Life at home

After his duty at Fort Monroe, Lee was assigned to Washington, DC, bringing his wife Mary and their new son back to Arlington House. Robert Lee spent the next several years traveling for the Engineering Corps - mapping out the state borders in Michigan, saving the St. Louis port from being enclosed by sand bars, and assigned to Fort Hamilton, NY for a period of time. By this time all seven of their children were born and remarkably, Mrs. Lee was able to return home to Arlington House to have all but one of the children. Robert barely had time to greet his youngest child before he was sent off to fight in the Mexican War.

During the Mexican War, Captain Lee served on the staff of General Winfield Scott, distinguishing himself many times as a scout, including his discovery of a path through a lava field to allow Scott's Army to surround the Mexican Army. Robert Lee came out of the Mexican War with the rank of Brevet Colonel.

Upon returning to Arlington from the Mexican War, he was assigned to Baltimore to build Fort Carroll. While serving in Baltimore, his eldest son began his career in the military by becoming a Cadet at West Point. Lee shortly thereafter was assigned as superintendent of West Point, a position he initially refused. On September 1, 1852, Lee reported for duty as the 9th Superintendent of West Point Military Academy, just as his oldest son was starting his 3rd year as Cadet, and his Nephew was just beginning his first year when he took over as superintendent. The Family came with him with the exception of two of the girls that were being tutored at Arlington. Near the end of the term his Mother-in-law died and his wife left him and the children to help her father. The family joined her that summer.