Changes

In May 1864, Lee faced a proven fighter: [[Ulysses S. Grant]], just appointed as commanding general of all Union forces, who went after Lee with enormous superiority in men, cavalry, and logistics.  For his part, Grant could neither defeat nor outmaneuver Lee during the next several months; Grant sustained losses of 50,000 men between May and June in the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House (nearby at Yellow Tavern, Lee would suffer the loss of Jeb Stuart, his favorite cavalry commander and most effective scout), the North Anna, and Cold Harbor (Lee, pp 124-125).   

In May 1864, Lee faced a proven fighter: [[Ulysses S. Grant]], just appointed as commanding general of all Union forces, who went after Lee with enormous superiority in men, cavalry, and logistics.  For his part, Grant could neither defeat nor outmaneuver Lee during the next several months; Grant sustained losses of 50,000 men between May and June in the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House (nearby at Yellow Tavern, Lee would suffer the loss of Jeb Stuart, his favorite cavalry commander and most effective scout), the North Anna, and Cold Harbor (Lee, pp 124-125).   

But Grant kept after him, his losses replaced by new recruits, while Lee’s army was draining in both men and supplies.  Lee had lost the initiative, and when Grant made a move toward the vital rail connection at Petersburg, Lee had no other choice but to place his starving men in defensive positions, and go through a long siege; due to Lee’s mastery of engineering, his field fortifications were able to hold the Federals back from June 1864, to April 1865.  By then, Lee knew it would be a matter of time before the lines would break.  

But Grant kept after him, his losses replaced by new recruits, while Lee’s army was draining in both men and supplies.  Lee had lost the initiative, and when Grant made a move toward the vital rail connection at Petersburg, Lee had no other choice but to place his starving men in defensive positions and endure a long siege; due to Lee’s mastery of engineering his field fortifications were able to hold the Federals back from June 1864, to April 1865.  By then, Lee knew it would be a matter of time before the lines would break.  

Lee was forced to abandon Petersburg on April 2, making a long retreat toward the west, where he hoped to meet with a supply train to feed his men.  Several days later, his army finally stopped at Appomattox Court House, he had no choice but to surrender [http://www.civilwarhome.com/grantlee.htm][http://www.civilwarhome.com/surrender.htm], which took place on April 9; the pain of the surrender considerably lessened by the generous terms offered by Grant, who not only allowed the surrendered officers to retain their swords and side arms, but allowed the men to take with them their horses and mules to get a badly-needed spring crop planted if the country was to rebound from the years of war (Lee, pg. 153).  Lee conceded this would have the best possible effect on the men, and would do much to reconciliate the country.  With the formalities of surrender over, there was one order left to pass on to his men:

Lee was forced to abandon Petersburg on April 2, making a long retreat toward the west, where he hoped to meet with a supply train to feed his men.  Several days later, his army finally stopped at Appomattox Court House, he had no choice but to surrender [http://www.civilwarhome.com/grantlee.htm][http://www.civilwarhome.com/surrender.htm], which took place on April 9; the pain of the surrender considerably lessened by the generous terms offered by Grant, who not only allowed the surrendered officers to retain their swords and side arms, but allowed the men to take with them their horses and mules to get a badly-needed spring crop planted if the country was to rebound from the years of war (Lee, pg. 153).  Lee conceded this would have the best possible effect on the men, and would do much to reconciliate the country.  With the formalities of surrender over, there was one order left to pass on to his men: