Confederate History Month: Celebrate This, Virginia

145 years ago today, my great-great-grandfather-in-law, Anson Croman, was serving under General Grant when Grant dealt the final death blow to the Confederacy by accepting Lee's surrender,

Southeast of Appomattox Anson's unit, the 20th Michigan Infantry Regiment, was protecting Grant's flank and rebuilding the railroad to keep Grant supplied

Not only did today's events permanently answer the questions of secession and slavery, they were the beginning of the the civil rights movement that culminated in the election of President Obama.

To find Anson's approximate location, click on the at the image and link below to the West Point Atlas map of today's events. In the lower right corner find "IX Parke" That's Anson's and the 20th's corps and commander. A note on the map states they were stretched along the railroad from Petersburg to Farmville.

The Defeat of Lee, 3-9 April 1865
(Public Domain Image/U.S. Military Academy)

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West Point Atlas of the American Civil War.

Best one volume history of the American Civil War.