![]() After seeing the house, they accepted and sent a message back to Lee. After being told that would not do for such an important occasion, he offered his own house for the surrender meeting. Soon after entering the village, the two Confederates happened upon a homeowner, Wilmer McLean, who showed them an unfurnished and somewhat run-down house. Lee's Men Get to Keep Horses: Rations Go to Confederate Soldiers Soon Lee sent the aides ahead to find a suitable location for the surrender. Lee and two of his aides rode toward Appomattox Court House, accompanied by Babcock and Dunn. The meeting place was left to Lee's discretion. William McKee Dunn, brought Grant's reply to Lee. Grant received Lee's request four miles west of Walker's Church, about six miles from Appomattox Court House. He later asked for "a suspension of hostilities" pending the outcome of the surrender talks. Lee, upon learning of this news and realizing his retreat had been halted, asked Grant for a meeting to discuss his army's surrender. Gordon's corps attacked Federal cavalry, but Gordon quickly realized he could not push forward without substantial help from other Confederate forces. ![]() The next morning, Lee faced Union cavalry and infantry in his front at Appomattox Court House and two Union corps to his rear three miles to the northeast at New Hope Church. Union cavalry reached Appomattox Station before Lee and blocked his path on April 8. Philip Sheridan's cavalry, along with two rapidly moving infantry corps, marched hard from Farmville, in central Virginia, along a more southerly route than Confederate forces. ![]() This correspondence would continue throughout the following day. However, he did ask what terms Grant was offering. Lee responded, saying he did not agree with Grant's opinion of the hopelessness of further resistance of his army. Army known as the Army of Northern Virginia." "I feel that it is so, and regard it as my duty to shift from myself any further effusion of blood, by asking of you the surrender of that portion of the C.S. "The result of last week must convince you of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia in this struggle," Grant wrote. Grant, realizing that Lee's army was running out of options, sent a letter to Lee on April 7 requesting the Confederate general's surrender. Lee desperately sought a train loaded with supplies for his troops but encountered none. The Confederate Army’s retreat moved southwest along the Richmond & Danville Railroad. General Grant’s forces counterattacked a week later on April 1 at Five Forks, forcing Lee to abandon Richmond and Petersburg the following day. General Lee's final campaign began March 25, 1865, with a Confederate attack on Fort Stedman, near Petersburg. The string of events marking the end of the war all began with Lee’s Appomattox campaign. Lee's Last Campaign: Starved for Supplies
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |