Isabella Carter
The Battle of Appomattox Court House, fought in Appomattox County, Virginia, on April 9, 1865, was one of the last and most consequential battles of the American Civil War. The battle culminated in Confederate General Robert E. Lee's surrender of his Army of Northern Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, effectively bringing an end to the Civil War. While this event did not officially conclude the war, it set in motion a series of surrenders and negotiations that ultimately led to the capitulation of other Confederate forces. The lenient terms offered by Grant allowed Confederate troops to return home, while Union soldiers were instructed to refrain from celebrating. This decision was a pivotal moment in American history, marking the conclusion of the bloodiest conflict the nation had ever witnessed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | April 9, 1865 |
| Location | Appomattox Court House, Virginia |
| Result | Union Victory |
| Union Army Commander | Ulysses S. Grant |
| Confederate Army Commander | Robert E. Lee |
| Union Casualties | 1,870 (one source), 830 (another source), 3,500 (another source), 847 (another source), 1,150 (another source) |
| Confederate Casualties | 800 (one source), 2,950 (another source), 4,250 (another source), 100 (another source), 8,830 (another source) |
| End of Civil War | August 20, 1866 |
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What You'll Learn
Confederate General Robert E. Lee's surrender
The surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee on April 9, 1865, marked a pivotal moment in American history, bringing an end to the Civil War in Virginia and precipitating the capitulation of other Confederate forces.
General Lee's final campaign commenced on March 25, 1865, with a Confederate attack on Fort Stedman near Petersburg, Virginia. However, the tide quickly turned against him. On April 1, Major General Philip Sheridan's cavalry outflanked Lee at the Battle of Five Forks. By April 6, as Lee retreated towards Appomattox Station, nearly a quarter of his army was cut off and forced to surrender at Sailor's Creek.
On April 7, Union General Ulysses S. Grant, aware of Lee's dire situation, wrote to him requesting his surrender. Lee, still hoping to access supplies at Lynchburg, refused to surrender but asked about the terms Grant was offering. The two generals continued their correspondence throughout the next day. On April 8, Union cavalry under Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer captured and burned three supply trains waiting for Lee at Appomattox Station. With his supplies destroyed, Lee's position became untenable.
On the morning of April 9, Major General Edward O. C. Ord arrived with the XXIV Corps to support the Union forces, sealing Lee's fate. Throughout the morning, communications regarding the surrender were exchanged between Grant and Lee, even as their troops continued fighting at Appomattox Court House. Shortly before noon, Lee requested a "suspension of hostilities pending the discussion of the Terms of surrender of this army." Lee's aide, Charles Marshall, selected the brick home of Wilmer McLean in Appomattox Court House as the location for the surrender.
At the surrender ceremony, approximately 28,000 Confederate soldiers laid down their arms. The lenient terms allowed Confederate troops to return to their homes, while Union soldiers were ordered to refrain from overt celebration. The surrender of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia set a precedent for the capitulation of the remaining Confederate forces throughout the South. Although a formal peace treaty was never signed, the submission of the Confederate armies marked the end of the Civil War, beginning the long journey toward reconciliation and reconstruction.
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Ulysses S. Grant's terms
Grant's terms allowed Lee to choose the place of his surrender, which was decided to be the home of Wilmer McLean in Appomattox Court House. The terms of surrender included the following provisions:
- Rolls of all the officers and men were to be made in duplicate, with one copy given to an officer designated by Grant and the other retained by an officer designated by Lee.
- The officers gave their paroles not to take up arms against the United States government and each regimental commander signed a parole for the men of their commands.
- The arms, artillery, and public property of the Confederate army were to be turned over to the officers appointed by Grant, excluding the side arms, private horses, and baggage of the officers.
- After fulfilling these conditions, each officer and man would be allowed to return to their homes and would not be disturbed by United States authorities as long as they observed their paroles and the laws in force.
- The surrender included all forces operating with the Army of Northern Virginia on April 8, except for bodies of cavalry that had escaped before the surrender and pieces of artillery more than 20 miles from Appomattox Court House at the time of surrender.
Grant's terms were lenient, and they set a precedent for the surrender of the remaining Confederate forces throughout the South. The formal surrender of Lee's army at Appomattox Court House marked a critical turning point in the Civil War and ultimately led to the end of the conflict.
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The Union victory
The Battle of Appomattox Court House, fought in Appomattox County, Virginia, on April 9, 1865, was one of the last and most consequential battles of the American Civil War. The battle culminated in the victory of the Union Army of the Potomac, under the Commanding General of the United States Army, Ulysses S. Grant, over the Confederate General-in-Chief, Robert E. Lee, and his Army of Northern Virginia.
Lee's decision to surrender at Appomattox Court House marked a pivotal moment in the Civil War, bringing an end to the war in Virginia and precipitating the capitulation of other Confederate forces. The Union victory at Appomattox was the culmination of a series of strategic maneuvers and engagements that ultimately trapped Lee's army. Prior to the battle, Lee had abandoned the Confederate capital of Richmond and retreated west, hoping to join his forces with Confederate armies in North Carolina. However, Union cavalry forces under General Philip Sheridan pursued and intercepted Lee's army, cutting off their retreat at Appomattox Court House.
On April 6, 1865, en route to Appomattox Station, nearly a quarter of the retreating Confederate army was cut off by Sheridan's cavalry, resulting in the capture or surrender of most of the 7,700 Confederates. This delay prevented Lee from reaching his intended destination until late on April 8. Meanwhile, Union forces under Brigadier General and Brevet Major General George Armstrong Custer captured and destroyed three supply trains waiting for Lee's army, further diminishing Lee's resources.
Recognizing the dire situation of Lee's army, General Grant sent a note on April 7, requesting Lee's surrender. While Lee initially refused, he agreed to meet with Grant to discuss terms. The two generals exchanged messages and agreed to meet at the home of Wilmer McLean in Appomattox Court House on the afternoon of April 9. There, Lee formally surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia, marking a decisive turning point in the Civil War.
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The Civil War's end
The American Civil War (1861–1865) came to a close following the Battle of Appomattox Court House in Appomattox County, Virginia, on April 9, 1865. Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, marking a pivotal moment in the Civil War and precipitating the capitulation of other Confederate forces.
General Lee's final campaign commenced on March 25, 1865, with a Confederate attack on Fort Stedman near Petersburg. Following the abandonment of the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, Lee retreated west, intending to rendezvous with Confederate forces in North Carolina. However, Union cavalry forces under General Philip Sheridan intercepted and obstructed their retreat.
On April 6, 1865, at Sailor's Creek, nearly a quarter of the retreating Confederate army was cut off, leading to the capture or surrender of most of the 7,700 Confederates. This delay prevented Lee from reaching Appomattox Station until late on April 8. Despite the setbacks, Lee remained determined to access supplies at Lynchburg. However, the appearance of a battalion of the 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry near Lynchburg further diminished his options.
On April 7, General Grant sent a message to Lee suggesting it was time to surrender, and Lee requested the terms being offered. The two generals maintained a correspondence throughout the next day. On the morning of April 9, 1865, Lee surrendered his army to Grant at Appomattox Court House, bringing the war in Virginia to a close. The lenient terms of the surrender allowed Confederate troops to return home, while Union soldiers were instructed to refrain from celebration or taunting.
Although the Battle of Appomattox Court House was a decisive moment, it did not officially end the Civil War. Scattered resistance continued, with several battles occurring after Appomattox. The final skirmish of the Civil War took place on May 12 and 13 at the Battle of Palmito Ranch near Brownsville, Texas. It was only on August 20, 1866, that President Andrew Johnson officially proclaimed the end of the Civil War, stating that "peace, order, tranquility, and civil authority now exist in and throughout the whole United States of America."
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Scattered resistance
While the Battle of Appomattox Court House and the subsequent surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, marked a significant turning point and effectively brought an end to the four-year American Civil War, scattered resistance continued for several weeks.
There were six battles that took place after Appomattox, with the final skirmish of the Civil War occurring on May 12 and 13 at the Battle of Palmito Ranch near Brownsville, Texas. Despite the surrender at Appomattox, Confederate commanders continued to capitulate and negotiate paroles and amnesty for Southern combatants. It wasn't until sixteen months after Appomattox, on August 20, 1866, that President Andrew Johnson officially proclaimed an end to the Civil War, accepting Texas's constitution and the abolition of slavery.
The delay in the official end of the war can be attributed to the scattered resistance and ongoing negotiations for surrender by Confederate forces. The lenient terms offered to Confederate troops at Appomattox, including parole and the allowance to return to their homes, set a precedent for the surrender of remaining Confederate forces throughout the South. However, it took time to fully implement these surrenders and ensure compliance among all Confederate commanders and combatants.
The Battle of Appomattox Court House itself was a brief engagement, lasting only a few hours. General Lee's army was retreating westward, stripped of food and supplies, and found their path obstructed by Union forces under General Philip Sheridan. Despite attempts to reach additional supplies at Lynchburg, Lee was forced to surrender when his troops were cut off and surrounded. The choice of the surrender location fell to Lee, who selected the home of Wilmer McLean in Appomattox Court House, a village that served as a waystation for travellers.
The surrender at Appomattox Court House holds significant historical weight, not only as a pivotal moment in the Civil War but also symbolically as a step towards the reunification of the nation. The lenient terms offered by General Grant to the defeated Confederate army demonstrated a willingness to heal the nation's divisions and foster reconciliation. This eventful day in Appomattox County, Virginia, marked a critical juncture in American history, paving the way for the challenging journey of reconstruction and healing that lay ahead.
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Frequently asked questions
The Battle of Appomattox Court House took place on April 9, 1865, and led to Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendering his Army of Northern Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant.
Although the Battle of Appomattox Court House was one of the last battles of the Civil War, it did not officially end the war. There were several other battles that took place after Appomattox, with the final skirmish occurring on May 12 and 13 at the Battle of Palmito Ranch near Brownsville, Texas. However, the surrender of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia did set the stage for the conclusion of the Civil War, as it precipitated the capitulation of other Confederate forces.
The surrender took place at the Wilmer McLean home at Appomattox Court House.
