Gray Cavalier

William Henry Fitzhugh Lee, called “Rooney” by his family, was born the second son of the famous commander and general of the Confederacy, Robert E. Lee. After graduating from Harvard, Rooney planned to take up farming on his family’s plantation. When the Civil War broke out, however, he immediately volunteered and was commissioned a captain in the Confederate cavalry. During the war years, he was quickly promoted on his talents -his famous father was careful not to interfere in his son’s promotion track. Rooney Lee earned a reputation for bravery and effective command at Gettysburg and Chancellorsville. He was wounded at Brandy Station and shortly after was captured by Federal raiders and placed in prison. After his release in a prisoner exchange, he was promoted to the rank of major general-the youngest man in the Confederacy to hold this rank. By the war’s end, he was one of the highest-ranking cavalry commanders in the Confederate army.There has been no study of the military career and accomplishments of this important Confederate commander-until now. Using previously unavailable material from the Lee family archives, this new biography presents a balanced appraisal of one of the South’s most important commanders.