(Earle 28). Lee served on the staff of his West Point friend Winfield Scott during the Vera Cruz campaign to Mexico City during the war with Mexico in 1847. Lees ability and talent earned him notoriety with Scott who gave Lee the rank of Colonel. The time Lee spent in Scotts staff during the Mexican War was the only real combat experience Lee had before he entered into the civil war. When the first Southern States seceded in 1861, Lee was in command of a regiment in Texas. He was recalled to Washington where he was to make the most difficult decision of his life. Although opposed to secession, Lee considered himself a Virginian before an American. If Virginia stayed in the Union then so would he, but if they seceded then he would follow his native state. Lee suffered for weeks waiting for people to make decisions that would ultimately force him to do his duty for Virginia. Then, at last, on April 12 1861, Confederate general Beauregard opened fire on a Union Fort in Charleston Harbor called Fort Sumter. Two days later, the Fort surrendered and Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to suppress the rebels. The Civil War began.It is well documented that Lee was offered by Lincoln command of all the Union forces at the start of the Civil War. Although it was a tempting offer and would ensure Lee fame and power in the Union States after the war, Lee already had his mind made up. Though opposed to secession, he said, I could take no part in an invasion of the Southern states (Earle 56). Lee left Washington and went to Richmond where he was offered command of the military and naval forces of his native state. Lee demonstrated remarkable abilities as an administrator and coordinator as he struggled to put the state in readiness to defend itself. On May 31, 1862, Confederate General for all of the Southern Armies, Joseph E. Johnston committed his army to the Battle of Seven Pines, and was seriously wounded toward the end of the b...
