and no other hail then 'Hail Columbia'

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