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Debra Shifflett
Prof Lisa Jordan
HIS 121-A6
10 January 2017
The Surrender at Appomattox
The purpose of this paper is to tell a little bit about the Surrender at Appomattox
by General Robert E. Lee to General Ulysses S. Grant. The Civil war began on April
12, 1861, and it ended on May 9, 1865. It was a war of unbelievable size. Never had
there been, nor ever since, has there been so many American’s killed in a single battle.
The Civil War was a tragic war in terms of human deaths. There were many soldiers
killed during the Civil War. Many killed on both sides, the Confederates and the Union.
General Robert E. Lee was head of the Confederates and General Ulysses S. Grant
was head over the Union. The Civil War was a war based on pride, family honor, and
insult and was a shameful waste of lives and resources, which was recognized by the
opposing troops and officers well before the official end of the war.
The troops had traveled many trails fighting. One of such led Lee across High
Bridge. According to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, The
Bridge transported the soldiers during the Civil war, and there was even a battle that
took place 2 days prior to Lee’s surrender in Appomattox. The Bridge was attempted to
be burned down by Union and Confederate soldiers, but the Confederates were the only
ones who were able to burn part of it. The bridge self extinguished itself (DCR). After
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Lee left High Bridge, he traveled many other places making his way to Appomattox
Court House. (Calkins, 131).
General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox. Lee had felt that enough
blood had been shed, and the war needed to end before more men were killed.
General Lee’s army was weak and tired, and then became surrounded. He realized he
had no other choice but to surrender to General Grant. General Lee and General Grant
sent notes back and forth between themselves, and finally agreed to meet on April 9,
1865 at Appomattox courthouse. They met a Wilmer McLean’s house, which had been
Beauregard’s headquarters during the first battle of Bull Run. The surrender was
signed, and three days later, on April 12, the Confederate arms were stacked and parole
documents were distributed. The surrender at Appomattox marked the end of the Civil
