April of 1865 was one of the most influential months of the American Civil War because so many turning points occurred. The biggest? After fours long years and rivers of blood, the Civil War, the bloodiest conflict in our nation's history, was finally brought to an end. However, it didn't remain that way for long. For some, the nightmares had just begun.
April 1, 1865: At the Battle of Five Forks, Confederate forces were unable to hold off the advancing Union troops and Petersburg began to crumble. The Union marched on to siege Richmond, the heart of the Confederate States of America.
April 2, 1865: the Siege of Petersburg came to an end when the city was captured. Richmond fell when the Confederate government (along with many citizens) fled as the city was bombarded and almost burned to the ground by Union artillery.
April 3, 1865: With Union troops station in both Petersburg and Richmond, General Robert E. Lee fled toward North Carolina in an attempt to meet up with General Joseph Johnston and put some space between him and General Ulysses S. Grant.
April 4, 1865: President Abraham Lincoln traveled to Richmond and walked through the streets with only a small convoy of Union soldiers protecting him. Cheers, most from emancipated slaves, rang out through the ruins. While there, Lincoln visited the Confederate White House and sat in Confederate President Jefferson Davis' chair. Meanwhile, Lee arrived at Amelia Court House. However, he found no food for his starving troops. He was forced to stop and send soldiers out to look for food. They came back with nothing.
April 6, 1865: Lee lost about a quarter of his army at the Battle of Sayler's Creek. Many of the survivors scattered.
April 7, 1865: Grant began to communicate surrender terms to Lee. These would become known as the "surrender letters."
April 8, 1865: the Battle of Appomattox Station. Confederate forces were driven back and critical supplies were captured by the Union.
April 9, 1865: Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia surrender to Ulysses S. Grant and the Army of the Potomac at Appomattox Court House. Lee wore his finest dress uniform. Grant, suffering from a bad headache, arrived late. He wore a muddy private uniform with his own shoulder straps to show his rank. His real uniform had gotten dropped somewhere in transportation. The owner of the house, Wilmer McLean, got the honor of saying that the Civil War began in his front yard and ended in his parlor. The First Battle of Bull Run was fought on McLean's farm and the surrender terms were signed in his parlor.
April 11, 1865: Abraham Lincoln delivered a speech from a White House balcony showcasing his plans for peace, reconstruction, and what the nation would give to the emancipated African Americas.
April 12, 1865: General Grant gave a formal ceremony so the still remaining Confederate soldiers could stack their arms and surrender their flags with dignity.
If you haven't already noticed, the date marking one of the most shocking turn of events in Civil War history is missing from this list. I will be discussing it more in depth tomorrow.
Until next time.
XOXO, Kate
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