Lee has surrendered! My husband ran to me and told me the news as soon as he heard. He said that the Confederates had been trying to break the siege of Petersburg but had failed. Then on April 2 the Confederates retreated in hopes of joining Confederate in North Carolina; however, Lee's troops greatly suffered due to lack of food. Lee's troops were starving and tired especially due to the continuous harassment from Union troops. The Confederates were finally trapped in Appomattox Court House, Virginia and finally on April 9th they surrendered to General Grant. Richmond had been destroyed so Lee's army had no choice and the north shall now win. Our General is so respectful because even though the war is over he told his troops not to gloat. Although the war has not officially ended it is only a matter of time before the other Confederate troops surrender. Even General Grant has said, "The war is over, the rebels are country men again." The moment that this nation has been waiting for is almost upon us and I can't wait to see the outcome of our nation performing as one again. This great news also means my son will be coming home very soon and I couldn't be more excited about the outcome of events.
June 1856
The war has official come to an end and my son is finally home. So many things have happened in the last few weeks; word was spread that Lee's army surrendered and finally all Confederate generals have surrendered. My husband said that after Lee's army surrendered there were still 170,000 armed confederates but they have all surrendered and our nation is finally one. Although I am very excited I haven't seen anyone more excited than the African Americans. The word reached African Americans in Texas on June 19 and it has become known as "Juneteenth" because of all the celebrations. My husband found out that the war had ended immediately but word reached the Southwest at a much slower pace. I am glad that there are still celebrations going on because winning the war that tore our nation apart is not a small victory.
"American Civil War: Lee’s Surrender to Grant." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2016.
I have disastrous news that I feel our nation will once again be torn apart from. After Lee's surrender, Lincoln decided to go to the comedy Our American Cousin in Ford's Theater. He sat in a private box yet that didn't stop the actor John Wilkes Booth from going up during the performance. He was a Confederate supporter and he shot our President in the back of the head on April 14. After he did it is was heard that he said the motto of Virginia, "Sic semper tyrannis!" meaning "Thus ever to tyrants" and he was also heard saying "the South is avenged." Lincoln died the next morning and because of Booth's actions lead to a massive manhunt for him. While he was hiding in a barn in Virginia he was killed. I am glad that he was killed because my husband told me that he found out that Booth not only wanted to kill the President but the Vice President and the Secretary of State. The plotters of the death had apparently hoped to catch the north by surprise giving the south time to start war again. There were many plotters but Booth was the only one to carry out the plan; however, the Secretary of State, William Steward, was attacked and badly hurt. The plotters were found and four have been hung for their plan and actions that they were suppose to take part in. Lincoln is now seen as a hero and this death has brought the northern supporters and critics together. He has become a symbol freedom and he has made such a deep impact in our nation especially in politics. He guided this nation through one of its toughest times and he deserved more than could have ever been give to him, I am very saddened because I truly believe in Lincoln's words and I thought of him as an inspiration and a great leader and I can't believe he won't be here to see all the good he will have lead this nation to.
"President Lincoln's Assassination - Abraham Lincoln's Classroom." Abraham Lincoln's Classroom. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2016.
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