Appomattox in Appomattox County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Lee's Last Attack

— Appomattox Court House National Historical Park —

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, December 20, 2025

1. Lee's Last Attack Marker

Inscription. Here, on the foggy morning of April 9, 1865, the Army of Northern Virginia made its final attack and fired its last organized volley. Shortly after daylight, Confederate infantry moved out of the village and drove Union cavalry from this ridge, opening the Richmond-Lynchburg Stage Road for the passage of Lee's army.

The victory was short-lived. Union infantry soon appeared in the fields before you, blocking the route west again. North Carolinians along this lane engaged the Federals—and continued to do so until flags of truce went out. Then, with the rest of the Confederates west of Appomattox Court House, the Carolinians fell back into the village. The shooting died away, never to resume.

(caption)
"Last at Appomattox" North Carolinians wage the final fight of the army of Northern Virginia. To commemorate the event, North Carolina veterans returned here in 1905 to erect the monument down the path to your left.

Morning, April 9, 1865: The Confederates at first swept aside Union cavalry and cleared the road westward. But then Union infantry arrived—coming from the west (in front of you) and south (to your left).

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With no escape left, the Confederates fell back and requested a truce.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is April 9, 1865.

Location. 37° 22.48′ N, 78° 48.435′ W. Marker is in Appomattox, Virginia, in Appomattox County. It can be reached from Old Courthouse Road (Virginia Route 24) 0.1 miles west of Gordon Drive, on the right when traveling east. Marker is within Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, on the Grant's Approach Trail accessible on foot from the North Carolina Monument Wayside. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Appomattox VA 24522, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont

and in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

Lee's Last Attack Marker - View of Ridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, December 20, 2025

2. Lee's Last Attack Marker - View of Ridge

Confederates drove Federal cavalry from this ride in the action described in the marker. The cemetery is a post-war development. The replica Parrott Rifle at right overlooks the Stage Road (modern VA-24), which is hidden by its position below grade. Federal infantry emerged from the treeline on the far side of the field and fought their way through the low-lying field and up the slope to drive the Confederates back to the village of Appomattox Court House. In 2025, the National Park Service opened a walking trail on that side of the field chronicling the advance of US Colored Troops (USCTs) among the Federal infantry that participated in the action; the trail is named the USCT Approach Trail, accessible from the Grant's Headquarters wayside. Grant spent the night of 9 April 1865 on the crest of the ridge in the distance, where the trees clear (at center left, to the right of the distant treeline).

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: "It is a terrible thing to be killed on the last day of the war." (here, next to this marker); The North Carolina Monument (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named North Carolina Monument (about 500 feet away); Raine Cemetery and Monument (about 600 feet away); North Carolina (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Strategic Delay (approx. ¼ mile away); Raine Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Appomattox Court House Confederate Cemetery (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Appomattox.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Education in 1800's Rural Virginia (was about 500 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. National Park Service (Submitted on January 22, 2026.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 21, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 61 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 21, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.