Lee's Surrender at Appomattox
Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the Civil War.
On April 9, 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia. Lee's army had been retreating for over a week, starving and outnumbered. Grant offered generous terms: Confederate soldiers could go home, keep their horses, and would not be prosecuted for treason. Officers could keep their sidearms. When Union soldiers began firing celebratory cannons, Grant ordered them to stop, saying "The war is over. The rebels are our countrymen again." Though some Confederate forces fought on briefly, Lee's surrender effectively ended the Civil War.
Key Takeaways
Effectively ended the Civil War after four years of fighting
Grant's generous surrender terms promoted reconciliation
Set the stage for Reconstruction and reunification of the nation