Sunday, 9 April 1865
On Palm Sunday, a clear spring sun rose in Virginia. At dawn, near Appomattox Station, the Confederates had bravely attacked with the hope of forcing a passage through the Federals in front of them. At first they were successful, but there was more than just enemy cavalry in front of them. The route was also blocked by infantry. The Union forces drove in, and on the east other Yankees under Major General George G. Meade attacked the Confederate rear guard. Almost completely surrounded, escape was now impossible. Robert Edward Lee arranged to meet with Hiram Ulysses Grant.
On the field, there was confusion with truce flags mixed in with small arms fire. Union Brigadier General George A. Custer demanded the surrender of Confederates.
Yet by the early afternoon in the home of Wilmer McLean at Appomattox Court House, Confederate General Robert E. Lee and one aide met with Federal Lieutenant General Hiram U. Grant, his staff, and several of the major commanders. After pleasantries, Lee called attention to the matter at hand, discussion of surrender terms.
Grant wrote out his proposal, went over it with his staff, then presented it to Lee. The terms did not include surrender of side arms of officers or of their private horses or baggage, and allowed each officer and man to go home and not be disturbed as long as parole was observed. Lee brought up the fact that cavalrymen and artillerists owned their own horses, which would be needed for the spring planting. After a short conference, Grant agreed to let those who claimed horses to keep them. Arrangements were also made to feed Lee's army from Federal supplies. Thus it was completed - a document from Grant to Lee giving terms of surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, and one from Lee to Grant accepting those terms. Contrary to legend, Lee did not surrender his sword to Grant.
The War, however, was not quite over. There were still armies in the field and a Confederate government at Danville, Virginia. It was only after a gentle reminder later in the afternoon that Lieutenant General Grant remembered to inform Washington officials as to what transpired at Appomattox Court House.
President Abraham Lincoln arrived back in Washington in early evening as news was spreading throughout the land. Bonfires sprang up as crowds jammed the streets. In the Army of the Potomac, flags waved, bands played, artillery boomed and the air was filled with knapsacks, canteens, tin cups and roaring cheers. When the noise receded, a silence of respect to the fallen dead and the vanquished foe fell over Appomattox as four years of war in Virginia had essentially ended.
MAnother view: Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrenders his army to Union General Hiram U. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia.
For more than a week, Lee had tried and nearly succeeded, in an attempt to outrun Grant's massive forces to the west of Richmond and Petersburg in Virginia. After a ten-month siege of the two cities, the Union forces finally broke through the defenses and forced Lee to abandon the cleverly dug entrenchments and retreat. The Confederates moved along the Appomattox River, with Union General Phillip Sheridan shadowing them to the south. Lee's army had little food, and they began to desert in large numbers on the retreat. When Lee arrived at Appomattox, he found that his path was blocked. He had no choice but to request a meeting with Grant.
They met at a house in Appomattox at 2:00 p.m. on the afternoon of 9 April. Lee was resplendent in his dress uniform and a fine sword at his side. Grant arrived wearing a simple soldier's coat that was muddy from his long ride. The great generals spoke of their service together in the Mexican War, which Grant recalled but Lee did not, and then set about the business at hand. Grant offered generous terms. Officers could keep their side arms, and all men would be immediately released to return home. Any officers and enlisted men who owned horses could take them home, Grant said, to help put crops in the field and carry their families through the next winter. These terms, said Lee, would have "the best possible effect upon the men," and "will do much toward conciliating our people." The papers were signed and Lee prepared to return to his men.
In one of the great ironies of the war, the surrender took place in the parlor of Wilmer McClean's home. McClean had once lived along the banks of Bull Run Creek, in Manassas, Virginia, the site of the first major battle of the war in July 1861. Seeking refuge from the fighting, McClean decided to move out of the Washington-Richmond corridor to try to avoid the almost continual heavy skirmishing that would surely take place there. He moved to Appomattox Court House only to see the war in Virginia end in his home.
Although there were still Confederate armies in the field, the war was considered over. Four years of bloodshed had left a devastating mark on the country: over a million Union and Confederate soldiers had become casualties during the War Between the States.
Naval accont: General Lee met General Grant at Appomattox Court House and formally surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia. Rear Admiral Semmes and his naval brigade charged with the defense of Danville were included in the surrender. Lee's struggle to break free from Grant's overwhelming armies, well fed and supplied from City Point, had failed. His effort to join with Joe Johnston, hopefully far enough from the sea to limit Grant's logistics advantage, had come fatefully to an end. One of the greatest armies and leaders of history without an adequate Navy had succumbed to the united power of land and sea.
The contrast between the two Generals at the confrontation in the living room of the McLean House was most striking. Grant's mud splattered uniform was that of a private with only the shoulder straps of a Lieutenant General to designate his rank. His uniform was unbuttoned at the neck and was unadorned by either sword or spurs. Lee on the other hand had taken special pains for this last act of the drama as if dressing for execution. His uniform was immaculate, his jewel studded sword of the finest workmanship. His well-polished boots were ornamented with red stitching and set off by a handsome pair of spurs.
After conversing about their Mexican War experiences, Lee asked the terms upon which his surrender would be accepted. Grant replied: "The terms I propose are those stated substantially in my letter of yesterday, that is, the officers and men surrendered to be paroled and disqualified from taking up arms again until properly exchanged, and all arms, ammunition and supplies to be delivered up as captured property." Lee agreed to the terms and Grant then wrote them out. He specifically provided that Confederate officers would be permitted to retain their side arms, horses and luggage. This exemption was further broadened, at Lee's suggestion, to permit the men in the ranks to retain their horses and mules. Lee observed that these exemptions "...were very gratifying and will do much toward conciliating our people." The long, bitter war was ending ashore, although fiery drama still awaited in far off Northern seas.
The blockade runner Chameleon (formerly the CSS Tallahassee), commanded by Lieutenant Wilkinson, put into Liverpool, England. With the fall of both Fort Fisher and Charleston in January and February respectively, Wilkinson had been unable to deliver his cargo of provisions destined for General Lee's destitute army defending Richmond. Sealed off from the Confederacy, Wilkinson off-loaded his cargo at Nassau, took on board extra coal and set a course for Liverpool with the intention of turning the ship over to Commander James Dunwoody Bulloch. However, the news of the fall of Richmond reached England on the 15th, followed a week later by the news of General Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Thus, the ship was seized by the British government and her officers and men, reported Wilkinson, "...were turned adrift with the wide world before them where to choose." Wilkinson established his residence in Nova Scotia where he lived for a number of years before eventually returning to his native Virginia. The ex-Confederate ship was subsequently sold by the English government and was being prepared for service in the merchant marine under the name Amelia when the American government initiated court action to gain possession of the vessel. The court awarded the ship to the United States and she was turned over to the American consul at Liverpool on 26 April 1866.
This post was edited on 4/9 6:19 AM by BadLeroyDawg
On Palm Sunday, a clear spring sun rose in Virginia. At dawn, near Appomattox Station, the Confederates had bravely attacked with the hope of forcing a passage through the Federals in front of them. At first they were successful, but there was more than just enemy cavalry in front of them. The route was also blocked by infantry. The Union forces drove in, and on the east other Yankees under Major General George G. Meade attacked the Confederate rear guard. Almost completely surrounded, escape was now impossible. Robert Edward Lee arranged to meet with Hiram Ulysses Grant.
On the field, there was confusion with truce flags mixed in with small arms fire. Union Brigadier General George A. Custer demanded the surrender of Confederates.
Yet by the early afternoon in the home of Wilmer McLean at Appomattox Court House, Confederate General Robert E. Lee and one aide met with Federal Lieutenant General Hiram U. Grant, his staff, and several of the major commanders. After pleasantries, Lee called attention to the matter at hand, discussion of surrender terms.
Grant wrote out his proposal, went over it with his staff, then presented it to Lee. The terms did not include surrender of side arms of officers or of their private horses or baggage, and allowed each officer and man to go home and not be disturbed as long as parole was observed. Lee brought up the fact that cavalrymen and artillerists owned their own horses, which would be needed for the spring planting. After a short conference, Grant agreed to let those who claimed horses to keep them. Arrangements were also made to feed Lee's army from Federal supplies. Thus it was completed - a document from Grant to Lee giving terms of surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, and one from Lee to Grant accepting those terms. Contrary to legend, Lee did not surrender his sword to Grant.
The War, however, was not quite over. There were still armies in the field and a Confederate government at Danville, Virginia. It was only after a gentle reminder later in the afternoon that Lieutenant General Grant remembered to inform Washington officials as to what transpired at Appomattox Court House.
President Abraham Lincoln arrived back in Washington in early evening as news was spreading throughout the land. Bonfires sprang up as crowds jammed the streets. In the Army of the Potomac, flags waved, bands played, artillery boomed and the air was filled with knapsacks, canteens, tin cups and roaring cheers. When the noise receded, a silence of respect to the fallen dead and the vanquished foe fell over Appomattox as four years of war in Virginia had essentially ended.
MAnother view: Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrenders his army to Union General Hiram U. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia.
For more than a week, Lee had tried and nearly succeeded, in an attempt to outrun Grant's massive forces to the west of Richmond and Petersburg in Virginia. After a ten-month siege of the two cities, the Union forces finally broke through the defenses and forced Lee to abandon the cleverly dug entrenchments and retreat. The Confederates moved along the Appomattox River, with Union General Phillip Sheridan shadowing them to the south. Lee's army had little food, and they began to desert in large numbers on the retreat. When Lee arrived at Appomattox, he found that his path was blocked. He had no choice but to request a meeting with Grant.
They met at a house in Appomattox at 2:00 p.m. on the afternoon of 9 April. Lee was resplendent in his dress uniform and a fine sword at his side. Grant arrived wearing a simple soldier's coat that was muddy from his long ride. The great generals spoke of their service together in the Mexican War, which Grant recalled but Lee did not, and then set about the business at hand. Grant offered generous terms. Officers could keep their side arms, and all men would be immediately released to return home. Any officers and enlisted men who owned horses could take them home, Grant said, to help put crops in the field and carry their families through the next winter. These terms, said Lee, would have "the best possible effect upon the men," and "will do much toward conciliating our people." The papers were signed and Lee prepared to return to his men.
In one of the great ironies of the war, the surrender took place in the parlor of Wilmer McClean's home. McClean had once lived along the banks of Bull Run Creek, in Manassas, Virginia, the site of the first major battle of the war in July 1861. Seeking refuge from the fighting, McClean decided to move out of the Washington-Richmond corridor to try to avoid the almost continual heavy skirmishing that would surely take place there. He moved to Appomattox Court House only to see the war in Virginia end in his home.
Although there were still Confederate armies in the field, the war was considered over. Four years of bloodshed had left a devastating mark on the country: over a million Union and Confederate soldiers had become casualties during the War Between the States.
Naval accont: General Lee met General Grant at Appomattox Court House and formally surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia. Rear Admiral Semmes and his naval brigade charged with the defense of Danville were included in the surrender. Lee's struggle to break free from Grant's overwhelming armies, well fed and supplied from City Point, had failed. His effort to join with Joe Johnston, hopefully far enough from the sea to limit Grant's logistics advantage, had come fatefully to an end. One of the greatest armies and leaders of history without an adequate Navy had succumbed to the united power of land and sea.
The contrast between the two Generals at the confrontation in the living room of the McLean House was most striking. Grant's mud splattered uniform was that of a private with only the shoulder straps of a Lieutenant General to designate his rank. His uniform was unbuttoned at the neck and was unadorned by either sword or spurs. Lee on the other hand had taken special pains for this last act of the drama as if dressing for execution. His uniform was immaculate, his jewel studded sword of the finest workmanship. His well-polished boots were ornamented with red stitching and set off by a handsome pair of spurs.
After conversing about their Mexican War experiences, Lee asked the terms upon which his surrender would be accepted. Grant replied: "The terms I propose are those stated substantially in my letter of yesterday, that is, the officers and men surrendered to be paroled and disqualified from taking up arms again until properly exchanged, and all arms, ammunition and supplies to be delivered up as captured property." Lee agreed to the terms and Grant then wrote them out. He specifically provided that Confederate officers would be permitted to retain their side arms, horses and luggage. This exemption was further broadened, at Lee's suggestion, to permit the men in the ranks to retain their horses and mules. Lee observed that these exemptions "...were very gratifying and will do much toward conciliating our people." The long, bitter war was ending ashore, although fiery drama still awaited in far off Northern seas.
The blockade runner Chameleon (formerly the CSS Tallahassee), commanded by Lieutenant Wilkinson, put into Liverpool, England. With the fall of both Fort Fisher and Charleston in January and February respectively, Wilkinson had been unable to deliver his cargo of provisions destined for General Lee's destitute army defending Richmond. Sealed off from the Confederacy, Wilkinson off-loaded his cargo at Nassau, took on board extra coal and set a course for Liverpool with the intention of turning the ship over to Commander James Dunwoody Bulloch. However, the news of the fall of Richmond reached England on the 15th, followed a week later by the news of General Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Thus, the ship was seized by the British government and her officers and men, reported Wilkinson, "...were turned adrift with the wide world before them where to choose." Wilkinson established his residence in Nova Scotia where he lived for a number of years before eventually returning to his native Virginia. The ex-Confederate ship was subsequently sold by the English government and was being prepared for service in the merchant marine under the name Amelia when the American government initiated court action to gain possession of the vessel. The court awarded the ship to the United States and she was turned over to the American consul at Liverpool on 26 April 1866.
This post was edited on 4/9 6:19 AM by BadLeroyDawg
