Appomattox

Appomattox Courthouse

April 9th - 10th 1865

Appomattox was the final battle for General Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia. After escaping from the siege of Petersburg Lee needed to break through the Union lines at Appomattox to link up with other Confederate forces further south. Lee thought the Union line was thin and would easily be penetrated however he was wrong. The Union line was very strong and this final attack by Lee inevitably failed. Lee was surrounded, outnumbered, and outgunned. His options were very limited at this point.

The Civil War had been raging for four long years and now it had all come down to this little courthouse. General Grant would accept the terms of surrender from General Lee, thus ending the war. One question remained that could alter the course of the proposed surrender, Lee. General Lee still controlled a very large, very capable army, the Army of Northern Virginia. General Grant, although trusting the honor and integrity of Lee, knew better than to leave himself or any of his men in harms way. The town resembled a military base with the heavy amounts of Union troops and citizens who came to witness history in the making. The surrender would be the culmination of four horrible, bloody years and anticipation was at its highest level in years. All the battles had been fought, the war was essentially over and the Rebels knew that.

The Union army had separated and divided the Confederate forces across the entire country. Only bits and pieces remained of once strong proud armies under the Confederate flag. Then there was the intelligent and dangerous, General Robert E. Lee. Lee was still on the outskirts of Appomattox, waiting watching the next move of the Union leaders.

What was he thinking? The thoughts must have been racing in this great generals head, fight or surrender. From personal memos and written records, Lee stated that he was at a crossroads hours before the actual surrender took place. General Grant was just the opposite. He had planned this day for months earlier. Having defeated Lee the previous three times he faced him, confidence was high among the entire Union army.

The hours seemed like days as the town and the entire Union army held their breath in anticipation of General Lee's last move of the war. They knew all too well the leadership capabilities of this foxy leader of the South. The surrender was in jeopardy and they knew that. At the time, the Rebel's still had three active armies in the field and could launch an offensive and get right back into the war.

Was the sound of multiple rifle shots going to pierce the early morning air and subject the country to more bloodshed? The answer hung in the mist like a gray cloud. Three hours after General Lee arrived in the town of Appomattox, he entered the courthouse and put his name on the paper that ended the Civil War. The war was over.

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