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What was Lee's surrender?
Lee’s surrender of the largest Southern army, however, signaled no hope remained for Confederate victory. Making the decision to meet with Grant and seek terms was painful for Lee, but the time had come when he realized further resistance on his part was futile and would only result in an unnecessary loss of lives.
What did Lee inform Grant about surrendering?
Lee informed Grant that he not proposed surrendering, only meeting for a discussion that might “tend to a restoration of peace.”
What did Lee inform Grant about the situation of the Confederate soldiers?
He then informed Grant that the Confederate soldiers had been living on parched corn for several days. As with the matter of the animals, he did not ask for anything; he merely informed Grant of the situation and waited.
Why did Grant ask Lee to meet Lincoln?
The two men met again the following day on horseback between the lines. Grant asked Lee to meet with President Lincoln in Washington to assist in restoring peace, but Lee politely declined.
What was Lee's plan for the Battle of Five Forks?
He hoped to resupply and then turn south to link up with Joe Johnston’s army in North Carolina. Failing that, he would continue west toward Lynchburg.
How many words did Grant write in his surrender agreement?
Writing in a dispatch book laid on a small, round marble table, Grant wrote a generous surrender agreement of less than 200 words . Lee, when he finished reading it, looked up and remarked, “This will have a very happy effect upon my army.” He asked only if the provision allowing officers to keep their private mounts extended to all soldiers in his army, for the cavalry and artillery had to supply their own horses and mules. Surprised by this information, Grant did not change the written terms but said he would instruct his officers to allow those men who claimed a horse or mule to take the animals home with them “to work their little farms.”
Where did Grant meet Lee?
Instead, Grant’s reply told him that the Union general would meet him at a site of Lee’s choosing. Unlike Lee, he arrived at the chosen town of Appomattox Court House, a little northeast of Appomattox Station, in a mud-spattered uniform he had worn for days, having left behind the wagon carrying his personal effects.
Why did Lee and Grant turn out?
Lee had dressed in his best uniform for the saddest moment in his life, while Grant was more casually turned out because his dress uniform was miles away in the Union baggage train. As might be expected, the occasion was awkward, and the two generals exchanged small talk until Lee reminded Grant why they were there.
Why was the surrender at Appomattox so nostalgic?
In retrospect, the surrender at Appomattox has become invested with nostalgia in part because of the dignified and humane conduct of both Grant and Lee in this final act of a heroic and tragic year of war between America’s two greatest generals.
What was the most important event in the Civil War?
It’s one of the most momentous events in American history: Robert E. Lee’s surrender to Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, which effectively ended the Civil War, although other southern forces would still be surrendering into May. It was momentous yet modest and low-key as the two generals met with just a few aides in the small parlor of Wilmer McLean’s house in Appomattox, Virginia. A small irony is that McLean was present at both the beginning and the end of the war: he had moved from his original house on the Bull Run battlefield to get as far away from the theater of war as possible.
What horse did Lee ride on?
Formalities concluded, the group went back outside, and Lee rode away on his famous battle horse, Traveller . Union troops began to cheer as news spread of the war’s end. A celebratory cannonade began, but Grant ordered it stopped in respect for the defeated foe, “as we did not want to exult over their downfall.”
What was the most significant event in American history?
It’s one of the most momentous events in American history: Robert E. Lee’s surrender to Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, which effectively ended the Civil War, although other southern forces would still be surrendering into May.
What did Grant ask Lee to surrender?
On April 7th, after the Confederates had suffered a catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Sailor’s Creek, Grant asked Lee to surrender and declared any “further effusion of blood” was solely Lee’s responsibility.
Where did Lee send the letters to Grant?
Lee sent out two letters to Grant, one through Meade’s lines in the east and one through Sheridan’s lines to the southwest of the village. Grant had been riding all morning to reach Sheridan’s forces and was south of Lee’s army in the outskirts of Appomattox County when the message intercepted him.
Why did Grant leave Appomattox?
Grant left Appomattox to continue the work of ending the war. Lee returned to his headquarters where he attempted to remain isolated, refusing to meet with most of the Union officers who wanted to speak with him.
What was the cause of Lee's hopes being dashed?
Lee’s hopes were dashed by the arrival of thousands of Union infantry, including United States Colored Troops, who had marched most of the night to block the way. By 8:00a.m., Gordon’s men retreated toward the village, Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry was fleeing toward the west, and Lee knew his war was over. Read more about the Battle of Appomattox Court ...
How many sentences did Lee reply to Grant?
Grant’s was a mere five sentences long and Lee’s reply was only three very short, terse sentences. Aside from Grant and Lee, only Lt. Colonel Marshall and perhaps a half dozen of Grant’s staff officers were present for most of the meeting. Approximately a dozen other Union officers entered the room briefly, including Captain Robert Todd Lincoln.
What was Lee's General Order 9?
9 may have been the beginning of the “Lost Cause” apologist movement that sought to erase the institution of slavery as a fundamental cause for secession and the war. Perhaps more than being an end or a beginning, the surrender at Appomattox should be viewed as an intersection of change.
Who left the McLean House?
General Lee leaves the McLean House after the Surrender Meeting with Gen. Grant. Keith Rocco. Grant met with his staff and commanders briefly before also leaving for his temporary headquarters a short distance down west of the village. Grant sent a message via the newly repaired telegraph lines at Appomattox Station to President Lincoln ...
What was the most important thing Lee asked for in the surrender?
Generously, all officers and men were to be pardoned, and they would be sent home with their private property –most important to the men were the horses, which could be used for a late spring planting.
Who did Lee send a message to?
With no remaining options, Lee sent a message to General Ulysses Grant announcing his willingness to surrender the Army of Northern Virginia. The two war-weary generals met in the front parlor of the Wilmer McLean home at one o’clock that afternoon.
What was the final battle of the Civil War?
The Final Battle of the Civil War? The Battle of Appomattox Court House was fought on April 9, 1865, near the town of Appomattox Court House, Virginia, and led to Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender of his Army of Northern Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant.
How many soldiers did Lee have?
Grant, and I would rather die a thousand deaths.” But Lee also knew his remaining troops, numbering about 28,000, would quickly turn to pillaging the countryside in order to survive.
Where did the Civil War end?
Although scattered resistance continued for several weeks—the final skirmish of the Civil War occurred on May 12 and 13 at the Battle of Palmito Ranch near Brownsville, Texas —for all practical purposes the Civil War had come to an end.
Who led the Confederate army on April 9th?
Nonetheless, early on the morning of April 9, Confederate troops led by Major General John B. Gordon mounted a last-ditch offensive that was initially successful. Soon, however, the Confederates saw that they were hopelessly outnumbered by two corps of Union soldiers who had marched all night to cut off the Confederate advance.
Where did the last skirmish of the Civil War take place?
Although 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 —for all practical purposes, the Civil War had come to an end.
