In 1825 he entered West Point Academy. Every time a cadet a West Point broke any rule they received a merit, he received none. In his last year at West Point he was the highest officer in his class. He graduated second in his class behind Charles Mason. He was 22 years old and also a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army. He was given a commission in the U.S. Engineer Corps after graduation. In 1836 he became 1st Lieutenant, and in 1838 Captain. This rank allowed him to take part in the Mexican War, where many times he repeatedly won distinction for honor and bravery. During the war he received merits of major for Cerro Gordo, lieut.-colonel for Contreras-Churubusco, and colonel for Chapultepec. Right before the Civil War began he was offered to be commander of the field army that was about to invade the southern states. He did not like the idea of recession, but felt obliged to his state and at once made a major-general in the Virginia forces. …show more content…
They had nearly all of the advantages. One thing they had was a greater population that could fight and also free black men, while the south debated over whether they should be able to fight until the war was over. The North also had an established government that was over a hundred years old while the South started with one only a few weeks old. One major factor that the North had was the boom of the Industrial Revolution and lots more money. The only big advantage the south had was Robert E.