NAL BATTLEAt daybreak the Confederate battle line was formed to the west ofAppomattox. The Union soldiers were in position in front of the line withcannons. When the Federal cannons started to fire, the Confederate signalfor attack was sounded and the troops charged. One soldier later remarked:"It was my fortune to witness several charges during the war, butnever one so magnificently executed as this one." (McCarthy, Carlton,Detailed Minutiae of Soldier Life in the Army of Northern Virginia1861-1865. Richmond: Carlton McCarthy, 1882) This Confederate advance onlylasted from about 7am to 9am, at which time the Rebels were forced back. The Confederates could no longer hold their lines and Lee sent word toGrant to meet at 1pm to discuss surrender. The two men met at the nowfamous McLean House and a surrender was agreed upon. It was 2pm on April 9,1865. Johnston's army surrendered to General Sherman on April 26 in NorthCarolina; General Taylor of Mississippi-Alabama and General Smith of thetrans Mississippi-Texas surrendered in May ending the war completely.SUMMARYThe Civil War was a completely tragic event. Just think, a war in whichthousands of Americans died in their home country over nothing more than adifference in opinion. Yes, slavery was the cause of the Civil War: halfof the country thought it was wrong and the other half just couldn't letthem go. The war was fought overall in probably 10,000 different placesand the monetary and property loss cannot be calculated. The Union deadnumbered 360,222 and only 110,000 of them died in battle. Confederate deadwere estimated at 258,000 including 94,000 who actually died on the fieldof battle. The Civil War was a great waste in terms of human life andpossible accomplishment and should be considered shameful. Before itsfirst centennial, tragedy struck a new country and stained it for eternity. Itwill never be forgotten but adversity builds strength and the United Statesof America i...
