Appomattox was not just a battle that Lee lost. It was the finale of an 11 month battle with Grant trying to take Richmond, the Confederate Capitol.
After 11 months of some of the worst fighting of the war Grant was finally able to cut the supply line to Richmond, forcing Lee to retreat. This was the last week of the Army of Virginia. Lee’s plan was to travel to south and link up with the North Carolina Army. Three groups of Lee’s Army were to link up at Amelia’s Courthouse to the south where supply trains would arrive and feed his Army that had not eaten in days. But when they arrived the trains had ammo but no food. This caused a delay and led to Union forces beginning to tighten a noose around Lee. So Lee was forced to move West. At Saylor’s Creek Lee lost 1/3 of his Army, mostly captured. High Bridge and Cumberland Church battles took more. Lee took his remaining Army to Farmsville where there was food, but they had to keep moving as Union forces were moving in keeping Lee moving West. Here at Farmville Grant wrote Lee requesting his surrender, Lee declined.
As you can see in the map, Lee’s retreat was a running battle.
Two days later Lee would find himself surrounded and did surrender this time after a limited battle at Appomattox. One of the last men killed was a young man who served under Lee the entire war, from beginning to end.
On this road General Chamberlain ordered his men to attention as the Army of Virginia marched by to surrender their arms.
Grant himself did not remain long after the negotiations were concluded. As he left the McLean house a little after four in the afternoon he heard the firing of salutes in the Union camp in celebration of the news of the surrender. He at once issued orders to discontinue it. 'The war is over,' he said. 'The rebels are our countrymen again .... Many of his staff were disappointed, but Grant had no curiosity to look upon the conquered army. He was much more eager to restore harmony and prosperity to the reunited nation.
After 11 months of some of the worst fighting of the war Grant was finally able to cut the supply line to Richmond, forcing Lee to retreat. This was the last week of the Army of Virginia. Lee’s plan was to travel to south and link up with the North Carolina Army. Three groups of Lee’s Army were to link up at Amelia’s Courthouse to the south where supply trains would arrive and feed his Army that had not eaten in days. But when they arrived the trains had ammo but no food. This caused a delay and led to Union forces beginning to tighten a noose around Lee. So Lee was forced to move West. At Saylor’s Creek Lee lost 1/3 of his Army, mostly captured. High Bridge and Cumberland Church battles took more. Lee took his remaining Army to Farmsville where there was food, but they had to keep moving as Union forces were moving in keeping Lee moving West. Here at Farmville Grant wrote Lee requesting his surrender, Lee declined.
As you can see in the map, Lee’s retreat was a running battle.
Two days later Lee would find himself surrounded and did surrender this time after a limited battle at Appomattox. One of the last men killed was a young man who served under Lee the entire war, from beginning to end.
On this road General Chamberlain ordered his men to attention as the Army of Virginia marched by to surrender their arms.
Grant himself did not remain long after the negotiations were concluded. As he left the McLean house a little after four in the afternoon he heard the firing of salutes in the Union camp in celebration of the news of the surrender. He at once issued orders to discontinue it. 'The war is over,' he said. 'The rebels are our countrymen again .... Many of his staff were disappointed, but Grant had no curiosity to look upon the conquered army. He was much more eager to restore harmony and prosperity to the reunited nation.