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Virginia Biographical Encyclopedia
Name: George Washington Custis Lee
was born at Fort Monroe, Virginia, September 16, 1832, son of Robert Edward and Mary Anne Randolph (Custis) Lee. He was graduated at the United States Military Academy at the head of the class of 1854; was commissioned second lieutenant in the corps of engineers, U. S. A.; was promoted first lieutenant, October, 1859, and served in the engineer bureau, Washington, D. C., 1859-61. In May, 1861, after the secession of Virginia, he resigned his commission in the U. S. A., and was commissioned major of engineers in the Provisional Army of Virginia, and with that army was transferred to the C. S. A., June 8, 1861. On July 1, 1861, he was assigned to the engineers corps with the rank of captain, and was engaged in the fortifications around Richmond. On August 31, 1861, President Davis made him an aide-de-camp on his staff with the rank of colonel of cavalry. He visited Bragg's army at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in December, 1862, with President Davis, and on June 25, 1863, was commissioned brigadier-general and organized a brigade which he commanded in the defense of Richmond. He was promoted major-general in October, 1864, and commanded a division of the corps of Gen. Ewell in the defense of Richmond. In the retreat from Richmond, he crossed with his division on the pontoon above Drewry's Bluff, April 2, 1865, and at Sailor's Creek, April 6, he was made prisoner with Gens. Ewell, Kershaw, Barton, Du Bose, Hunton, Corse and other officers and conveyed to City Point, Virginia, where he was paroled and sent to Richmond, Virginia. He was professor of civil and military engineering and applied mechanics in the Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia, 1865-71; and on February 1, 1871, succeeded his father as president of Washington College, having been elected to the office, October 28, 1870. The name of the institution was in honor of his father's memory changed to Washington and Lee University and in 1873 he assumed charge of the chair of applied mathematics which was made the Thomas A. Scott professorship of applied mathematics in June, 1881. In December, 1896, he resigned the presidency of Washington and Lee University on account of ill health, and it was accepted to take effect, July 1, 1897, when he was made president emeritus for life. He was never married, and on leaving Lexington went to Ravensworth, near Burke's Station, Virginia, the home of the widow of his brother, W. H. F. Lee. He received the honorary degree of LL. D. from Tulane University in 1887. He died at "Ravensworth," February 18, 1913.
III--Under the Confederacy, Military and Naval Offices.