Light-Horse Harry Lee : The Rise and Fall of a Revolutionary Hero - The Tragic Life of Robert E. Lee's Father

Intro Dedication Prologue Chapter 1: Freestone Point Chapter 2: All Sons of Liberty Chapter 3: This Struggle for the Rights of Mankind Chapter 4: A Rebel Captain by the Name of Lee Chapter 5: A Most Gallant Affair Chapter 6: Gold Seven Times Tried in the Fire Chapter 7: The Great Game Chapter 8: A Fatal Stab to the British Tyrant Chapter 9: You Cannot Cease to Be a Soldier Chapter 10: One People Chapter 11: Indifferent Destiny Chapter 12: Pointing the Bayonet against the Hearts of Our Countrymen Chapter 13: Cracked Chapter 14: Farewell Great and Noble Patriots Chapter 15: Unceasing WoeChapter 16: When Future Generations Shall Inquire Chapter 17: The Sad Catastrophe of Baltimore Chapter 18: My Miserable Exile Epilogue Acknowledgments About the Author Notes Index Copyright "Light-Horse Harry blazes across the pages of Ryan Cole's narrative like a meteor—and his final crash is as destructive. Cole tells his story with care, sympathy, and where necessary, sternness. This book is a great, and sometimes harrowing read." —Richard Brookhiser, senior editor at National Review and author of Founding Father: Rediscovering George Washington Who was "Light-Horse Harry" Lee? Gallant Revolutionary War hero. Quintessential Virginia cavalryman. George Washington's trusted subordinate and immortal eulogist. Robert E. Lee's beloved father. Founding father who shepherded the Constitution through the Virginia Ratifying Convention. But Light-Horse Harry Lee was also a con man. A beachcomber. Imprisoned for debt. Caught up in sordid squabbles over squalid land deals. Maimed for life by an angry political mob. Light-Horse Harry Lee's life was tragic, glorious, and dramatic, but perhaps because of its sad, ignominious conclusion historians have rarely given him his due—until now. Now historian Ryan Cole presents this soldier and statesman of the founding generation with all the vim and vigor that typified Lee himself. Scouring hundreds of contemporary documents and reading his way into Lee's life, political philosophy, and character, Cole gives us the most intimate picture to date of this greatly awed but hugely talented man whose influence has reverberated from the founding of the United States to the present day. He was a dashing military hero who led the fight for America's independence. His son would later become the general who almost tore America apart. Henry Lee III, whose name "Light-Horse" came from his legendary exploits with mounted troops and skill in the saddle, was a dashing cavalry commander and hero of America's War for Independence. By now, most Americans have forgotten about Light-Horse Harry Lee, the father of Confederate General Robert E. Lee; but this new biography reveals he may be one of the most fascinating figures in our nation's history. A daring military commander, Lee was also an early American statesman whose passionate argument in favor of national unity helped ratify the Constitution. When President George Washington needed to suppress the Whiskey Rebellion, he sent an 13,000-strong army into western Pennsylvania with his old friend Light-Horse Harry Lee at its head. When Washington died, it was Lee who famously... Prologue -- Freestone Point -- All Sons Of Liberty -- This Struggle For The Rights Of Mankind -- A Rebel Captain By The Name Of Lee -- A Most Gallant Affair -- Gold Seven Times Tried In The Fire -- The Great Game -- A Fatal Stab To The British Tyrant -- You Cannot Cease To Be A Soldier -- One People -- Indifferent Destiny -- Pointing The Bayonet Against The Hearts Of Our Countrymen -- Cracked -- Farewell Great And Noble Patriots -- Unceasing Woe -- When Future Generations Shall Inquire -- The Sad Catastrophe Of Baltimore -- My Miserable Exile -- Epilogue -- Notes -- Index. Ryan Cole. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Who was "Light-Horse Harry" Lee? Major-General Henry Lee III was a Virginia cavalryman, a subordinate of George Washington, and father to Robert E. Lee. He was also a con man, a drifter; a dabbler in squalid land deals. Cole has scoured contemporary documents concerning Lee's life, political philosophy, and character, to give us an intimate picture of this soldier and statesman of the founding generation-- a greatly flawed but hugely talented man whose influence has reverberated to the present day. -- adapted from jacket