This site is where Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses Grant, ending the American Civil War and bringing an end to a very dark period of American history.
After fierce fighting at Petersburg that saw a decisive Union victory, Lee’s forces of 30,000 moved westward toward Appomattox Courthouse, a very small village with a railroad depot. The Union forces of 65,000 raced the Confederates westward.
As Lee arrived near Appomattox, the Confederates rushed to get to the railroad depot to get desperately needed supplies. The Union forces got there first and both sides engaged in fierce fighting. Once Lee realized he was badly outnumbered and the effort to get to the depot was hopeless, he sent a messenger carrying a white flag to Grant to set up a meeting to establish terms of surrender.
Lee and Grant met at the McLean family’s house, and the surrender was made here.
Grant greatly respected Lee, so Grant strictly demanded that the Union soldiers not celebrate in front of the Confederates. He handled the surrender with class, allowing the rebels to return to their homes, and to take their horses home with him. Confederate officers were allowed to keep their swords.
This is not the actual house from 1865, but rebuilt exactly as it was.
Lee arrived first, and sat at the larger, marble top table.
Grant sat at the smaller table, and wrote the terms of surrender for Lee to sign. Grant composed the terms of his own volition, as President Lincoln had given him general principles he wanted in the terms, but not the terms themselves.
