The Appomattox Campaign, a decisive series of battles fought across Virginia between March 29 and April 9, 1865, marked the dramatic conclusion of the American Civil War. This pivotal Appomattox Campaign ultimately led to the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, effectively ending the brutal four-year conflict.
As Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant pressed his advantage, the Union forces relentlessly pursued Lee’s beleaguered army, engaging in a string of intense skirmishes and major battles across Virginia. Each encounter further tightened the Union noose around the Confederate forces, signaling the inevitable end of the Confederacy.
Key Engagements of the Appomattox Campaign
Battle of Lewis’ Farm (March 29, 1865)
The initial engagement in Dinwiddie County, also known as the Battle of Quaker Road, commenced Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant’s spring offensive. Union forces under General Philip Sheridan and the V Corps aimed to flank Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s Petersburg defenses. Union Major General G.K. Warren’s V Corps pushed back Confederate brigades, compelling them toward entrenchments on White Oak Road. This Union victory resulted in approximately 380 Union and 370 Confederate casualties.
Battle of White Oak Road (March 31, 1865)
In Dinwiddie County, Confederate General Robert E. Lee reinforced his right flank. Union Major General G.K. Warren’s V Corps attacked Confederate entrenchments along White Oak Road, seeking to cut Lee’s communications with Five Forks. A strong Confederate counterattack stalled the Union advance, but forces stabilized by day’s end. This battle, with 1,870 Union and 800 Confederate casualties, set the stage for Five Forks.
Battle of Dinwiddie Court House (March 31, 1865)
Major General Philip Sheridan’s flanking march in Dinwiddie County was met by Confederate cavalry and infantry, temporarily driving back Union forces. Heavy rain impeded progress. Despite a Confederate victory (around 821 casualties), General George Pickett withdrew before dawn to entrench at the vital Five Forks crossroads, under Lee’s strict order to hold this intersection at all hazards.
Battle of Five Forks (April 1, 1865)
A critical Dinwiddie County engagement saw General Robert E. Lee’s forces ordered to defend the Five Forks crossroads. Union General Philip Sheridan’s cavalry pinned the Confederates, while Major General G.K. Warren’s V Corps overwhelmed the left flank, capturing many. This decisive Union victory broke Lee’s Petersburg lines, jeopardizing his last supply line, the South Side Railroad. Lee immediately informed President Jefferson Davis that Petersburg and Richmond must be evacuated. Casualties were 830 Union and 2,950 Confederate.
Third Battle of Petersburg (April 2, 1865)
Following the Five Forks defeat, Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant ordered a general assault on the Petersburg lines. A heroic Confederate defense of Fort Gregg temporarily held back Union forces. Confederate Lieutenant General A.P. Hill was killed. After dark, General Lee ordered the evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond. This Union victory, with approximately 3,500 Union and 4,250 Confederate casualties, marked the capture of a key objective and the impending fall of the Confederate capital.
Battle of Sutherland’s Station (April 2, 1865)
Major General Nelson A. Miles advanced from White Oak Road, confronting four Confederate brigades defending the South Side Railroad. Union forces quickly overran the Confederate left flank, scattering the defenders. This Union victory secured Lee’s final supply line into Petersburg. Casualties: approximately 370 Union and 600 Confederate soldiers.
Battle of Namozine Church (April 3, 1865)
This rearguard cavalry action in Amelia County involved Union cavalry attacking General Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry. Confederate General Rufus Barringer was captured. The engagement was inconclusive, with an estimated total of 75 casualties.
Battle of Amelia Springs (April 5, 1865)
Confederate cavalry under Generals Fitzhugh Lee and Tomas Rosser assaulted Union cavalry under General George Crook, who were returning from destroying Confederate wagons. This running fight was inconclusive, with estimated total casualties of 250.
Battle of Sailor’s Creek (April 6, 1865)
Southwest of Petersburg, this was the last major engagement before Lee’s surrender. Nearly one-fourth of the retreating Confederate army was cut off by Major General Philip Sheridan’s Cavalry and elements of the II and VI Corps. Most surrendered, including nine Confederate generals. Considered the death knell of the Confederate army, General Robert E. Lee famously remarked, “My God, has the army dissolved?” The Union victory resulted in a staggering 9,980 total casualties.
Battle of Rice’s Station (April 6, 1865)
General James Longstreet’s command reached Rice’s Station in Prince Edward County, blocked by the Union XXIV Corps. After skirmishing, Longstreet withdrew across the High Bridge towards Farmville. A Union victory with few casualties, it maintained pressure on the retreating Confederates.
Battle of Cumberland Church (April 7, 1865)
In Cumberland County, the Union II Corps attacked entrenched Confederate forces near Cumberland Church. Two Union assaults were repulsed. Union General Thomas Smythe was mortally wounded, and General John Gregg was captured. This Confederate victory, with estimated casualties of 655 Union and 255 Confederate, was a temporary success amidst the larger retreat.
Battle of High Bridge (April 6-7, 1865)
Fought in Prince Edward and Cumberland Counties, this battle centered on securing vital Appomattox River bridges. Confederate cavalry, after fierce fighting where General James Dearing was mortally wounded, attempted to burn the High Bridge. Union forces saved the wagon bridge, enabling pursuit of Lee’s army. This inconclusive battle resulted in an estimated 1,200 casualties, including 800 Union soldiers captured.
Battle of Appomattox Station (April 8, 1865)
Major General George A. Custer’s division captured a crucial Confederate supply train and 25 guns, scattering defenders. Custer’s forces burned three trains laden with desperately needed provisions for Lee’s army. This Union victory further crippled the Confederate ability to sustain their retreat, with casualties largely unknown but strategic impact immense.
Battle of Appomattox Court House (April 9, 1865)
The decisive final engagement in Virginia. Remnants of General Gordon’s corps and General Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry made a last desperate attempt to break through Union lines. Initial Confederate gains against General Philip Sheridan’s cavalry were quickly reversed by overwhelming Union infantry. Surrounded, General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant. This momentous Union victory, with an estimated 700 total casualties, saw 27,805 Confederate soldiers paroled, marking the effective end of the Civil War.
Conclusion: The End of an Era
The Appomattox Campaign, though brief in duration, stands as one of the most strategically significant periods of the American Civil War. The relentless pressure exerted by Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant and his Union forces, coupled with their decisive victories at key locations like Five Forks and Petersburg, ultimately exhausted the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. General Robert E. Lee’s desperate attempts to escape and regroup were continuously thwarted, leading to the inevitable confrontation at Appomattox Court House. The surrender on April 9, 1865, was more than just a military defeat; it was a profound moment of national reconciliation, signaling the arduous path toward healing and reunification for a war-torn nation. The courage and sacrifices of soldiers on both sides during these final, brutal battles underscore the deep divisions and immense human cost of the conflict, bringing to a close a tumultuous chapter in American history. The spirit of the nation began its long journey towards recovery, forever shaped by the events of this crucial campaign.
