After the fall of Petersburg, there was no way
the Confederates could hold Richmond.
1
The Fall of Richmond, April 2-3, 1865
2
Appomattox
Campaign
(final
movements in
the Civil War.)
3
By April 9, Lee realized his forces
were surrounded by Union
troops. According to reports,
when Lee announced he would
approach Grant about surrender,
he said, “There is nothing left for
me to do but to go and see
General Grant, and I would
rather die a thousand deaths.”
After several hours of
negotiation, Grant agrees to
meet with Lee. Lee sends an
officer to find a suitable house
for the two generals to meet.
Wilmer McLean’s home is
appropriated for the meeting.
4
General Lee surrendered to General Grant
in the town of Appomattox Court House,
April 9, 1865
5
The McLean House
Lee and Grant met in
April, 1865, to iron
out the terms of
surrender of the
Confederacy in the
McLean house.
Ironically, in 1861,
part of the Battle of
Bull Run was fought
on the McLean
property. Afterward,
Wilmer McLean
wanted to move as
far away from the war
as possible, so he
moved to the remote
village of Appomattox
Court House. Later,
he could truthfully
say that “the Civil
War started in my
kitchen, and ended in
6
my front parlor.”
Lee signed the surrender terms
•Confederate officers could
keep their side arms and
personal possessions
•Officers and men who
claimed to own their
horses could keep them
•Each officer and man was
allowed to return to their
home, “not to be disturbed
by the United States
authorities”.
•Grant also offered Lee
25,000 food rations for
Confederate soldiers
After the
surrender
Lee rode
off on his
horse
Traveller
7