I started “Light Horse Harry” in hopes of learning about a Revolutionary figure of whom I had only a superficial familiarity.  I knew he was the failed father of Robert E. Lee to whom left little other than an historic name.  I found a much more significant figure. 

Born in 1756, and the oldest surviving child of his parents, Henry and Lucy Lee of Leesylvania, Virginia, Henry grew up in a busy world of a plantation producing tobacco and corn and his father’s service in the House of Burgesses, as Royal Lieutenant and justice of the peace of Prince William County.  Raised in luxury, young Henry displayed a natural talent in handling a horse and an aptitude for letters.  His education continued at the College of New Jersey at Princeton.   

The rising tide of Revolution redirected Harry’s life into the cavalry, being allowed to recruit the Fifth Troop of Virginia Light Dragoons.  After training, Lee led his Troop to join Washington’s retreating army after defeat and expulsion from New York.  Supplies gained in Lee’s raids raised the army’s spirits more than it filled their stomachs.  Though versed in tactics of ancient Greek and Roman generals, Lee lacked formal military training and field experience.  He nevertheless appeared to be a natural born soldier, basing his raids on speed, stealth and thorough reconnaissance.  He became known to his army and his enemies at a time of little success for the Continental side. 

With success came additional responsibilities.  Fifth Troop performed essential reconnaissance of Hessian forces at Trenton, New Jersey, but no cavalry participated in the Christmas, 1776 attack.  After declining an invitation to join Washington’s staff in order to retain a line position in March 1778, Lee was promoted to Major in the Continental Army and placed in command of a special “Partizan Force of Cavalry” responsible only to Washington.  Operating in the area of Valley Forge, the Partizan Force kept eyes on British positions and captured needed supplies.  In 1779 the Force’s action moved to the Hudson, where it played a significant role in the morale-boosting capture of Stoney Point, New York and victory at Paulus Hook, New Jersey.  Although praised by Washington for his performance at Paulus Hook, complaints by other officers led to a court martial, resulting in acquittal. 

A shift in British strategy towards securing the Southern colonies, where more Tories were found, was matched by repositioning of continental forces, including Lee’s Legion.  Action in the Carolinas earned Lee the respect of Francis Marion and placed him in a duel with the British cavalryman, Banastre Tarleton.  Emerging victorious when Lee and Tarleton met head-to-head, Lee’s Legions played a role in Gen. Nathanial Greene.’s victory at Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina.  A series of engagements whittled away at the British position until Cornwallis withdrew to Virginia.  Lee was received warmly when he arrived at Yorktown but, as his forces were not employed in the siege, he was sent back south to help Greene in South Carolina.  With the end of hostilities, Lee left the army to marry.  He took with him the respect of his fellow officers, as evidenced by General Greene’s observation “I believe few officers in America or Europe are held in higher esteem.” 

With Independence achieved, Lee turned to politics with inconsistent results.  He was elected to the Continental Congress in 1785, but defeated by James Madison in 1786.  His greatest post-war contribution to his country was his advocacy for Virginia’s ratification of the Constitution.  After consultation with George Washington, Lee embarked on a speaking tour of the Commonwealth.  At the Virginia Ratification Convention he led the victorious pro constitution forces over the determined opposition captained by Patrick Henry, second only to Washington in the esteem of Virginians. 

After grieving the death of his first wife, Matilda, Henry was elected to three one-year terms as Governor of Virginia.  His military reputation undiminished by political service, Lee was offered a Major Generalship in the French Army, which he declined, and the same rank in the United States Army, which he accepted, to command of the expedition to suppress the Whiskey Rebellion.  

Returning to politics in 1799, Lee, with Washington’s public vote, joined John Marshall in flipping the only two seats from Democratic Republicans to Federalists in the election to the U.S. House of Representatives.  During this service, Lee was called upon to delver the oration at the Congressional Memorial Service for George Washington, whom he characterized as “First in war, first In peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” When the 1800 presidential election was decided in the House of Representatives, he maintained his support for his friend, Aaron Burr over his political enemy, Thomas Jefferson.  Called again to the uniform in 1808 for a war that never came, Lee’s health and finances declined to the point that he began a year in debtor’s prison in 1809.  Striving to regain his fortunes, Lee wrote his memoirs in 1812. 

Too frail for active duty in the War of 1812,  his only involvement was to be beaten by a mob in Baltimore while defending an unpopular printer.  Broken in spirit and body, Lee departed this life at Dungeness, Georgia, the home of his comrade, Nathaniel Greene. 

Light Horse Harry was gone, but influence on Mars’ fields was not.  On January 19, 1807, his second wife, Anne, gave birth to her fifth child, Robert Edward.  Harry would teach him to ride and prize intellect, to seek a military career and place a higher value on personal integrity and moral courage than life itself.  President Madison encouraged Robert “Let your father’s honor and matchless gallantry set an example that you will never forget.”  He did, as in retirement he revised his father’s memoirs, but the fruit of that advice is for other wars and another story. 

Though a short book, War History Network members will appreciate Light Horse Harry for insights it provides into a secondary figure of the Revolution and early Republic and the essential, but often over looked, roles he played.