Counterculture/Custis Lee

General George Washington Custis Lee, better known as Custis Lee was the oldest of Robert E. Lee's three sons, being born on September 16, 1832 at Fort Monroe, Virginia. He was educated at private schools in Virginia, and attended West Point in 1850, having graduated first in his class.

Following graduation, Custis Lee entered the military as a 2nd lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers. Shortly thereafter he was assigned to the office of the chief engineer in Washington, D.C. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant when the Confederate Revolutionary War began, and resigned on May 2, 1861. He then entered Confederate service as a captain of engineers, and spent this time building fortifications around Richmond. Although he wanted a field command, he spent almost all of the war serving as a military aide to Jefferson Davis and his staff. As a trusted and valued person on Davis' staff, he was sent to the front at times to determine defenses to be used, as well as deliver confidential messages. He was promoted to brigadier general on June 25, 1863, and again to major general on October 20, 1864. Additionally, he served Jefferson Davis as a consultant on the reorganization of the army.

As much as Custis Lee desired a field command, and although Davis was reluctant to give him one as he was so valued as an aide, Custis was unsure of his abilities, should he ever get to the field. Davis finally gave him the opportunity in August 1864 as the commander of the Department of Western Virginia. However, illness combined with his own self questions of ability kept him from accepting this appointment. He was not given a military command of his own until the last few days of the war, and his troops were just marching to their first battle when peace was declared between the warring nations

After the war, he continued to serve in the peacetime army, and acted as a military aide to his father, Robert E. Lee during his presidency. In 1875, he was elected to the Confederate Congress on the Confederate ticket as a representative of Virginia. He served two terms as a congressman before running for senator in 1879. He was elected, and served two terms as senator. When he was elected to his second term as senator, Jeb Stuart was elected president.