8 Facts about Appomattox Court House

Friday, March 13th 2015. | History

Facts about Appomattox Court House talk about one of the last battles during the American civil war. The fight occurred on 9 April 1865 in the morning. Before Robert E. Lee, the confederate army general gave up to the Lt Gen Ulysses S. Grant of the Union army, it was the final battle. Lee hoped that he could join with other confederate army in North Carolina after spending 10 months in the Siege of Petersburg. He had to abandon Richmond, Virginia. Find out more Facts about Appomattox Court House in the following post below:

Facts about Appomattox Court House 1: the retreat

When the confederate retreated at the village of Appomattox Court House, the Union forces pursued them. Lee assumed that the union forces were only consisted of cavalry. Therefore, he decided to attack the union forces. However, Lee had to surrender after he found out that the union forces were backup with two corps of infantry.

Facts about Appomattox Court House 2: the documents

The house of Wilmer McLean was selected as the house to sign the documents of Lee’s surrender. He signed it on 9 April in the afternoon in the parlor of McLean’s house. Check out another important site in civil war in facts about Antietam.

Appomattox Court House Facts

Facts about Appomattox Court House 3: the formal ceremony

The end of the war in Virginia was conducted by a formal ceremony on 12 April. The army of Northern Virginia was disbanded. This formal ceremony was also followed different surrenders in the South.

Facts about Appomattox Court House 4: Richmond, Virginia

Richmond, Virginia was the capital city of the Confederate States of America. In June 1864, the Union Army of the Potomac passed James River for the final campaign.

Appomattox Court House Image

Facts about Appomattox Court House 5: Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant

Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant ordered his armies to place siege in Richmond and Petersburg. He did it to make the Confederates evacuated themselves from both cities after he could cut of the supplies.

Facts about Appomattox Court House 6: Leaving Petersburg

Robert E. Lee waited until he got a good opportunity to leave Petersburg in the spring of 1865. Actually he was very aware that he had an unlucky situation. The flanks of Lee could be turned by the cavalry of Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan on 1 April 1865 during the Battle of Five Forks. Learn facts about American civil war here.