Posted on 04/09/2007 7:15:08 AM PDT by MplsSteve
On April 9 1865, only days after fleeing Richmond, Robert E Lee surrenders the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House.
On the evening of April 8, the ANV had arrived at Appomattox where Lee planned on meeting a supply train that had arrived at nearby Appomattox Station. The plan was to feed and rearm as many troops as possible before continuing their retreat.
A fast-moving Federal cavalry unit dispersed a small Confederate detachment guarding the supply train and captured it.
At this point, Lee did not believe that Federal infantry was anywhere near his position. He believed that he had out-raced them since his forces had been decisively beaten at Sayler's Creek.
General Grant, sensing that the Confederate army was near the end of its existence, had sent the 24th and 25th Corps on a forced night march so they could block any planned escape to the west by the ANV.
Lee ordered Gordon's Corps to move west of Appomattox Court House with plans to sweep away Federal cavalry and open an escape route for the main body. After an initial success, Gordon's troops were pushed back.
Lee, realizing that he was surrounded, decided to he had to surrender the Army of Northern Virginia. At this point, he felt that any further resistance was futile. Through a series of couriers, Lee sent word to Grant that he was interested in negotiating a surrender.
On the afternoon of April 9 1865, Lee and Grant, met at the house of Wilmer MacLean and negotiated the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia.
On April 10 1865 he issued his final proclamation to the ANV. It was known as General Order No 9. A link to a copy of his letter can be seen below:
http://images.virtualology.com/images/931.jpg
Later that day, the ANV marched in front of the Union army and surrended their weapons and flags. At that point, they were free to return to their homes and little by little, the soldiers walked home to an uncertain future.
The fast moving cavalry detachment was commanded by George Armstrong Custer.
A Mongol army of two tumans, in a subsidiary operation to the main Army’s invasion of Hungary, annihilated the Army of Henry the Pious at Liegnitz, killing almost the entire force of 40,000 men.
April 9, 1940:
The Germans began the invasions of Denmark and Norway . Denmark was occupied in a day. Norway was not fully subdued until after the Allied withdrawal precipitated by the invasion of the West [Case YELLOW]
Who won?
It a shame that the Sioux were not available to cut them off at the pass.
Correspondence Between Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee
Discussing Surrender Terms at Appomattox
http://www.civilwarhome.com/grantlee.htm
EyeWitnesstoHistory.com
Surrender at Appomattox, 1865
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/pfappomatx.htm
The Surrender At Appomattox Court House
Horace Porter, Brevet Brigadier General, U.S.A.
http://www.civilwarhome.com/surrender.htm
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