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Appomattox Campaign facts for kids

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The Appomattox Campaign was a very important series of battles during the American Civil War. It took place in 1865 in Virginia. This campaign led to the end of the war.

It all started around March 30 to April 1, 1865. The Union army, led by General Ulysses S. Grant, was fighting to capture Petersburg, Virginia. This city was very important because it was a supply center for the Confederate capital, Richmond, Virginia.

Confederate General Robert E. Lee was in charge of the Army of Northern Virginia. He tried to move his army away from Grant. Lee hoped to march his soldiers south to North Carolina. There, he wanted to join up with other Confederate forces.

But General Grant was determined to stop Lee. Grant's army chased Lee's soldiers. They fought several smaller battles along the way. Finally, Grant's forces managed to surround Lee's army. This happened near a small town called Appomattox Court House.

Lee's army was trapped and had no way to escape. On April 9, 1865, General Lee was forced to surrender to General Grant. This surrender at Appomattox Court House was a huge moment. It effectively ended the American Civil War. After Lee gave up, other Confederate armies across the country also began to surrender.


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