Download Surrender at Appomattox Court House

Appomattox Court House
Figure 1 Appomattox Court House Surrender. Lee is seated center-left and Grant to his left.
Appomattox is a town in central Virginia. The Appomattox Court House is the name of the
place where Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant.
The Official surrender took place on April 9, 1865. This surrender by the Confederacy’s top
military leader officially ended the Civil War. The surrender took place in a house that belonged
to a man by the name of Wilmer McLean.
A much larger Union Army at Richmond, Virginia soundly defeated the Army of Northern
Virginia, led by Robert E. Lee. Richmond was the capital city of the Confederacy. After
Richmond fell, the capital was moved to Danville, Virginia. Union forces surrounded Robert E.
Lee’s defeated army as they raced to get to North Carolina for supplies and food. Surrounded,
he knew he had two options at this point: fight until certain death or surrender. He chose to
surrender. Lee sent a message to General Grant stating his wish to surrender and end the war.
General Grant accepted Lee’s offer. At 1:00PM on April 9, 1865 Ulysses S. Grant met with
Robert E. Lee at Wilmer McLean’s house to mark the end of a bloody civil war. The Civil War
lasted for four long years. Over 650,000 lives were lost on both sides of the conflict. Countless
others were hurt. 200,000 of the 1.8 million soldiers fighting for the Union Army and Navy
were Black.
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At their surrender meeting, General Robert E. Lee showed up in his best attire. He wore a crisp
new uniform. He had the sword that Jefferson Davis, the leader of the Confederacy, gave to
him. This was contrasted by the mud stained uniform worn by Ulysses S. Grant. Grant and Lee
had previously fought side-by side in the Mexican-American War. Grant offered generous terms
to Robert E. Lee as a part of the surrender. General Grant allowed Lee and his men to keep their
side arms and horses. The option of keeping their horses was not part of the original surrender
agreement. This instead was a favor requested by Lee. The Confederate soldiers owned their
own horses. Lee requested the favor noting that his men would need the horses for their farms
when they return to civilian life. Since they were out of food, Lee and his men were granted
pardon and fed.
A failed war fought to make the enslavement of Black people permanent, under the banner of
states’, rights was officially over. With the surrender of Robert E. Lee, other top Confederate
Generals slowly waved the white flag of defeat. The battle flag of the Confederacy, the stars
and bars, were lowered. Reining supreme was the stars and stripes of the Union, the United
States of America. The last Confederate general to surrender was General Stand Watie. He
officially surrendered on June 23, 1865. The battles were officially over, the dead were to be
counted and buried, but the lives of the freed slaves faced an uncertain future.
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Name:_______________________________ Date:_______________________________
Appomattox Court House
1. How did Lee and Grant know each other?
2. Why did Lee and Grant Meet at Appomattox Court House?
3. Why do you think that Robert E. Lee was so well-dressed for at his surrender?
4. How long did the Civil War last?
5. Which Confederate general was the last to surrender?
6. Why did Robert E. Lee surrender?
7. Approximately how many people died during the civil war?
8. Why was the Confederate capital moved to Danville, Virginia?
9. What does the author mean by “A failed war fought to make the enslavement of
Black people permanent, under the banner of states’, rights was finally over?”
10. Why were Confederate soldiers allowed to keep their horses?
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Name:_______________________________ Date:_______________________________
Appomattox Court House
1. How did Lee and Grant know each other?
They fought together against Mexico.
2. Why did Lee and Grant Meet at Appomattox Court House?
Lee met to surrender and officially end the Civil War.
3. Why do you think that Robert E. Lee was so well-dressed for at his surrender?
Answers may vary
4. How long did the Civil War last?
1861-1865 (4 years).
5. Which Confederate general was the last to surrender?
Stand Watie
6. Why did Robert E. Lee surrender?
He and his army were surrounded, out of food, out of supplies and outnumbered.
7. Approximately how many people died during the civil war?
Over 650,000 men
8. Why was the Confederate capital moved to Danville, Virginia?
Union forces captured the Capital, Richmond.
9. What does the author mean by “A failed war fought to make the enslavement
of Black people permanent, under the banner of states’, rights was finally over?”
That means that the Confederates main aim was to make slavery permanent.
However, their claim to secession is States’ rights.
10. Why were Confederate soldiers allowed to keep their horses?
Many Confederate soldiers were farmers. They would need to horses on their
farms.
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