The Last Campaign

The Union breakthrough at Petersburg on April 2nd. 1865 precipitated the last campaign of the Civil War in Virginia. General Robert E. Lee and what was left of the Confederate Army were retreating west in an attempt to escape the pursuing Federals. The last campaign in Virginia would devolve into a seven-day continuous battle broken only by all-night forced marches and end at a place called – Appomattox Court House.

The old Lynchburg Stage Road leads to Appomattox Court House and the end of the war in Virginia

After gathering supplies Lee hoped to consolidate his army and turn south for a forced march into the Carolinas.  There he planned on joining forces with Gen. Joseph Johnston and continuing the fight.

Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had no intention of letting Lee escape.  The Confederate Army was at last out in the open and Grant intended on finally crushing the Army of Northern Virginia. Grant would use his superiority in numbers to block Lee’s route south and finally destroy the Confederates or force their surrender.

The resulting campaign would end the Civil War in Virginia, lay the ground work for the future of the United States and would be the beginning of the Long Road Home for the soldiers of the American Civil War.

Click the link below to see the images and story of the Last Campaign:

The Last Campaign