“Theodore Roosevelt, with characteristic restraint, declared Lee “the greatest of all the great captains that the English-speaking peoples have produced” (Cobb). Even though Robert E Lee was a Southern general, he was still a great general. Although General Robert E Lee was considered the most hated general of his time, he possessed exceptional professional skills, overcame a horrible childhood and, above all, a great moral education, which made him a great general. Robert E Lee's childhood shaped him into the man he became. Robert E Lee was the fifth child of Harry and Ann Lee (Thomas 30). Mr. Lee had only one current relative, namely Ann Lee. His father was in prison for most of Robert E Lee's childhood. Robert E Lee's older brothers were also in college. His brothers weren't there, so they couldn't be his role models. Mr. Lee, unlike most children, did not have pent-up anger or even hate his father for leaving him. After Robert E Lee's father left, he never saw him again. His father died when Mr. Lee was just 18 years old. Instead of complaining about never having a real father, Robert E Lee turned around and became his own role model, or "the old man" (Thomas 95). For most children, when both parents are not present, it can tend to make them act out. He didn't let his father leave him, nor his mother, nor his brothers and sisters, ruin his life. Mr. Lee couldn't do that anyway, because he had to take care of his sick mother. Lee grew up faster than most kids today. Even though Mr. Lee's mother was seriously ill, his mother continued to move forward. A lesson Mr. Lee learned from his mother helped him throughout his childhood. General Lee's mother rooted her Christian values ​​in the middle of a paper that was looked down upon because he fought for the South. Even though he fought for the South, he was still considered an extraordinary general in the eyes of many. Robert E Lee possesses the qualities and traits necessary to be an exceptional general. Exceptional professional skills, overcoming a horrible childhood, and strong moral views helped make Robert E. Lee the incredible general many consider him to be. Work CitedCobb, James “How did Robert E. Lee become an American icon?” Humanities. July/August 2011: Volume 32, Number 4.NEH.Gov. Internet. February 12, 2014. Lee, Robert “Robert E Lee's Views on Slavery.” Son of the South. 2014: n.pag. The civil war. Internet. February 12, 2014.Sobel, Brian “Battlefield Leader: General Robert E. Lee.” » General armchair. May 2007: 58-65. Research on SIRS issues. Internet. February 8, 2014.Thomas, Emory m. Robert E Lee New York: W∙W∙ Norton & Company, 1997. Print.