The Civil War Book

On this day in the Civil War,  at Appomattox, Virginia, the Confederate Army begins an attack on Federal troops blocking their path to the South. The Union infantry begins to advance against the Confederates. As the morning wears on Lee realizes that further resistance would be futile so he orders a white flag be carried through the Union lines with a request for a cease fire until he is able to work out terms of surrender with General Grant. In the early afternoon, the two generals meet at the home of a Wilmer McLean in Appomattox Court House. Grant writes the terms of surrender and, at Lee’s request, adds: ‘let all men who claim to own a horse or mule take the animals home with them to work their farms’. After signing the surrender, Lee mounts his horse and rides back to his men, he tells them,”Go to your homes and resume your occupations. Obey the laws and become as good citizens as you were soldiers”.

General Grant states, “The war is over. The Rebels are our countrymen again.”

Grant and Lee

(Photo Credit: Library of Congress)

On this day in the Civil War, with a vote of 38 to 6, the Senate passes the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution. This amendment abolishes slavery in the United States and all areas under its jurisdiction.

On this day in the Civil War, after hearing from General Sheridan that General Lee might surrender if pressed, President Lincoln tells Grant, “Let the thing be pressed”.

Grant sends a message to Lee asking him to surrender his army to prevent ‘any further effusion of blood’. Lee responds by asking what the terms would be of such a surrender.

General Robert E. Lee

(Photo Credit: Library of Congress)

On this day in the Civil War, the battle of Shiloh begins in Tennessee. After several hours of fighting General Grant’s troops fall back and the day concludes with no conclusive victory for either side. The following day, awaited reinforcements for the Confederates fail to arrive and General Beauregard orders a retreat to Corinth, Mississippi. The Federals maintain a hold on positions they had previously taken and achieve a splitting of Confederate forces along the Mississippi River. Casualties of the battle of Shiloh are 13,047 for the North and 10,694 for the South.

Shiloh Battlefield

On this day in the Civil War, General Joseph Johnston’s Confederate troops continue to gather reinforcements for the imminent conflict at Yorktown, Virginia. McClellan’s Army of the Potomac far outnumbers the Confederates.

Joseph Johnston

(Photo Credit: Library of Congress)