April 9, 1865: Robert E. Lee surrenders to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomatox

By the Spring of 1865, the Civil War had become a bloody, vacillating stalemate. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia had been besieged at Petersburg, Virginia by Ulysses S. Grant’s Army of the Potomac for more than a year. Lee’s army was nearing its breaking point. Every day, Grant’s lines wormed their way closer to Lee’s depleted forces. He knew that he needed to do something drastic. Lee figured that if he could make to the opposite bank of the James River, his army might be able to continue the fight. On April 1, Lee sent a letter to the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis. He told Davis that the defeat of his army was inevitable, and that Petersburg needed to be abandoned. He also suggested that the Confederate government evacuate the capital at Richmond. Davis wrestled with Lee’s proposal. On April 2, he ordered the evacuation of Richmond. That night, the Army of the Northern Virginia withdrew from Petersburg. To Lee’s surprise, Grant was soon in pursuit.

Hiram Ulysses Grant was born in Point Pleasant, Ohio in 1822. He was the son of a local tanner and abolitionists, Jesse and his wife, Hannah. He was a quiet stoic child who a strong affinity toward animals, especially horses. His father’s tannery disgusted him, and it was decided early on that he would not continue in the family business. Jesse Grant had many connections and was able to secure his son a spot at West Point military academy. While at

West Point, the young man had trouble fitting in. His first day there, the clerk who entered his name into the registry miswrote it to Ulysses S. Grant; the name stuck. His friends called him, “Sam.” Ulysses proved to be a poor student, but able horseman. When he graduated, he hoped to be assigned to cavalry, but was instead assigned to the infantry. In 1843, he was stationed at the Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, Missouri. While in Missouri, he courted and married Julia Dent. In 1846, the United States entered the Mexican-American War, and Grant’s regiment was called up to the front. During the war, Grant made a reputation for himself as a competent soldier and brave to a fault. After the war, he was assigned to a remote outpost in California. The seclusion and loneliness drove him to drink; an issue that would follow him throughout his life. After a couple years in California, he had had enough, and resigned his commission. The next couple years for the Grants would be difficult. He tried his hand at a large variety of jobs, failing in most of them. In the 1850’s, he purchased a farm, which he dubbed Hardscrabble. By 1860, he was clerk at general store in Galena, Illinois. At the beginning of the Civil War, the Union was in desperate need for experienced officers. Grant was hired a mustering officer that summer. He was eventually given command of regiment of volunteers. By 1862, he gained renown by taking Forts Donelson and Henry. Also, that year, he won a decisive, but bloody victory at the Battle of Shiloh. In 1863, Grant captured the key Confederate city of Vicksburg. By this point in the war, President Lincoln was desperate for a commander who could win him the war. In the winter of 1864, he settled on Grant. Grant immediately took the fight to Robert E. Lee., engaging in the Wilderness Campaign. By the fall, both sides fought each other into a stalemate. Not wanting to expend more Union lives, Grant decided on sieging Petersburg. Grant would besiege Lee’s army for more than year. With Lee backed into corner, Grant was poised to deliver a decisive blow, but the Confederate commander still had tricks up his sleeve.

Robert E. Lee was born at Stratford Hall Plantation, Virginia in 1806. He was the son of “Lighthorse” Harry Lee, one of General Washington’s most trusted officers, and Anna Hill Carter. Henry Lee abandoned his family when Robert was young. He was mostly raised by his mother, creating a close bond between mother and child. In 1825, Lee enrolled in West Point. He was an outstanding student, graduating second in his class. After West Point, he was assigned to the Army Corps of Engineers, where he supervised the building of works in St. Louis Harbor, and worked at mapping the Des Moines Rapids. In 1831, he courted and married Mary Curtis, a great-granddaughter of Martha Washington. When the Mexican-American War broke out in 1846, Lee was promoted and sent to the front. During the war, he distinguished himself as an officer, fighting in the Battles of Veracruz, Contreras, Churubusco, and Chapultepec. After the war, he was assigned to the cavalry and stationed in

Texas. While on furlough, John Brown raided Harper’s Ferry and Lee was tasked with capturing him. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, many top Union officials wanted Lee given command of the Army. However, he struggled with the prospect of taking up arms against his native state. In the end, Lee chose Virginia. At first, he would serve Jefferson Davis as a military advisor, but he was too indispensable as a field commander and was given command of the Army of Northern Virginia. In 1862, Lee was tasked with taking on General George B. McClellan, who was invading into Virginia. In a couple of beguiling maneuvers, he was able to push him back. He now took the advantage and staged an invasion into the North. He was defeated at the Battle of Antietam and retreated back into Virginia. In 1863, he won decisive victories at the Battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Bolstered by his victories, he reattempted his invasion of the North, but was decisively defeated at the Battle of Gettysburg. In 1864, Lee was met with a new adversary in Ulysses S. Grant. Grant was unlike any other General he had previously faced. During that summer, Grant and Lee faced off in the destructive Wilderness Campaign. Lee was forced to the outskirts of Petersburg, where he remained there for a year besieged by Grant. In the Spring of 1865, Lee broke off from Petersburg, withdrawing to the James.

Grant’s army was now in dogged pursuit of Lee’s. On April 6, Grant caught up with him at Sailor’s Creek. After a one-sided battle, many Confederate troops were captured. The remains of Lee’s army continued to withdraw West. Calvary lead by Philip Sheridan joined in the pursuit. Grant and Sheridan engaged Lee at High Bridge and Cumberland Church. The battles further depleted Lee’s forces. On April 7, Lee stopped in Appomattox Court House to regroup. A courier arrived in Lee’s camp with a message from Grant. Grant implored Lee to surrender his army. That afternoon, Lee tried one last attempt to break out, but he was repulsed by Grant’s forces to East and Sheridan’s forces to the South. That night Lee grappled with the decision on what to do next. His army now consisted of barefoot old man and boys, and was near starvation. Surrender seemed like a merciful option. However, some of Lee’s generals suggested fleeing into the West and engage in a guerilla campaign against Union forces. Lee knew that option would prolong the already bloody war. The next morning, a courier arrived in Grant’s camp with Lee’s reply. The courier found Grant lying in field, nursing a head splitting migraine. He read Lee’s message expressionlessly. He jotted down a quick letter to Lee, his headache disappearing instantly. Lee received the message, which asked him to chose a place to meet and discuss terms. He dispatched some scouts into Appomattox to find a place. They quickly came across Wilmer McLean, who offered up his home for the meeting. Ironically. McLean had moved to the area after his previous home was struck by a cannonball during the First Battle of Bull Run. The scouts reported back to Lee, and he scheduled to meet the following morning.

On the morning of April 9, Lee emerged from his tent, donning his best uniform, for he believed he would be Grant’s prisoner that day. He mounted his horse, Traveler, and slowly trotted toward the McLean House. He was the first to arrive. He walked inside and sat down, waiting for Grant’s arrival. Grant arrived soon after. He apologized for his lateness, and the state of his dirty uniform. Both men sat down. The conversation began light and cordial. Grant explained that they had met before during the Mexican War. Lee said that he did not remember him. Their conversation drifted into reminiscing about old times. Lee brought them back to the matter at hand. Grant quickly wrote his terms and handed them to Lee. To his welcome surprise, the terms were simple and generous. They stated that all men would be able to go home after they took an oath of allegiance to the Union. Lee looked at the terms stoically. Grant asked if they were favorable, and Lee responded that they were very much so. Grant then asked if his men were hunger, and offered several rations to him. Lee graciously accepted. With their business concluded, both men rose, shook hands and headed outside. Lee mounted Traveler, and doffed his hat. Grant reciprocated.