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81-677: It is one of Washington's largest parks and protects an important sub-watershed of the Anacostia River . The park is a popular place for picnics, nature walks, indoor ice skating, mountain bike riding, gardening, environmental education, music, skating, sports, and ranger-led Civil War programs. The park was purchased by the National Capital Park and Planning Commission (predecessor of the National Capital Planning Commission) authorized by

162-466: A $ 400,000 grant to put another 35,000 mussels in the river.  Half of this funding came from the federal government, and the other half came from a five cent tax on plastic bags in the District. This project came at an especially important moment for Anacostia River health, as the D.C. area weathered intense rain in 2018 which contributed to much sediment, waste, and organic material flowing into

243-563: A cease-fire was enacted, and Grant received Lee's request to discuss surrender terms. Dressed in his ceremonial uniform (according to himself, "I may be taken prisoner today. I must look my best."), Lee waited for Grant to arrive. Grant, whose headache had ended when he received Lee's note, arrived at the McLean house in a mud-spattered uniform—a government-issue sack coat with trousers tucked into muddy boots, no sidearms, and with only his tarnished shoulder straps showing his rank. Over one shoulder

324-515: A demonstration to within three miles of Lynchburg , giving the appearance of being the vanguard of a much larger force. Despite this new threat, Lee apparently decided to try for Lynchburg anyway. While the Union Army was closing in on Lee, all that lay between Lee and Lynchburg was Union cavalry. Lee hoped to break through the cavalry before infantry arrived. He sent a note to Grant saying that he did not wish to surrender his army just yet but

405-610: A four-year period, beginning with the Battle of Fort Sumter Centennial issue of 1961. The Battle of Shiloh commemorative stamp was issued in 1962, the Battle of Gettysburg in 1963, the Battle of the Wilderness in 1964, and the Appomattox Centennial commemorative stamp in 1965. The American Battlefield Trust and its battlefield land preservation partners have acquired and preserved 512 acres (2.07 km ) of

486-714: A pardon and appointing him to a federal position in New Orleans after Grant became president. Likewise, General John Brown Gordon cherished Chamberlain's simple act of saluting his surrendered army, calling Chamberlain "one of the knightliest soldiers of the Federal army." During the Civil War Centennial , the United States Post Office issued five postage stamps commemorating the 100th anniversaries of famous battles, as they occurred over

567-553: A public health threat because of fecal coliform bacteria and other pathogens ; it also impairs water quality and can create hypoxic conditions that lead to large fish kills . According to Rianna Murray et al. and a study from the NOAA Office of Response and Restoration, many citizens living along the Anacostia River have been exposed to water pollution. One study done on recreational exposure to pollution along

648-484: A result lost a day's worth of marching time. The army then headed west to Appomattox Station , where another supply train awaited him. Lee's army was now composed of the cavalry corps and two small infantry corps. En route to the station, on April 6 at Sailor's Creek , nearly one fourth of the retreating Confederate army was cut off by Sheridan's cavalry and elements of the II and VI Corps . Two Confederate divisions fought

729-690: A study that proposed that the Fort Drive be renamed the Fort Park System and the scenic drive concept be abandoned in favor of a Greenway trail connecting the forts. In 1968, the National Park Service (NPS) which had taken jurisdiction over the parks in 1933, issued a master plan for the parks that included the Fort Circle Trail. The Fort Circle Trail was originally envisioned as a 32 mile long network of trails around

810-592: A suitable location for the occasion. Marshall scrutinized Appomattox Court House, a small village of roughly twenty buildings that served as a waystation for travelers on the Richmond-Lynchburg Stage Road. Marshall rejected the first house he saw as too dilapidated, instead settling on the 1848 brick home of Wilmer McLean . McLean had lived near Manassas Junction during the First Battle of Bull Run and had retired to Appomattox to escape

891-417: A thousand deaths." Many of Lee's officers, including Longstreet, agreed that surrendering the army was the only option left. The only notable officer opposed to surrender was Longstreet's chief of artillery, Brig. Gen. Edward Porter Alexander , who predicted that if Lee surrendered then "every other Confederate army will follow suit". Lee decided to request a suspension of fighting while he sought to learn

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972-471: A very happy effect among the men and do much toward reconciling the country. The terms of the surrender were recorded in a document handwritten by Grant's adjutant, Ely S. Parker , a Native American of the Seneca tribe , and completed around 4 p.m., April 9. Lee, upon discovering Parker to be a Seneca, remarked "It is good to have one real American here." Parker replied, "Sir, we are all Americans." As Lee left

1053-578: Is the Washington Navy Yard, which is sited alongside the river and is believed to be a source of PCB contaminants in the river and sediment. In May 2009, a Bandalong Litter Trap floating litter-control system was placed in the Watts Branch tributary of the Anacostia River as part of Mayor Adrian Fenty 's "Green DC Agenda." In its first year of operation, it removed more than 500 pounds (230 kg) of floatable litter per month from

1134-582: Is the primary trail in the park, but there are various side spur trails throughout the parks, totaling about 10 miles (16 km). The Fort Circle is a 7 mile trail that runs north from the Anacostia Community Museum through the six adjacent Fort Circle Parks (Fort Ricketts Park, Fort Stanton Park, Fort Davis Park, Fort Dupont Park, Fort Chaplin Park and Fort Mahan Park) and several smaller sections of parkland that belong to NPS as part of

1215-597: The American Civil War , an extensive line of forts was constructed south of the river in order to prevent Confederate artillery from bombarding the Washington Navy Yard , which abuts the river. One of the biggest problems facing the Anacostia River is raw sewage that enters the river and its tributaries. During rainstorms, the river receives discharges of untreated sewage due to the city's antiquated combined sewer system. The sewage creates

1296-675: The Appomattox Station . Now both of the Federal forces, the Army of the Potomac and the Army of the James , were converging on Appomattox. With his supplies at Appomattox destroyed, Lee now looked west to the railway at Lynchburg , where more supplies awaited him. However, on the morning of April 8 a battalion of the 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry was detached from Stoneman's Raid into North Carolina and southwestern Virginia and had made

1377-717: The James River in June 1864. The armies under the command of Lieutenant General and General in Chief Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885) laid siege to Petersburg , south of Richmond, intending to cut the two cities' supply lines and force the Confederates to evacuate. In the spring of 1865, Confederate States Army Gen. Robert E. Lee (1807–1870), waited for an opportunity to leave the Petersburg lines, aware that

1458-840: The Ku Klux Klan , also surrendered, reading his farewell address on May 9, 1865, at Gainesville, Alabama . General Edmund Kirby Smith surrendered the Confederate Trans-Mississippi Department on June 2, 1865, in Galveston, Texas . Also on May 26, 1865, the Camp Napoleon Council of Native American tribes, including a number that had sided with the Confederacy, met in Oklahoma and decided to have commissioners offer peace with

1539-594: The Tidal Basin via 28 miles (45 km) of paved, shared-use path with connections and spurs to the National Arboretum , Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens , Nationals Park , Maine Avenue Fish Market , and other locations. Battle of Appomattox Court House The Battle of Appomattox Court House , fought in Appomattox County, Virginia , on the morning of April 9, 1865, was one of

1620-689: The Washington Channel and ultimately empties into the Potomac River at Buzzard Point . It is about 8.7 miles (14.0 km) long. The name "Anacostia" derives from the area's early history as Nacotchtank , a settlement of Necostan or Anacostan Native Americans on the banks of the Anacostia River. Heavy pollution in the Anacostia and weak investment and development along its banks made it "D.C.'s forgotten river". More recently, however, private organizations; local businesses; and

1701-528: The Anacostia storage system were completed in September 2023 and will reduce sewage overflows by 98 percent. The major structure is a 12,500 feet (3,800 m) long, 23 feet (7.0 m) diameter reinforced concrete tunnel, buried approximately 80 to 120 feet deep. The overall Clean Rivers project will comprise over 18 miles (29 km) of tunnels with a storage capacity of 157 million US gallons (590,000 m ). Another large source of river pollution

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1782-723: The Army of the James, arrived with the XXIV Corps around 4:00 a.m. while the V Corps of the Army of the Potomac was close behind. Sheridan deployed his three divisions of cavalry along a low ridge to the southwest of Appomattox Court House. At dawn on April 9, 1865, the Confederate Second Corps under Maj. Gen. John B. Gordon attacked Sheridan's cavalry and quickly forced back the first line under Brevet Brig. Gen. Charles H. Smith. The next line, held by Brig. Gens. Ranald S. Mackenzie and George Crook , slowed

1863-587: The Capper-Cramton Act provided along with the other circle parks in the 1930s and '40s. Fort Dupont Park is adjacent to a series of other national and DC parks. Commonly people refer to all of them together as Fort Dupont. These are the adjacent parks: Fort Dupont has a 40-year history of offering a summer concert series. Many famous musicians and bands in the Washington, D.C., area have played this venue. The unpaved Fort Circle Hiker-Biker Trail

1944-628: The Confederate advance. Gordon's troops charged through the Union lines and took the ridge, but as they reached the crest, they saw the entire Union XXIV Corps in line of battle with the Union V Corps to their right. Lee's cavalry saw these Union forces and immediately withdrew and rode off towards Lynchburg. Ord's troops began advancing against Gordon's corps while the Union II Corps began moving against Lt. Gen. James Longstreet 's corps to

2025-468: The Confederate army, and then he and Lee sat on the McLean home's porch and met with visitors such as Longstreet and George Pickett before the two men left for their capitals. On April 10, Lee gave his farewell address to his army. The same day a six-man commission gathered to discuss a formal ceremony of surrender, even though no Confederate officer wished to go through with such an event. Brigadier General ( brevet Major General) Joshua L. Chamberlain

2106-617: The D.C., Maryland , and federal governments have made efforts to reduce pollution and protect the ecologically valuable Anacostia watershed . The main stem of the Anacostia is formed by the confluence of the Northwest Branch and the Northeast Branch just north of Cottage City, Maryland . Tributaries of these sources include Sligo Creek , Paint Branch , Little Paint Branch, Indian Creek, Upper Beaverdam Creek, Dueling Branch, and Brier's Mill Run. Tributaries of

2187-627: The Eastern Branch or St. Isidora's Creek) and St. James Creek formed a natural harbor called St. Thomas's Bay. The Washington City Canal operated from 1815 until the mid-1850s, initially connecting the Anacostia to Tiber Creek and the Potomac River; and later to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal . The city canal fell into disuse in the late 19th century, and the city government covered over or filled in various sections. During

2268-687: The Fort Circle Parks, and ends at the north end of Marvin Gaye Park at Hunt Place NE. On the north end it connects to the Marvin Gaye Trail. The 1902 McMillan Plan envisioned connecting the circle forts with a road called Fort Circle Drive. The New Deal's Civilian Conservation Corps completed a section of the Fort Circle Drive at Fort Dupont, south toward Good Hope Road. Another section was completed near Fort Reno by

2349-687: The Fort Circle Trails in the Fort Dupont area in 1967 as part of its 1968 budget. The first 3,000 feet (910 m) of trail, from Pennsylvania Ave to Ridge Road, was opened on November 10, 1968. The complete east of the river section, from the Fort Rickets area to north of Fort Mahan was dedicated as a national recreation trail, along with the Fort DeRussy section, by Interior Secretary Rogers C. B. Morton in 1971. At that point

2430-943: The Fort Circle but only three sections of the trail were built and two of them are no longer labeled as such. The first section was a four mile section of the C&;O Canal towpath from the Foundry Tunnel to Chain Bridge built in 1967 that was to connect Fort Marcy in Virginia with Battery Kemble Park in DC. The second section was a short section in Rock Creek Park along the north side of Military Road – and past Fort DeRussy – that opened in 1968. The Park service first sought funding for 4 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles (7.2 km) of

2511-657: The Government of the United States until properly exchanged, and each company or regimental commander sign a like parole for the men of their commands. The arms, artillery and public property to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the officer appointed by me to receive them. This will not embrace the side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or baggage. This done, each officer and man will be allowed to return to their homes, not to be disturbed by United States authority so long as they observe their paroles and

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2592-579: The Maryland suburbs. According to WSSC, more than 4 million US gallons (15,000 m ) of raw sewage were released into Anacostia tributaries between January 2001 and June 2004. Under a stormwater discharge permit issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the D.C. government is implementing a stormwater management program to improve water quality in the Anacostia. The governments of Montgomery County and Prince George's County also operate stormwater management programs. In response to

2673-640: The Prince George's County Department of Parks and Recreation, currently occupies the banks of the Anacostia near Alternate Route 1 . The Port Towns Community Boathouse at the park is home to public boat and bike rentals, a public boat ramp and dock, as well as the rowing crews of the University of Maryland , The Catholic University of America , a community rowing school, and several local high schools. The Anacostia Riverwalk Trail (partially complete as of June 2016) connects Bladensburg Waterfront Park

2754-484: The Richmond and Lynchburg road. I am at this writing about four miles West of Walker's Church and will push forward to the front for the purpose of meeting you. Notice sent to me on this road where you wish the interview to take place. Grant's response was remarkable in that it let the defeated Lee choose the place of his surrender. Lee received the reply within an hour and dispatched an aide, Charles Marshall , to find

2835-519: The Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia, did recall there was a salute and he cherished Chamberlain's act of saluting his surrendered army, calling Chamberlain "one of the knightliest soldiers of the Federal army." Gordon stated that Chamberlain "called his troops into line, and as my men marched in front of them, the veterans in blue gave a soldierly salute to the vanquished heroes." This statement by Gordon contradicts Marvel's perception of

2916-417: The Union force consisted entirely of lightly armed cavalry. When he realized that the cavalry was now backed up by two corps of federal infantry, he had no choice but to surrender with his further avenue of retreat and escape now cut off. The signing of the surrender documents occurred in the parlor of the house owned by Wilmer McLean on the afternoon of April 9. On April 12, a formal ceremony of parade and

2997-469: The United States. Cherokee Chief and General Stand Watie , in command of 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles , surrendered the last sizeable organized Confederate force on June 23, 1865, in Choctaw County, Oklahoma . There were several more small battles after Lee's surrender. The Battle of Palmito Ranch , east of Brownsville, Texas , on May 12–13, 1865, is commonly regarded as the final land battle of

3078-528: The VI Corps along the creek. The Confederates attacked but were driven back, and soon after the Union cavalry cut through the right of the Confederate lines. Most of the 7,700 Confederates were captured or surrendered, including Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell and eight other general officers. The delay prevented Lee from reaching the Appomattox station until late afternoon on April 8, allowing Sheridan to reach

3159-636: The Works Progress Administration. Military Drive through Rock Creek - considered a part of the Fort Circle Drive at the time - was completed in the 1950s. No further progress on the Drive was completed, wand by 1962 the idea was abandoned due to changes in the urban environment, right-of-way limitations and traffic on the cross streets. In 1965, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) released

3240-463: The armies.” At 8:00 a.m., Lee rode out to meet Grant, accompanied by three of his aides. Grant received Lee's first letter on the morning of April 9 as he was traveling to meet Sheridan. Grant recalled his migraine seemed to disappear when he read Lee's letter, and he handed it to his assistant Rawlins to read aloud before composing his reply: General, Your note of this date is but this moment, 11:50 A.M. rec'd., in consequence of my having passed from

3321-574: The city which were fired for several hours. The line of cannon salutes running round and round the other always proceeding in the same direction, so that it went round and round the circuit 20 to 30 miles". Anacostia River The Anacostia River / æ n ə ˈ k ɒ s t i ə / is a river in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States. It flows from Prince George's County in Maryland into Washington, D.C. , where it joins with

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3402-422: The embodiment of manhood: men whom neither toils and sufferings, nor the fact of death, nor disaster, nor hopelessness could bend from their resolve; standing before us now, thin, worn, and famished, but erect, and with eyes looking level into ours, waking memories that bound us together as no other bond;—was not such manhood to be welcomed back into a Union so tested and assured? Instructions had been given; and when

3483-442: The event. At the surrender ceremonies, about 28,000 Confederate soldiers passed by and stacked their arms. General Longstreet's account was 28,356 officers and men were “surrendered and paroled”. The Appomattox Roster lists approximately 26,300 men who surrendered. This reference does not include the 7,700 who were captured at Sailor's Creek three days earlier, who were treated as prisoners of war. While General George Meade (who

3564-403: The head of each division column comes opposite our group, our bugle sounds the signal and instantly our whole line from right to left, regiment by regiment in succession, gives the soldier's salutation, from the "order arms" to the old "carry"—the marching salute. Gordon at the head of the column, riding with heavy spirit and downcast face, catches the sound of shifting arms, looks up, and, taking

3645-438: The house and rode away, Grant's men began cheering in celebration, but Grant immediately ordered them to stop. "I at once sent word, however, to have it stopped", he said. "The Confederates were now our countrymen, and we did not want to exult over their downfall", he said. Custer and other Union officers purchased from McLean the furnishings of the room Lee and Grant met in as souvenirs, emptying it of furniture. Grant soon visited

3726-693: The last, and ultimately one of the most consequential, battles of the American Civil War (1861–1865). It was the final engagement of Confederate General in Chief Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia before they surrendered to the Union Army of the Potomac under the Commanding General of the United States Army , Ulysses S. Grant . Lee, having abandoned the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia , after

3807-453: The laws in force where they may reside. The terms were as generous as Lee could hope for; his men would not be imprisoned or prosecuted for treason. Officers were allowed to keep their sidearms, horses, and personal baggage. In addition to his terms, Grant also allowed the defeated men to take home their horses and mules to carry out the spring planting, and provided Lee with a supply of food rations for his starving army; Lee said it would have

3888-537: The litigation, in 2011 DCWASA began building a large system of sewage storage tunnels to reduce combined sewer overflow. Four deep storage tunnels next to the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers will reduce overflows to the Anacostia by 98 percent, and 96 percent system-wide. The first segment of the tunnel system, 7 miles (11 km) in length, opened in 2018. (The city's overall "Clean Rivers" project, projected to cost $ 2.6 billion, includes other components, such as reducing stormwater flows .) The remaining segments of

3969-537: The main branch of the Potomac River and was well received by the Anacostans. On earlier maps, the river was known as the "Eastern Branch of the Potomac River" until it received its current, official name. In the mid-1600s, the name "Annacostin River" was applied to the stretch of the Potomac River north of Oxon Creek up to the vicinity of present-day Washington where the confluence with the modern Anacostia (then called

4050-425: The main stem Anacostia include Watts Branch , Lower Beaverdam Creek, and Hickory Run. The watershed of the river covers roughly 176 sq mi (460 km ) in eastern Montgomery County and northern Prince George's County, as well as most of the eastern half of Washington, D.C. Captain John Smith recorded in his journals that he sailed up the "Eastern Branch" or Anacostia River, in 1608 in his search for

4131-451: The meaning, wheels superbly, making with himself and his horse one uplifted figure, with profound salutation as he drops the point of his sword to the boot toe; then facing to his own command, gives word for his successive brigades to pass us with the same position of the manual,—honor answering honor. On our part not a sound of trumpet more, nor roll of drum; not a cheer, nor word nor whisper of vain-glorying, nor motion of man standing again at

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4212-420: The mussels have already purified 32 million gallons of water in the first year of this project. The pilot project began in 2018 when the Anacostia Watershed Society harvested 9,000 quarter-sized mussels and placed them in the river in protective baskets.  In 2019, after 92% of the mussels survived the first year of the project, the D.C. Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) gave the watershed society

4293-434: The nine-and-a-half-month Siege of Petersburg and Richmond, retreated west, hoping to join his army with Confederate forces, the Army of Tennessee in North Carolina . Union infantry and cavalry forces under General Philip Sheridan pursued and cut off the Confederates' retreat at the central Virginia village of Appomattox Court House . Lee launched a last-ditch attack to break through the Union forces to his front, assuming

4374-452: The northeast. Colonel Charles Venable of Lee's staff rode in at this time and asked for an assessment, and Gordon gave him a reply he knew Lee did not want to hear: "Tell General Lee I have fought my corps to a frazzle, and I fear I can do nothing unless I am heavily supported by Longstreet's corps." Upon hearing it Lee finally stated the inevitable: "Then there is nothing left for me to do but to go and see General Grant, and I would rather die

4455-651: The order, but an awed stillness rather, and breath-holding, as if it were the passing of the dead! Chamberlain's account has been questioned by historian William Marvel, who claims that "few promoted their own legends more actively and successfully than he did". Marvel points out that Chamberlain in fact did not command the federal surrender detail (but only one of the brigades in General Joseph J. Bartlett 's division) and that he did not mention any "salute" in his contemporary letters, but only in his memoirs written many decades later when most other eyewitnesses had already died. Confederate General John Brown Gordon , in command of

4536-436: The position was untenable, but Union troops made the first move. On April 1, 1865, Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan 's cavalry turned Lee's flank at the Battle of Five Forks . The next day Grant's army achieved a decisive breakthrough , effectively ending the Petersburg siege. With supply railroad lines cut, Lee's men abandoned the trenches they had held for ten months and evacuated on the night of April 2–3. Lee's first objective

4617-458: The responsibility assumed, and of the criticisms that would follow, as the sequel proved, nothing of that kind could move me in the least. The act could be defended, if needful, by the suggestion that such a salute was not to the cause for which the flag of the Confederacy stood, but to its going down before the flag of the Union. My main reason, however, was one for which I sought no authority nor asked forgiveness. Before us in proud humiliation stood

4698-570: The river showed that many people reported "exposure to water while canoeing, kayaking, rowing, rafting, and paddling, and members of this group also reported getting water in their mouth while recreating." This exposure to polluted water has potential adverse effects on the health of individuals and their community. The Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) sued the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DCWASA) in 1999 for allowing more than 2 billion US gallons (7,600,000 m ) of combined sewage and urban runoff ( stormwater ) to flow into

4779-425: The river via its antiquated combined sewer overflow system. In settling the lawsuit, WASA agreed to invest $ 140 million on pump station rehabilitation, pipe cleaning and maintenance and public notices of overflows. In late 2004, AWS and other organizations announced plans to sue the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), the sewage authority in Maryland, over similar problems with river contamination from

4860-463: The river. Since 2018, thousands of mussels have been placed in the Anacostia in an effort to reduce the impact of urban runoff , PCBs , and microplastics on river water quality and overall river health.  This effort has happened in conjunction with a movement to make the river a popular local water recreation site. Mussels , which are filter feeders, have a strong capability to clean water.  The Anacostia Watershed Society estimates that

4941-878: The river. River health has improved since, as noted in the watershed society's 2019 river report card.  The Anacostia earned its second-best-ever grade in the 2019 State of the Anacostia Report Card, but still failed the evaluation, earning a 51 percent. Swimming or wading in the Anacostia became illegal in 1971. However, as of 2019, city officials are considering changing this law and building public river pools.  DOEE Director Tommy Wells said, “I believe we will have swimming platforms in Washington, D.C. by 2025."   Freshwater mussels have tougher meat than saltwater mussels, so local restaurants are unlikely to buy them. “Without commercial demand for freshwater mussels, funding for their restoration hinges on proof of their ability to save rivers," The Washington Post reported in 2019. The Bladensburg Waterfront Park , part of

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5022-452: The same terms he had before: In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 8th inst., I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of N. Va. on the following terms, to wit: Rolls of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate. One copy to be given to an officer designated by me, the other to be retained by such officer or officers as you may designate. The officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms against

5103-399: The stacking of arms led by Confederate Maj. Gen. John B. Gordon to Union Brig. Gen. Joshua Chamberlain marked the disbandment of the Army of Northern Virginia with the parole of its nearly 28,000 remaining officers and men, free to return home without their major weapons but enabling men to take their horses and officers to retain their sidearms (swords and pistols), and effectively ending

5184-547: The station ahead of the Southerners that evening, where he captured Lee's supplies and obstructed his path. Following the minor battles of Cumberland Church and High Bridge , on April 7, General Grant sent a note to Lee suggesting that it was time to surrender the Army of Northern Virginia. In a return note, Lee refused the request, but asked Grant what terms he had in mind. On April 8, Union cavalry under Brig. Gen. and Brevet Maj. Gen. George Armstrong Custer captured and burned three supply trains waiting for Lee's army at

5265-409: The strength of the Confederacy was gone, and decided to lay down their own arms. General Joseph E. Johnston 's army in North Carolina, the most threatening of the remaining Confederate armies, surrendered to Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman at Bennett Place in Durham, North Carolina , on April 26, 1865. The 89,270 Confederate troops who laid down their weapons (the largest surrender of the war) marked

5346-429: The terms of surrender Grant was proposing to offer. A white linen dish towel was used as a Confederate flag of truce and was carried by Capt. R. M. Sims, one of Longstreet's staff officers, into the lines of General Custer, who was part of Sheridan's command. After a truce was arranged, Custer was escorted through the lines to meet Longstreet. According to Longstreet, Custer said, “in the name of General Sheridan, I demand

5427-433: The topography was too difficult (requiring bridges, switchbacks and tunnels) and because it would result in a loss of wildness. A 2010 report by the NCPC, NPS and DC called for a similar greenway connection between the forts. None of those plan been implemented. The park has three picnic areas that are able to reserved for group use. Otherwise, the picnic tables are available through a first come first use basis. Fort Dupont

5508-415: The trail had already been descoped to 23 miles. The 1968 Fort Circle Parks Master Plan was approved in 1974, but there was no further work on the project. In 2004, NPS updated its management plan for the parks and chose to replace the completed trail with a guided walking route between them. The bicycle trail was dropped because it would too significantly change the narrow trails that it went through, because

5589-404: The unconditional surrender of this army.” Longstreet replied that he was not in command of the army, but if he were he would not deal with messages from Sheridan. Custer responded that it would be a pity to have more blood upon the field, to which Longstreet suggested that the truce be respected, and then added “General Lee has gone to meet General Grant, and it is for them to determine the future of

5670-566: The virtual end of the conflict. General Richard Taylor surrendered his army, the Departments of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana, at Citronelle, Alabama , on May 4, 1865. President Jefferson Davis met with his Confederate Cabinet for the last time on May 5, 1865 in Washington, Georgia , and officially dissolved the Confederate government. Davis and his wife Varina , along with their escort, were captured by Union forces on May 10 at Irwinville, Georgia . Upon hearing about Lee's surrender, General Nathan Bedford Forrest , future leader of

5751-407: The war (ironically a Confederate victory which was followed soon after by the surrender of the Confederate forces). Commander James Iredell Waddell in command of the CSS  Shenandoah , a commerce raider of the Confederate States Navy , was the last to surrender when he lowered the Confederate flag in Liverpool and surrendered his vessel to the British government on November 6, 1865 (Waddell

5832-718: The war in Virginia. This event signaled the end of the four-year-long war. It triggered a series of subsequent surrenders across the South, in North Carolina , Alabama and finally Shreveport, Louisiana , for the Trans-Mississippi Theater in the West by June. The final campaign for Richmond, Virginia , the capital of the Confederate States , began when the Union Army of the Potomac crossed

5913-492: The war. (The coincidence has been written of that farmer McLean, who relocated to avoid war after one of the Civil War's first battles happened on his land, would come to have the war's end negotiated in his sitting room.) With gunshots still being heard on Gordon's front and Union skirmishers still advancing on Longstreet's front, Lee received a message from Grant. After several hours of correspondence between Grant and Lee,

5994-465: Was a carrying case for his binoculars. It was the first time the two men had seen each other face-to-face in almost two decades. Suddenly overcome with sadness, Grant found it hard to get to the point of the meeting, and instead the two generals briefly discussed their only previous encounter, during the Mexican–American War . Lee brought the attention back to the issue at hand, and Grant offered

6075-472: Was an artillery installation defending the eastern approaches of Washington. During the war the following pieces were at the fort: Fort Dupont never fired guns in hostile action; however, after the surrender of Confederate forces at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, according to John Longyear, "the Chain of forts around the city and the batteries of field artillery between, made a ring of cannons around

6156-479: Was an earthwork fort built in 1861 as part of the Civil War Defenses of Washington , completed in spring 1862, and in use till 1865 when it was abandoned. The land was owned by Micheal Canton prior to the war and returned to him afterward. The fort was a hexagon with 100-foot-long (30 m) sides; inside was a flag pole, deep well, officer quarters, and barracks, while outside was a guard house. The fort

6237-503: Was halfway around the world in the Pacific when he learned the war had ended). Lee never forgot Grant's magnanimity during the surrender, and for the rest of his life would not tolerate an unkind word about Grant in his presence. Confederate General Longstreet spoke well of his old friend Grant, saying he was grateful to Grant for a cheerful greeting and providing him a cigar at Appomattox, as well as later efforts by Grant to get Longstreet

6318-477: Was not present at the meeting) reportedly shouted that "it's all over" upon hearing the surrender was signed, roughly 175,000 Confederates remained in the field, but were mostly starving and disillusioned. Many of these were scattered throughout the South in garrisons or guerrilla bands while the rest were concentrated in three major Confederate commands. Just as Porter Alexander had predicted, as news spread of Lee's surrender other Confederate commanders realized that

6399-481: Was the Union officer selected to lead the ceremony. In his memoirs entitled The Passing of the Armies , Chamberlain reflected on what he witnessed on April 12, 1865, as the Army of Northern Virginia marched in to surrender their arms and their colors: The momentous meaning of this occasion impressed me deeply. I resolved to mark it by some token of recognition, which could be no other than a salute of arms. Well aware of

6480-525: Was to reassemble and supply his men at Amelia Courthouse . His plan was to link up with Gen. Joseph E. Johnston 's Army of Tennessee in North Carolina and go on the offensive after establishing defenses on the Roanoke River in southwest Virginia. When the troops arrived at Amelia on April 4, however, they found no provisions. Lee sent wagons out to the surrounding country to forage, but as

6561-450: Was willing to discuss how Grant's terms would affect the Confederacy. Grant, suffering from a throbbing headache, stated that "It looks as if Lee still means to fight." The Union infantry was close, but the only unit near enough to support Sheridan's cavalry was Maj. Gen. John Gibbon's XXIV Corps of the Army of the James . This corps traveled 30 miles (48 km) in 21 hours to reach the cavalry. Maj. Gen. Edward O. C. Ord , commander of

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