Download The Road To Appomattox (Filled Out)

The Road to the
Confederate Surrender
at Appomattox Court
House, VA
Sunday, April 9, 1865
In late 1863 , after searching for over two
frustrating years, President Lincoln found
the general he believed could finally win
the Civil War for the Union….
Ulysses S. Grant
As a commanding general,
Grant was constantly on the
attack. Knowing he had the
advantages of men, weapons,
and food over the South, Grant
constantly looked to fight the
Confederates. He knew he could
wear the Southern Army out.
Under General Grant’s leadership, the
Union Army began to wear down and
dominate the Confederate forces. They
also brought the war to the population
of the South
General William Tecumseh Sherman
was sent into the South with a Union
Army to engage in
“total war” against the southern
population.
“Total War” means to take the war to, and crush the
will of, the population that supports the enemy army.
“Sherman’s March” through Georgia left a path of
destruction that convinced many in the South the
war was lost.
By the spring of 1865, both the
Confederate Army, and population of
the South, were on the verge of
collapse.
Robert E. Lee was a great
general with no real army left to lead.
In early April, General Grant and the
mighty Union Army had Lee’s battered
Confederate Army surrounded near the
small town of Appomattox Court House,
Virginia.
General Grant sent a message
to General Lee giving the
Confederate commander a
choice ….
Lee could choose
to surrender and
spare what remained
of his battered army.
If Lee refused, Grant
would attack until
Lee’s army was totally
wiped out. General
Lee had a decision to
make.