Lee distinguished himself during the Mexican-American War, where he was one of Winfield Scott�s chief aides and met Ulysses S. Eventually, she was forced to remain at Arlington due to the birth of seven children and her declining health. Although she had been raised in an affluent household with servants, Mary chose to accompany her husband much of the time. Lee continued his military career and was often stationed at remote outposts. Robert and Mary were wed on June 30, 1831, at Custis� home at Arlington House.
During the summer of 1829, Lee began courting Martha Washington�s great-granddaughter, Mary Custis, who had also captured the attention of Sam Houston (who would eventually become a southern governor opposed to secession). This assignment was followed by a stint at Fort Monroe, Virginia. In June 1829, Lee was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers and sent to build a fort in the Savannah River.
