Appomattox Day 2023: The United States observes Appomattox Day annually on April 9. It signifies the conclusion of the four-year Civil War. General Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia surrendered to Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant and the Union army on April 9, 1985. After the Confederate forces suffered a devastating defeat at the Battle of Sailor’s Creek on April 7, Grant requested that Lee surrender. Grant declared that Lee was solely responsible for any “further effusion of blood.”
Lee declined, as he believed he could still evade Grant, but inquired about the possibility of a peace agreement. The lieutenant general responded that a peace agreement was out of the question, but that he would consider a military surrender. On April 9, after realising that his army was surrounded, General Lee requested to discuss terms of surrender. At the McLean House, both sides signed the surrender agreement.
HISTORY OF APPOMATTOX DAY
On the morning of April 9 in Appomattox, General Lee was unable to believe the war had ended. He had stationed the remaining Confederate cavalry, 8,000 men from Major General John B. Gordon’s Second Corps, and Lee’s nephew Fitzhugh Lee west of Appomattox Court House for battle. Lee anticipated that there would be only a handful of Union cavalrymen in front of him, whom he would be able to easily fight off and find rations and supplies. From there, he would turn south to continue the fight in North Carolina.
However, Grant prevented Lee from turning south for a week straight. He obstructed Lee’s movement and attempted to encircle Lee’s men. Grant’s forces finally surpassed Lee’s at Appomattox. General Lee was in the midst of the battle, while his headquarters were located to the east of the village, near the centre of his army. Gordon’s Second Corps and the Cavalry were preparing for battle west of the village. The First and Third Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia, under Longstreet’s command, were patrolling the rear in the east.
BACKGROUND
Lee was aware that additional Union forces were approaching from the east and possibly the south. He hoped to relocate his forces before Union reinforcements arrived. Unfortunately, this did not transpire. Thousands of Union infantry, including United States Colored Troops, marched all night long and descended upon Lee and his men. By 8:00 a.m., General Gordon’s troops had retreated to the village, Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry had fled to the west, and Lee had conceded that the war was over. The Army of Northern Virginia capitulated after being defeated in the final battle of the Virginian war. Beginning 11 days prior, the Battle of Lewis’ Farm was followed by the Battle of Appomattox Court House.
Since the 19th century, authorities have made more concerted efforts to preserve the Appomattox Court House’s history for public viewing. On approximately 1,700 acres, the Appomattox Court House National Historic Park was established in 1940. The park contains Lee’s headquarters, a portion of the battlefield, the courthouse, and the reconstructed McLean House (though missing a lot of its original furniture).
The American Battlefield Trust has preserved additional acres, including land used by Griffin during his counterattack and land where George Armstrong Custer’s cavalry division halted Brig. Gen. Martin Gary’s Confederate cavalry advance down the LeGrand road.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE APPOMATTOX DAY
Visit the courthouse at Appomattox
What better way to learn about the battle’s history than by visiting the National Historic Park in Virginia? You will be able to view original artefacts from this significant event and walk on the battlefield.
Reenact the conflict
Gather your friends for a day of historical recreation. If you can obtain replicas of clothing and weapons, all the better.
View a series or movie
There are numerous television series and films based on the Battle of Appomattox. This holiday is the best time to learn more about the American Civil War and the lives of its generals and their families.
Five Facts Concerning the Surrender at Appomattox
An American Indian drafted the terms.
Lee and Grant signed official copies of the surrender terms drafted by Grant’s military secretary, Lt. Col. Ely S. Parker (a Seneca Indian chief).
The Union saluted their former adversaries.
Brigadier General Chamberlain ordered his men to render a respectful salute to the defeated Confederate soldiers.
Massive plundering
After the surrender, souvenir-hungry soldiers stole or destroyed numerous historical artefacts, including Confederate dollars, McLean House furnishings, and regimental flags.
Lee’s son in combat
Son of Robert E. Lee, Maj. Gen. William Henry Fitzhugh Lee commanded a cavalry division under the command of his cousin Fitzhugh.
The surrender conference lasted two hours.
According to historical accounts, the surrender meeting took place between 1 and 3 p.m.
WHY APPOMATTOX DAY IS IMPORTANT
It’s a significant historical occurrence
Occasionally, historical events are forgotten or lose popularity. Appomattox Day perpetuates the memory of the battle and associated events.
We gain more insight into Virginia
Numerous interesting historical events occurred in Virginia. The Appomattox battle is one of the most important, so it is fitting that it has its own day.
It provides insight into slavery.
Understanding the history of slavery in the United States is an important step towards healing. With the end of the Civil War, millions of African-Americans were finally free under the law, but local practises ensured that discrimination and slavery continued in other forms.
APPOMATTOX DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | April 9 | Sunday |
| 2024 | April 9 | Tuesday |
| 2025 | April 9 | Wednesday |
| 2026 | April 9 | Thursday |
| 2027 | April 9 | Friday |
