January 31-The U.S. Congress approves the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, to abolish slavery. The amendment is then submitted to the states for ratification.
February 3-A peace conference is held as President Lincoln meets with the Confederate Vice President at Hampton Roads in Virginia. The meeting ends in failure. The War continues. General Lee's army is the only army left to fight for the Confederacy.
March 25-The last offensive strike for Lee's Army of Northern Virginia begins with an attack on the center of Grant's Forces. Four hours later the attack is broken up.
April 2-Grant's forces begin a general advance and break through Lee's line at Petersburg. Lee evacuates Petersburg. The Confederate capital, Richmond, is evacuated. Fire and looting break out. The next day, Union troops enter and raise the Stars and Stripes.
April 9-General Robert E. Lee surrenders his Confederate Army to Ulysses S. Grant at the village of Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia. Grant allows Rebel officers to keep their sidearms and permits soldiers to keep their horses and mules. "After four years of arduous service marked by unsurpassing courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming forces," Lee told his troops.
In May-Remaining Confederate forces surrender. The Nation is reunited as the Civil War ends. Over 620,000 Americans died in the war, with disease killing twice as many as those lost in battle. 50,000 survivors return home as amputees.
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