I have only recently learned about how the battle at Gettysburg and its affects had pushed Lee to surrender. He had to retreat from Petersburg on April 2nd because of failing to seize the town. Then when Lee tried to join his soldiers in North Carolina, he found they did not have enough food. They were trapped in the town of Appomattox Court House, Virginia by the Union soldiers. By April 9th, Lee formally surrendered to Grant. General Grant told his men not to gloat because "the rebels were are countrymen again." The war is over, at least in this area. At the time of Lee's surrender there were still 170,000 soldiers under arms. It would take until June before all the other Confederate Generals could surrender. It is said that the African Americans in Texas celebrated on June 19th as the news finally reached them. I am so happy the war is over. It has been years of long, hard work for many of the men across the country. Now that the war is over my husband will finally be coming home. It has been almost a year, if not more, since I have seen him. I cannot express to Diary just how happy I am. Here is a photo of Lee surrendering at the Appomattox Court House:
That's all for now Diary,
Rebecca
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