The 8th of April, 1865 (160 years ago today), was a relatively quiet day for both armies. The Confederates continued to move westward and caught their first glimpse of the Blue Ridge mountains, 40 miles away. Around 9:00 am, the first of 4 messages sent by Grant to Lee arrived at the rear of the Confederate column. Grant asked Lee to surrender the Army of Northern Virginia.
Meanwhile, Grant's army was moving into position to cut off Lee's escape route. About 8 miles west of Farmville, the Federal columns went into bivouac at Prospect Station on the Southside Railroad. (Prospect is an aid station on the 32-mile ultramarathon course I've run 3 times.) Later, at Appomattox Station, Union forces captured the Confederate supply trains coming from Lynchburg. The supplies, intended for Lee's army, were handed out to George Custer's men.
The next day, April 9, 1865, Lee would surrender.
Here's the schedule for tomorrow's 160th commemoration of the surrender at the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. I plan to be present. Maybe I'll see you there.
