March 29
Appomattox Campaign Opens Final Phase of U.S. Civil War
Union troops under Ulysses S. Grant begin a flanking offensive southwest of Petersburg, Virginia, targeting Robert E. Lee’s depleted lines and supply routes.
Summary
By early 1865 the American Civil War had dragged on for four years, with Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant pressing Confederate armies in Virginia while William T. Sherman advanced through the South. Confederate General Robert E. Lee commanded the Army of Northern Virginia, which was increasingly short of supplies and manpower after years of attrition. On March 29, Grant launched a major offensive southwest of Petersburg, Virginia, aiming to cut Lee's supply lines and force a decisive engagement. Union troops maneuvered around Confederate positions in a series of movements that became known as the Appomattox Campaign. The offensive quickly gained momentum, leading to the fall of Petersburg and Richmond within days and ultimately Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House two weeks later.
Context
By early 1865 the American Civil War had reached a decisive stage in Virginia. After assuming overall command in 1864, Union general-in-chief Ulysses S. Grant had directed the Overland Campaign, which pinned Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia into defensive positions around the vital rail hub of Petersburg, south of the Confederate capital at Richmond. A ten-month siege followed, stretching Confederate defenses across more than forty miles of trenches.
What Happened
On March 29 Grant ordered Union forces, primarily the Fifth Corps of the Army of the Potomac under Gouverneur K. Warren, to advance southwest of Petersburg. The movement aimed to outflank Lee’s left and sever the Southside Railroad, a critical supply line. Confederate troops commanded by Bushrod Johnson met the Union column near Lewis’s Farm (also called Quaker Road), producing the campaign’s first skirmishes as the Federals pressed forward.
Aftermath
The initial Union thrust set in motion a rapid sequence of engagements. On April 1 Philip Sheridan’s cavalry and supporting infantry won the Battle of Five Forks, exposing Lee’s western flank. The following day Union forces broke through the Petersburg defenses, prompting Lee to order the evacuation of both Petersburg and Richmond during the night of April 2–3.
Legacy
Lee’s subsequent retreat ended with his surrender at Appomattox Court House on April 9, marking the effective close of major fighting in the eastern theater. The campaign’s outcome preserved the Union, cleared the path for the Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery, and established Grant’s coordinated, relentless operational style as a model for later American military planning.
Why It Matters
The campaign's opening moves accelerated the collapse of the Confederacy and brought the Civil War to a close, preserving the Union and ending legal slavery in the United States. It demonstrated the effectiveness of Grant's coordinated strategy and marked a turning point in American military doctrine toward modern warfare. The events paved the way for Reconstruction and the reintegration of Southern states.
Related Questions
What was the goal of Grant’s March 29 offensive?
Grant sought to extend Union lines west of Petersburg, cut Lee’s last railroad supply routes, and force a decisive engagement before the Confederate army could escape.
How long did the Appomattox Campaign last?
The campaign ran from the opening moves on March 29 until Lee’s surrender on April 9, a period of eleven days.
Why was Petersburg so important to the Confederacy?
Petersburg served as the main rail junction supplying both Richmond and Lee’s army; its loss left the Confederate capital and field forces without adequate provisions or reinforcements.
What happened to Richmond after the Union breakthrough?
Confederate authorities and troops evacuated the night of April 2–3; Union forces occupied the city on April 3, and fires set during the withdrawal destroyed much of the business district.
Did the surrender at Appomattox end the entire Civil War?
No, but it ended major organized resistance in the East; remaining Confederate armies surrendered over the following weeks and months.
Related Portfolio Site
US Military Atlas: Major U.S. Civil War campaign milestone leading to Confederate surrender.
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Sources
- What Happened on March 29, History.com. Accessed 2026-07-09.