Chronological History of the American Civil War

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Sunday, April 2, 1865 : Union troops were especially successful yesterday at Five Forks, where nearly 50% of the Confederate force there were taken prisoner defending Petersburg, and Richmond, Virginia. Today, General Robert E. Lee (CSA) warns Confederate President Davis of the imminent fall of Petersburg, and probable Union invasion of Richmond. General Grant orders another all-out attack, against Lee’s army before dawn. A thick fog covers the attackers and the thinly defended Confederate line is broken in many places. Lt. General A.P. Hill, corps commander of the Army of Northern Virginia (CSA) is killed, while rallying his men. When Lee receives this news, he quietly said, “He is at rest now, and we who are left are the ones to suffer.” The Army of Northern Virginia pulls back west to the Amelia Court House, just 40 miles from Richmond. Panic sweeps through the Confederate capital, and many evacuate the city. By nightfall, President Davis and the Confederate government are in flight, and leave for Danville, Virginia aboard a special train. Richmond is set on fire. Retreating Rebel troops, set ablaze several huge warehouses and ships, to prevent them from being captured by the Federals and the fires soon spread. Looting and a general breakdown in law and order occur. Grant’s men now occupy Petersburg. There was nothing between Petersburg and Richmond, to stop the approach of Union forces. This has been a ten month siege at Petersburg,Virginia and many young men have died here. Today, an estimated 7,750 more casualties are added to the many thousands that have already died here (US 3,500; CS 4,250). In Selma, Alabama, Union troops rounded up hundreds of prisoners, but hundreds more escape in the darkness down the Burnsville Road. These included Confederate Generals Forrest, Armstrong, and Roddey. To the west, many Confederate soldiers continue, to fight the pursuing Union soldiers all the way to the eastern side of Valley Creek. They then escape, in the darkness by swimming the Alabama River, near the mouth at Valley Creek. General James H. Wilson (U.S.) lost 359 men in the battle, while General Forrest (CSA) lost over 2,700 casualties, mostly prisoners and 32 artillery pieces.

Monday, April 3, 1865 : When the U.S. flag is flown over the towns of Petersburg and Richmond, Virginia, by the Union forces, it is made official that Brig. General Godfrey Weitzel (U.S.) and the Army of the James formally accepts, the city’s surrender. President Abraham Lincoln, visits Petersburg as the majority of the city is spared, from being burned by the fleeing Confederates. Lincoln’s decision to go there is criticized by many news editors, who feel, he is putting himself in harm’s way. At 5 p.m., President Lincoln telegraphs Sec. of War, Stanton from City Point: “Yours received. Thanks for you caution; but I have already been to Petersburg, staid with General Grant an hour & a half and returned here. It is certain now that Richmond is in our hands, and I think I will go there to- morrow. I will take care of myself.” Confederate President Davis and his cabinet, arrive in Danville, Virginia. There is fighting outside Tuscaloosa, Alabama and at Mount Pleasant, Tennessee.