The surrender at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, was a big moment at the end of the Civil War.
In the spring of 1865, General Robert E. Lee led the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. They were surrounded by Union forces commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant. The Union troops kept pressing on, and Lee's army was running low on supplies. This made it hard for Lee to keep his soldiers strong.
Things changed after the Union won the Battle of Five Forks on April 1. This victory cut off Lee's supplies. After this loss, Lee tried to move his army west to join up with other Confederate soldiers in North Carolina. But Grant’s forces were right behind him, always trying to outsmart and catch up to Lee's army.
By April 7, Lee realized he was in a bad spot. His army was surrounded, and it was getting hard to find any way to escape. He knew that continuing to fight would only lead to more defeat. Accepting that there was no chance of winning, Lee decided to surrender to Grant.
When they met at Appomattox Court House, the mood was serious but respectful. Grant offered Lee kind terms for surrender, focusing on moving forward together instead of seeking revenge. This moment marked not just the end of a major battle, but also the start of a long process to heal and rebuild the nation.
The surrender at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, was a big moment at the end of the Civil War.
In the spring of 1865, General Robert E. Lee led the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. They were surrounded by Union forces commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant. The Union troops kept pressing on, and Lee's army was running low on supplies. This made it hard for Lee to keep his soldiers strong.
Things changed after the Union won the Battle of Five Forks on April 1. This victory cut off Lee's supplies. After this loss, Lee tried to move his army west to join up with other Confederate soldiers in North Carolina. But Grant’s forces were right behind him, always trying to outsmart and catch up to Lee's army.
By April 7, Lee realized he was in a bad spot. His army was surrounded, and it was getting hard to find any way to escape. He knew that continuing to fight would only lead to more defeat. Accepting that there was no chance of winning, Lee decided to surrender to Grant.
When they met at Appomattox Court House, the mood was serious but respectful. Grant offered Lee kind terms for surrender, focusing on moving forward together instead of seeking revenge. This moment marked not just the end of a major battle, but also the start of a long process to heal and rebuild the nation.