Source

State Archives of Florida, Series S577

Description

Notice from Jefferson Davis to Florida Governor John Milton regarding Robert E. Lee's assignment to take command of Confederate forces on the coast of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida during the Civil War.

Date

1861-11-06

Creator

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Format

Broadsides (notices)

Coverage

Civil War Florida (1861-1865)

Topic

Military And Veterans

Subjects

Armies--Officers
Civil war
Confederate States of America. Army
Confederate States of America. President
Florida--Governor (1861-1865 : Milton)
Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870
Milton, John, 1807-1865
Presidents--Confederate States of America

General Note

Before his appointment to command of the Confederate force known eventually as the Army of Northern Virginia, General Robert E. Lee served in several less prominent assignments. He first led troops in unsuccessful operations in western Virginia, before being appointed by Jefferson Davis to command Confederate forces along the lower Atlantic Coast, including Florida. In this position, Lee advocated the abandonment of Confederate defenses in northeast Florida, which opened the region to Federal invasion. Shortly thereafter, Lee was ordered to Richmond to serve as advisor to President Davis. In June 1862, he took command of southern forces defending Richmond. Over the next three years he won a series of spectacular victories and earned fame as perhaps the most successful battlefield commander of the Civil War.