Saturday, 8 April 1865
The road to Lynchburg, Virginia, the next goal of Confederate General Robert E. Lee's army, passed through hamlets and villages and Appomattox Station near Appomattox Court House. Behind the remnants of the Army of Northern Virginia was Union Major General George G. Meade with the Second and Sixth Corps., Federal Major General Phil Sheridan's cavalry and the Fifth Corps to the south. By evening, a detachment of the Army of the James blocked Lee's route to Lynchburg. Though skirmishing occurred throughout the day, Meade was unable to bring on a general engagement, while Sheridan's cavalry seized Confederate supply trains at Appomattox Station.
Lee now faces the following. Behind him: Major General George G. Meade and the 2nd US Army Corps, Major General Andrew A. Humphreys commanding; the 6th US Army Corps, Major General Horatio G. Wright Commanding. To his Left: Major General Philip H. Sheridan's Cavalry and 5th US Army Corps, Major General Charles Griffin commanding. In Lee's front towards Lynchburg: Major General E.O.C. Ord and the US Army of the James.
Union Lieutenant General Hiram U. Grant, at Farmville, Virginia, received Lee's reply asking what terms Grant would offer. Grant offered to meet with Lee to receive the surrender. Lee replied later in the day that he did not intend to propose surrender but merely inquired to ask the terms of the proposition. Still, Lee wanted to meet to discuss this with Grant.
Earlier in the morning, Lee was informed by a number of his officers that had conferred the previous evening and agreed that the army could not break through to join Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston's troops and recommended that he open negotiations with the Federals.
Confederate President Jefferson Davis got information from Secretary of War John C. Breckinridge and messenger John S. Wise that the situation was critical. Nevertheless, a certain amount of routine business continued.
President Abraham Lincoln visited Petersburg, then late in the evening left City Point, Virginia by boat and headed back to Washington, DC.
Late in the night near Appomattox Court House, Confederate General Robert E. Lee held his final council of war.
Brigadier General George B. Wagner, USA, assumes the command of the Saint Louis, Missouri, District.
A Union pursuit of guerrillas in Northeast Missouri takes place, where 3 notorious partisans are captured and brought back to Macon City to face trial.
Federal troops scout from Fairfax Court House and Vienna into Loudoun County, Virginia, in search of Lieutenant Colonel John Singleton Mosby's 43rd Battalion, Virginia Cavalry, Partisan Rangers.
Invested by General Canby's troops and bombarded heavily by the big guns of Rear Admiral Thatcher's ships, Spanish Fort and Fort Alexis, keys to Mobile, finally fell. In reporting the capture to Secretary Welles, Thatcher noted the efficiency of the naval battery on shore under Lieutenant Commander Gillis. He added: "Eighteen large submerged torpedoes were taken by our boats from Apalachee or Blakely River last night in the immediate vicinity of our gunboats. These are the only enemies that we regard." The loss of half a dozen vessels near Mobile since the Tecumseh was sunk in August 1864 during Admiral Farragut's celebrated battle, which gave the Union control of Mobile Bay, had taught Northern naval officers an unforgettable lesson about torpedo warfare. The Confederate defenders, who suffered heavy casualties during the siege of the forts, were supported by a squadron under Flag Officer Ebenezer Farrand, including the CSS Nashville, Morgan, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, and Baltic.
Lieutenant W. H. Parker, commander of the Midshipmen who were escorting the Confederate archives and treasury, arrived in Charlotte, North Carolina, from Danville and deposited the important cargo in the Confederate Mint located in that city. While awaiting further orders, Parker learned that a Union cavalry detachment was nearby and since the city was without military protection, the naval officer, on his own initiative, prepared to move the archives and treasury southward. He added the uniformed personnel of the local Navy Yard to his escort, bringing its numbers up to 150 and drew quantities of provisions from the naval warehouse. Parker offered the protection of his command to Mrs. Jefferson Davis, who had only recently arrived in Charlotte, and strongly urged that she accompany him southward. Mrs. Davis accepted Parker's offer, and on the 11th the Navy--escorted entourage bearing the archives, treasury, and first lady of the Confederacy--set out from Charlotte.
The road to Lynchburg, Virginia, the next goal of Confederate General Robert E. Lee's army, passed through hamlets and villages and Appomattox Station near Appomattox Court House. Behind the remnants of the Army of Northern Virginia was Union Major General George G. Meade with the Second and Sixth Corps., Federal Major General Phil Sheridan's cavalry and the Fifth Corps to the south. By evening, a detachment of the Army of the James blocked Lee's route to Lynchburg. Though skirmishing occurred throughout the day, Meade was unable to bring on a general engagement, while Sheridan's cavalry seized Confederate supply trains at Appomattox Station.
Lee now faces the following. Behind him: Major General George G. Meade and the 2nd US Army Corps, Major General Andrew A. Humphreys commanding; the 6th US Army Corps, Major General Horatio G. Wright Commanding. To his Left: Major General Philip H. Sheridan's Cavalry and 5th US Army Corps, Major General Charles Griffin commanding. In Lee's front towards Lynchburg: Major General E.O.C. Ord and the US Army of the James.
Union Lieutenant General Hiram U. Grant, at Farmville, Virginia, received Lee's reply asking what terms Grant would offer. Grant offered to meet with Lee to receive the surrender. Lee replied later in the day that he did not intend to propose surrender but merely inquired to ask the terms of the proposition. Still, Lee wanted to meet to discuss this with Grant.
Earlier in the morning, Lee was informed by a number of his officers that had conferred the previous evening and agreed that the army could not break through to join Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston's troops and recommended that he open negotiations with the Federals.
Confederate President Jefferson Davis got information from Secretary of War John C. Breckinridge and messenger John S. Wise that the situation was critical. Nevertheless, a certain amount of routine business continued.
President Abraham Lincoln visited Petersburg, then late in the evening left City Point, Virginia by boat and headed back to Washington, DC.
Late in the night near Appomattox Court House, Confederate General Robert E. Lee held his final council of war.
Brigadier General George B. Wagner, USA, assumes the command of the Saint Louis, Missouri, District.
A Union pursuit of guerrillas in Northeast Missouri takes place, where 3 notorious partisans are captured and brought back to Macon City to face trial.
Federal troops scout from Fairfax Court House and Vienna into Loudoun County, Virginia, in search of Lieutenant Colonel John Singleton Mosby's 43rd Battalion, Virginia Cavalry, Partisan Rangers.
Invested by General Canby's troops and bombarded heavily by the big guns of Rear Admiral Thatcher's ships, Spanish Fort and Fort Alexis, keys to Mobile, finally fell. In reporting the capture to Secretary Welles, Thatcher noted the efficiency of the naval battery on shore under Lieutenant Commander Gillis. He added: "Eighteen large submerged torpedoes were taken by our boats from Apalachee or Blakely River last night in the immediate vicinity of our gunboats. These are the only enemies that we regard." The loss of half a dozen vessels near Mobile since the Tecumseh was sunk in August 1864 during Admiral Farragut's celebrated battle, which gave the Union control of Mobile Bay, had taught Northern naval officers an unforgettable lesson about torpedo warfare. The Confederate defenders, who suffered heavy casualties during the siege of the forts, were supported by a squadron under Flag Officer Ebenezer Farrand, including the CSS Nashville, Morgan, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, and Baltic.
Lieutenant W. H. Parker, commander of the Midshipmen who were escorting the Confederate archives and treasury, arrived in Charlotte, North Carolina, from Danville and deposited the important cargo in the Confederate Mint located in that city. While awaiting further orders, Parker learned that a Union cavalry detachment was nearby and since the city was without military protection, the naval officer, on his own initiative, prepared to move the archives and treasury southward. He added the uniformed personnel of the local Navy Yard to his escort, bringing its numbers up to 150 and drew quantities of provisions from the naval warehouse. Parker offered the protection of his command to Mrs. Jefferson Davis, who had only recently arrived in Charlotte, and strongly urged that she accompany him southward. Mrs. Davis accepted Parker's offer, and on the 11th the Navy--escorted entourage bearing the archives, treasury, and first lady of the Confederacy--set out from Charlotte.
