|
 |
Download
PDF Map || Interactive Map
Early in 1865, as Gen. Ulysses S. Grant tightened
the siege around Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern
Virginia
in Richmond
and Petersburg, Lee planned for the evacuation of his troops.
He determined to march to North Carolina, consolidate his army
with Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's, defeat Gen. William T.
Sherman's army, and then turn on Grant. When the Federals
broke through his lines on April 2, Lee put his plan in motion.
The wings of his army were to rendezvous at Amelia Court House,
re-supply, and march to Danville along the Richmond and Danville
Railroad.
|
 |
How to Experience the Trail
The trail is comprised of 25 stops with detailed audio and visual interpretation
at each site. The self-guided driving tour allows you to enjoy the trail at
your own pace, letting you linger longer at some stops and pass by others,
if time is short. It is suggested you start the trail in Petersburg at South
Side Railroad Station to experience the trail in chronological order. However,
many people enjoy following it backwards from Appomattox or hoping on or off
at different points. Once you begin, follow the Lee's Retreat trail blazing
signs from one stop to the next. A Lee's Retreat brochure and a Virginia State
Map could be helpful if you want to skip a stop or should you get lost. Pick
them up at any Virginia Welcome Center or call 1-800-6-RETREAT to receive them
by mail. To fully experience the tour, allowing time to enter buildings that
are publicly accessible,
it will take approximately two full days. |
Little went as planned. High water made crossing
the Appomattox River difficult, delaying the rendezvous, and
the anticipated supplies were not at Amelia Court House. Lee
also lost his day's lead over the pursuing Grant while
he waited, allowing Federal cavalry and infantry to block his
path down the track at Jetersville. Deciding not to give battle,
Lee turned west and began a series of three consecutive night
marches. Grant's strategy - to press Lee from the
rear while preventing him from turning south, get the cavalry
in front of him, and then surround and compel him to fight or
surrender - began to take effect.
Fighting by day and marching by night, Lee's exhausted
and hungry men trudged toward Farmville, their next supply station.
The column stretched for miles, slowed by a voluminous baggage
train. At almost every watercourse, the men and wagons bogged
down and Gen. Philip H. Sheridan's Union cavalry slammed
into Lee's rear guard. On April 6, the Federals brought
Lee to bay at Little Sailor's Creek, where in three separate
engagements almost a quarter of the Confederate force was killed
or captured. Lee, absorbing the magnitude of the disaster, remarked, "My
God, has the army been dissolved?"
The survivors crossed High Bridge, the huge railroad trestle
over the Appomattox River and the scene of intense combat earlier
in the day, and made their way to Farmville. The next day, as
they distributed rations from the trains at the depot, the gunfire
of Federal cavalry was heard from the east. Lee also learned
that Union infantrymen had successfully crossed the Appomattox
River on a small wagon bridge below High Bridge and were threatening
his line of march. He sent his troops across the river to dig
in around Cumberland Church and fend off Union probes.
Beginning what would be their last night march on April 7, Lee's
men headed for the next destination, Appomattox Station on the
South Side Railroad, where supplies sent east from Lynchburg
awaited them. Once replenished, the army would continue west
to Campbell Court House near Lynchburg. But Union cavalry captured
the station and the supplies and positioned itself between Lee
and his next objective. With Federal infantry closing in behind
him, Lee ordered a breakout attempt for dawn the next morning,
April 9. Gen. John B. Gordon led the attack with a combined force
of cavalry and infantry and fought his men to "a frazzle." The
cavalrymen cut through their Federal counterparts and escaped,
but then large numbers of Union infantry arrived in support.
Gordon reported to Lee that it was no use. Flags of truce broke
out. The shooting died away. And that afternoon, in the little
village of Appomattox Court House, the war in Virginia came to
an end.
|
|
|
