over to Robert's half brother. Anne Lee moved = with=20 herchildren to a simple brick house in Alexandria. Light Horse = Harry=20 wasseldom around. Finally, in 1813 he moved to the West Indies. = His=20 self-exilebecame permanent, and he was never seen again by his family=20 (Thomas). Young Robert had other family problems. His mother became very = ill. At=20 theage of twelve he had to shoulder the load of not only being the = family'sprovider, but also his mother's nurse. When time came for = Robert to=20 attendcollege, it was obvious his mother could not support him = financially.=20 Shewas already supporting his older brother at Harvard and three = otherchildren in school. In 1824 he accepted an appointment to the = United=20 StatesMilitary Academy. During his time at West Point Lee = distinguished=20 himselfas a soldier and a student. Lee graduated with honors in 1829 = (Nash=20 245). His graduation was dampened by a call to the bedside of his = ailing=20 mother.When he arrived home he found his fifty-four year old mother = close=20 todeath. A death caused by struggles and illnesses of her = difficult=20 life.Robert was always close to his mother. He again attended to her = needs=20 untilher death. On July 10, 1829, Anne Lee died with Robert, her = closest=20 son, ather side. Forty years later Robert would stand in the same room = and=20 say,"It seems but yesterday" that his beloved mother died (Connelly = 6). While awaiting his first assignment, Lee frequently visited = Arlington,=20 theestate of George Washington Parke Custis. Custis was the = grandson of=20 MarthaWashington and the adopted son of George Washington. After = Martha's=20 deathCustis left Mount Vernon and used his inheritance to build = Arlington=20 in1778. Arlington was set on a hill over looking the Potomac = river=20 andWashington D.C. (NPS Arlington House). Custis had only one = daughter,=20 MaryAnna Randolph. Mary had been pampered and petted throughout her = ...
