It was the action on April 8, 1865 (the Battle of Appomattox Station), that determined the surrender would take place on April 9th in the village of Appomattox Court House. The advantage of position gained by the action on April 8, gave the Federals control of the strategic ground necessary to force Lee’s surrender.
That night (April 8th) a Federal cavalry brigade under Brevet Brigadier General Charles Smith from Major General George Crook’s division occupied the ridge 3/4 of a mile west of Appomattox Court House—building breast works (dirt and rails from fences) along the Oakville Road. The brigade consisted of the 1st Maine Cavalry, 2nd New York Mounted Rifles, and the 6th and 13th Ohio Cavalry. Smith moved Lieutenant James H. Lord’s two 3-inch Ordnance Rifles (cannon) forward, supported by skirmishers of the 1st Maine. Though foggy, Lord’s men began sending rounds into the Confederate camps with some effect—one shell striking John Ashby of the 12th Virginia Cavalry (now buried in the Confederate Cemetery).
Major General John B. Gordon formed his 2nd Corps at the western edge of the village with the divisions of Brigadier General Clement Evans on the left, Brigadier General James Walker in the center, Major General Bryan Grimes on the right and Brigadier General William Wallace’s division was in a second line. At the end of Tibbs Lane was Major General Fitzhugh Lee with the cavalry divisions of Major General William “Rooney” Lee, Major General Thomas Rosser and Colonel Thomas Munford. The infantry and cavalry were supported by Brigadier General Armistead Long’s artillery.
At 7:50 am, the Confederates, in a left wheel motion, move forward—with the “usual rebel yell.” Private Henry Bahnson of the 1st North Carolina Sharp Shooters said “I never saw [a charge] so magnificently executed as this. Our men advanced as regularly as though on parade and as the shells and grape ploughed through the ranks the files closed up without faltering. [The men] broke into a double quick and with the old time yell and an irresistible rush they carried the enemy’s position...." Perhaps realizing the opportunity to secure the lightly supported guns of Lord’s Battery, Brigadier General William P. Roberts’ Brigade, comprised of the 4th North Carolina Cavalry, 16th North Carolina Cavalry Battalion, and the remnants of Brigadier General Rufus Barringer’s North Carolina Cavalry Brigade, drew sabers, charged and captured the cannon and some of Lord’s men. Lord was later cited for gallant and meritorious service and made a Major—for his bold stand delaying the Confederate advance.
Smith’s line was soon outflanked. Rooney Lee’s men stayed with the infantry wheel while Rosser and Munford pressed forward (west) hoping to get on the Federal flank in gain the Stage Road in their rear. In the meantime, Crook directed Brigadier General Ranald Mackenzie’s small division of cavalry from the Army of the James, and a brigade under Colonel Samuel B. Young move up to support Smith on the left, but they are met in turn and likewise driven back, along with Smith, by Rooney Lee’s Cavalry. The Confederate Infantry wheeled and opened the stage road and faced south while Brigadier General William Cox’s North Carolina brigade advanced along the stage road to the west.
Now, the Army of the James arrived on the field, led by Brigadier General Robert Foster’s division. Colonel Thomas Osborn’s Brigade advances west along the stage road with the 62nd, 67th Ohio, 39th Illinois, 199th and 85th Pennsylvania Infantry, followed by Colonel George Dandy’s brigade that included the 11th Maine Infantry which moved support the left flank of the 62nd—but not before the Confederates forces tore into the 62nd’s flank (losing over 50 men killed, wounded, and captured). The 11th Maine charged out of the woods heading for Confederate guns and was attacked in the flank as well. Their Colonel John Hill went down wounded and was temporarily captured. In the charge the 11th is swept by canister losing a regimental favorite—Moses Sherman—known as “Little Moustache.” The 11th Maine suffers nearly 60 casualties. Men of the 199th capture a 20-pounder. As Confederate artillery fired from the ridge, a shell passed through the Coleman house mortally wounding an enslaved woman named Hannah Reynolds.
But the weight of Federal numbers began to tell as Brigadier General John Turner’s Division from the 24th Corps arrives on the right flank of Foster as well as Colonel William Woodward’s brigade of United States Colored Troops (25th Corps) which files to the left of Foster. A second brigade of United States Colored Troops under Colonel Ulysses Doubleday also arrives on the field. Confederate General Gordon, at some point that morning sends a message back: “Tell General Lee that my command has been fought to a frazzle and unless Longstreet can unite in the movement, or prevent these forces from coming upon my rear, I can not long go forward.”
To the right of the Army of the James, from the south comes Major General Charles Griffin’s 5th Corps slanting north at an angle across the fields toward Appomattox Court House, advancing through the Trent and Sears property and encountering Confederate skirmishers. On the extreme right of the 5th Corps skirmish line is the 185th New York Infantry and 198th Pennsylvania Infantry commanded Brigadier General Joshua Chamberlain. Chamberlain’s men, under fire from batteries near the edge of the village (among them the Richmond Howitzers and the Salem Flying Artillery) advanced to the vicinity of the Mariah Wright house when a white flag approaches. A small foray west of the village was made as a delaying action by 25 men of the 4th and 14th North Carolina Infantry under the command of Captain Wilson Jenkins, while the remainder of Gordon’s Corps retreated and reformed on the east side of the shallow Appomattox River.
As the 5th Corps advanced, Major General George A. Custer and Brigadier General Thomas Devin’s divisions moved behind it—east on the LeGrand Road—putting additional pressure on the Confederate left flank as the Confederate infantry withdrew through the village. After a white flag had appeared on Custer’s front, Brigadier General Martin Gary’s cavalry brigade disavows the truce and attacks Custer’s advance, but is quickly beaten back suffering losses.
Some brief skirmishing about two miles west of Appomattox Court House near the Widow Robertson’s where some of Munford’s Confederate cavalry regains the stage road and engage with Federal troopers under Brigadier General Henry Davies, now supported by McKenzie and Young. After some brief clashes the Confederate cavalry outside the tightening noose headed for Lynchburg.
In the rear of Lee’s army lay the bulk of the Federal Army of the Potomac—more than 30,000 men of the 2nd and 6th Corps. Lee found himself effectively surrounded; he was “check mated.” The horrific final battle gave Grant’s forces control of the strategic ground necessary to force Lee’s surrender.
