Appomattox Courthouse

The final chase. The last gamble. The surrender that helped end the Civil War.

In April 1865, General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia was starving, exhausted, and on the run. Behind them came General Ulysses S. Grant and the powerful Union army, closing in with every mile. Lee's only hope was to break through, reach the railroad, find food, and keep the Confederate cause alive.

But near a small Virginia village called Appomattox Court House, the chase reached its dramatic end.

Epic Battles: Appomattox Court House brings young readers into the final days of the American Civil War, when two famous generals faced impossible choices. Lee had to decide whether to sacrifice his remaining soldiers in one last hopeless fight. Grant had to decide how to win the peace after winning the war.

Written for curious readers ages 7-13, this fast-paced nonfiction book explains the final campaign of the Civil War with clear storytelling, dramatic scenes, and kid-friendly historical context. Readers will learn why Richmond fell, how Union cavalry cut off Lee's escape, what happened inside the McLean House, and why Appomattox became one of the most important moments in American history.

Inside, readers will discover:

• Why Lee's army was trapped at Appomattox Court House
• How Grant's relentless strategy helped end the war
• What weapons, cavalry, railroads, and supply lines meant on a Civil War battlefield
• How the surrender meeting unfolded between Grant and Lee
• Why the Union victory mattered for the future of the United States
• A timeline, glossary, battle narrative, and review questions for deeper learning