Position at Antietam
Artillery Battalion Commander, Army of Northern Virginia (Age 29 at the battle)
Personal
1833-1908 South Carolina
Nickname:
Born in Charleston, South Carolina on September 22, 1833. He was the son of Thomas Lee, a physician, and Caroline Alison Lee. Married Regina L. Harrison on February 9, 1865; one son
Education
Graduated from West Point in 1854, ranking 5th out of 45 cadets. Classmates: J.E.B. Stuart, Oliver O. Howard, and Benjamin “Grimes” Davis.
Mexican War
N/A
Other military career highlights
Commissioned in the 4th Artillery Regiment. For several years, served as regimental quartermaster on the staff of Lt. Col. John “Jock” Monroe, who was Zachary Taylor’s chief of artillery in the Mexican War
Civilian career highlights
N/A
Civil War
highlights: N/A
Civil War: When South Carolina seceded, Lee resigned from the Army and initially served on Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard’s staff during the bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumter. Moved to Virginia on July 22, 1861, to assume command of the two batteries of the Hampton Legion. On May 9, 1862, now a lieutenant colonel, Lee became chief of artillery for Maj. Gen. John Magruder’s division. When Brig. Gen. William Pendleton reorganized the Reserve Artillery in early August, Lee, promoted to colonel, took command of one of the new artillery battalions which he commanded at Antietam. On November 10, 1862 Lee left Virginia as a brigadier general headed to Vicksburg. In the west, he earned accolades as both an infantry and cavalry commander. Fought at Vicksburg where he was captured and paroled. On June 23, 1864, Lee was promoted to lieutenant general, the youngest officer in that grade in the Confederate Army. Commanded the Second Corps in the Army of Tennessee during the Atlanta Campaign and ended the war surrendering with General Joe Johnston in North Carolina
Postwar
Moved to Mississippi and operated a family plantation until 1877. Served briefly as an insurance executive and in 1878 was elected to the Mississippi senate, serving until 1880. That year, Lee was elected president of the newly established Mississippi A&M College, serving there until his retirement in 1899. He was active in the United Confederate Veterans serving as president and was one of the first park commissioners of the Vicksburg National Military Park.
Death
Died in Vicksburg, Mississippi on May 28, 1908, at the age of 74 and is buried at Friendship Cemetery in Columbus, Mississippi.
Quotes
“Lee has, I think, no superior in service as an artillery officer and has great modesty, enterprise, gallantry, and skill.” John B. Magruder
“You are boys, but you have this day been where only men dare to go. Some of your company have been killed, many wounded.
But recollect that it is a soldier’s fate to die. Now, every man who is willing to return to the field, step two paces to the front!”
Stephen Lee entreating his men to return to the field at Antietam
“Pray that you may never see another Sharpsburg. Sharpsburg was Artillery Hell.” Stephen D. Lee
“Lee was the officer who was destined to win our soldier-love in the great battle soon to be fought at Sharpsburg. I say ‘soldier love,’ for is it not true that men love a brave man – almost idolize him – in time of danger, simply because he is brave?” Royal W. Figg, an artilleryman in Lee’s battalion at Sharpsburg
“Col. S. D. Lee’s reserve artillery was with General Hood, and took a distinguished part in the attack on the evening of the 16th, and in delaying that of the 17th”. James Longstreet reporting on Lee’s actions at Antietam.