Appomattox

149 years ago today, the Civil War all but came to an end with the surrender of Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia to Union forces headed by Ulysses S. Grant. While a few battles were still to be fought and many other Confederate units or forces would surrender over the following weeks and months, Lee's surrender marked the end of the war in the Eastern Theater.

The Call For War

On this date in 1917, President Woodrow Wilson asked the United States Congress to declare war on Germany, following the publication of the Zimmerman Telegram (in which Germany offered to finance Mexico's entry into the war on their side and for Mexico to attempt to reconquer Texas, New Mexico and Arizona) and Germany's resumption of submarine attacks on American ships. Congress would declare war on April 6th.

Five Forks

Today in 1865 was the Battle Of Five Forks near Petersburg, Virginia. This Union victory caused Robert E. Lee to move his remaining men of the Army of Northern Virginia away from Petersburg and begin the final flight toward the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Court House nine days later.