Robert E. Lee is not the best general on this list, but he was a man of solid character. Obviously I'm not downplaying his abilities, he was an excellent tactican who could do with very little if need be. A war hero during the Mexican American War, he distinguished himself by finding weaknesses in the Mexican armies flanks; he found routes that were not defended and thought to be unpassable. Lee made use of this and he mounted a successful attack. Like any great military leader, he was willing to take a risk. Later at the beginning of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln had selected him to lead the Union Army, but Lee rejected this due to his loyalty to his native Virginia. Lee went on to become a highly distinguished general in the Confederate Army. It was clear that the North had numerical and industrial superiority, but the South had a incredible amount of talent within its military ranks such as Stonewall Jackson, a daring commander who utilized divide and conquer stategies very well. Initially during the Civil War, Lee was highly successful, his exploits in the Battle of Second Manassas and during the Seven Days campaign were legendary. Lee's ultimate goal was to force the North to accept Confederate independence. Initially he had to pull back after the Battle of Antietam in Maryland, but after a series of failed offensives on the part of a numerically superior North, Lee decided to push his hand by attacking Pennsylvania; ultimately it did prove to a be a major failure for Lee. A new Union general, Ulysses Grant, proved to be fairly aggressive against Lee's army. They were forced into a defensive line near the capital of Richmond, Virginia. In a last ditch attempt to rejuvinate the Confederate Army, Lee sought in early 1865 to include slaves in the fighting force, but his request was never granted; he actually really didn't support slavery or even secession. At this point however, the fight was all but over. A new offensive against Richmond was on and Lee's army couldn't resist, the South's forces were stretched thin throughout the rest of the region. He surrendered on April 1865, defeated but still having possession of his honor. What Lee will be remembered most for is his integrity and character. He was someone who never had a single demerit when he was in school, who conducted him with humility at every turn, he never claimed to know it all or even made much of his own talents. Lee knew that in joining the Confederate army he would face an uphill battle against better armed opponents, yet he fought valiently, effectively and efficiently. He really the North a fight, even though he lost his exploits will always be remembered. On a side note, Lee was a strong advocate for education; as superintendent of West Point during the 1850's he helped to improve the facilities and the quality of the curriculum. An even more telling tale of his character came after the Civil War when he accepted a job with a small college rather than taking a $50,000 position, a large sum in his day. His explanation was that I have led the young men of the South in battle. I must teach their sons to discharge their duty in life. He might not have joined the right side in the Civil War, but Robert E. Lee was a great American who deserves his due.