^Lot 180F GENERAL ROBERT E LEE #10/250

GENERAL ROBERT E LEE #10/250
1807-1863 FRANCIS J. BARNUM
APPROX. 4" BY 5.5"
APPROX. 3.82 LBS
AUTHENTIC SCULPTURE BY FRANCIS BARNUM
TRI COLOR PEWTER ON WOOD BASE, HIGH QUALITY AMERICAN CRAFTSMANSHIP

This version of the sculpture of Robert E. Lee is typically a portrait bust rather than a full standing or mounted figure.

What it is
A tri-colored pewter bust (head and upper chest/shoulders)
Mounted on a solid marble base
Designed as a display portrait piece emphasizing facial detail and uniform collar/insignia
Style & design

Barnum’s busts of Civil War figures are known for:

Highly detailed facial expression (serious, formal military demeanor)
Antique/oxidized pewter tones used to bring out shadows in the face and uniform
A polished contrast between the figure and the smooth marble base
Often includes a small title plaque on the base

HISTORY:

Robert E. Lee was a U.S. Army officer who became the most prominent general of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.

Early life and background

Lee was born in 1807 in Virginia into a well-known military family. His father was Revolutionary War hero “Light-Horse Harry” Lee. Robert E. Lee attended West Point and graduated near the top of his class in 1829. He served as an engineer in the U.S. Army for many years before the Civil War.

U.S. Army career before the Civil War

Before 1861, Lee had a respected career in the United States Army:

Worked as an engineer building fortifications
Served in the Mexican–American War, where he earned praise from senior officers
Was considered one of the most capable officers in the U.S. military
Decision during the Civil War

When the Civil War began in 1861, Lee faced a major personal conflict. Although he opposed secession, he ultimately chose to resign from the U.S. Army when Virginia left the Union. He joined the Confederacy, believing his loyalty was to his home state.

Leadership in the Confederacy

Lee became commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. He is best known for:

Victories at battles such as Second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville
Aggressive and highly skilled battlefield tactics
Working closely with generals like Stonewall Jackson

Despite early successes, his army faced increasing shortages of men and supplies as the war progressed.

Gettysburg and turning point

In 1863, Lee invaded the North, leading to the Battle of Gettysburg. The Confederate defeat there marked a major turning point in the war, shifting momentum toward the Union.

Final campaigns and surrender

By 1864–1865, Union General Ulysses S. Grant pressed Lee’s forces heavily. After months of fighting and depletion of supplies, Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, effectively ending the Civil War.

Post-war life

After the war, Lee:

Urged reconciliation between North and South
Became president of Washington College (later Washington and Lee University)
Lived quietly until his death in 1870
Legacy

Lee remains a controversial historical figure:

Often praised for military leadership and tactical skill
Criticized for his role in the Confederacy and its defense of slavery
His legacy is still widely debated in American history today

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