Confederates Trapped

For most of the war, Lee and his army tormented their Northern enemies at Gaines’ Mill, Manassas, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, but on April 9, 1865, the Army of Northern Virginia found itself trapped here. After the evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond on April 2, 1865, Lee’s straggling columns moved west, trying to outrun Grant’s men and turn south into North Carolina to join another Confederate force under Joseph E. Johnston, while Federals from three armies pursued them all the way. On the morning of April 9, Union infantry deployed across Lee’s path west of Appomattox Court House, while two miles northeast of here more Federals struck at the Confederate rear. With Union troops blocking his route west on the Stage Road, present Route 24, with Union troops behind him, and with Union troops closing on his left flank from the east, Lee faced the most difficult decision of his life and at about 9 a.m. sent a final message to Grant asking if they could meet with reference to the surrender of this army.

Appomattox, Virginia · United States