Battle of Appomattox Court House: Difference between revisions

 

===Battle===

At dawn on April 9, 1865, the Confederate [[Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia|Second Corps]] under Maj. Gen. [[John B. Gordon]] attacked Sheridan's cavalry and quickly forced back the first line under [[brevet (military)|Brevet]] Brig. Gen. Charles H. Smith. The next line, held by Brig. Gens. [[Ranald S. Mackenzie]] and [[George Crook]], slowed the Confederate advance.<ref>Salmon, p. 490.</ref> Gordon's troops charged through the Union lines and took the ridge, but as they reached the crest, they saw the entire Union XXIV Corps in line of battle with the Union V Corps to their right. Lee's cavalry saw these Union forces and immediately withdrew and rode off towards Lynchburg.<ref name=korn139>Korn, p. 139.</ref> Ord's troops began advancing against Gordon's corps while the Union [[II Corps (Union Army)|II Corps]] began moving against Lt. Gen. [[James Longstreet]]'s corps to the northeast. Colonel [[Charles S. Venable|Charles Venable]] of Lee's staff rode in at this time and asked for an assessment, and Gordon gave him a reply he knew Lee did not want to hear: "Tell General Lee I have fought my corps to a frazzle, and I fear I can do nothing unless I am heavily supported by Longstreet's corps." Upon hearing it Lee finally stated the inevitable: "Then there is nothing left for me to do but to go and see General Grant, and I would rather die a thousand deaths."<ref name=williams>Williams.</ref>