Battlefield Report: The Battle and Surrender of Appomattox Courthouse It was the 8th of April, 1865. Merely days earlier, Confederate General Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia had evacuated Petersburg and Richmond . After a day and night of persistent marching while under pursuit from Union General U.S. Grant, Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia settled near Appomattox Courthouse. Lee’s objective was the South Side Railroad where much-needed food supplies awaited (www.civilwar.org). Unfortunately for Lee, Brigadier General George A. Custer reached there first, capturing and burning two supply trains. Grant sent a surrender request, which Lee promptly ignored as he hoped for more supplies at Lynchburg. He did offer to meet Grant …show more content…
Gordon attacked the Union calvary blocking the road toward the railroad, beginning the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse. The Confederates were initially successful in their attack, but as the Union infantry moved in, the Confederate troops were unable to make further progress. Both surrounded and outnumbered without provisions or support, Lee reluctantly decided to surrender, recognizing that there was no point in fighting a battle he could not win. “There is nothing left for me but to go and see General Grant, and I had rather die a thousand deaths” (Catton …show more content…
Years earlier, McLean had moved to Appomattox after surviving the First Battle of Bull Run, much of which was on his property, in order to escape the grasp of the war. It is often said that the war began in his front yard and ended in his parlor. Grant arrived at the location with his field uniform muddy from the ride, greatly contrasting Lee, who had arrived in his finest uniform (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia). The character of both Lee and Grant was of such high caliber that Lee’s surrender has been called "The Gentlemen's Agreement”, a testament to their character (www.nps.gov). After discussion, they settled on several terms that were considered fairly lenient. The soldiers of the Army of Northern Virginia would lay down their weapons and not take them up against the U.S. government again. Soldiers would be paroled and allowed to return home. Lee also requested rations for his men, as they had not eaten for several days. Grant agreed to provide them. After formal copies of the surrender document were made and the document was signed, they parted