12 Chapter 9 The War Is Won

Chapter 9 The War Is Won In 1864, Lincoln's first term as president was coming to an end. There was supposed to be an election in November. But was it possible to hold an election during a civil war? Lincoln's advisers suggested putting it off until the war was over. He refused. "We cannot have free government without elections," he explained. So a campaign began, although people in the rebel states would not be voting. Lincoln's opponent was George McClellan, the general who wouldn't fight. In his speeches, McClellan hinted that he would be willing to compromise to end the war. Lincoln was not at all sure he would win the election. Many Americans were fed up with the war. They were ready to vote for anyone who

promised a quick end. But Lincoln knew that the soldiers supported him. So he made sure they were able to vote.

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Then, right before the election, the Union won some huge victories. General William Sherman, who had been trained by Grant, captured Atlanta. General Philip Sheridan, also trained by Grant, won a series of battles in the Shenandoah Valley. And Grant himself was close to taking the Confederate capital at Richmond, Virginia. With faith in the war restored, the voters elected Lincoln to a second term.

By the beginning of 1865, the end of the war was finally in sight. On March 25, Grant's army captured Richmond. Then he cornered the troops of General Robert E. Lee, the leader of the Confederate army. Lee had no choice. On April 9, he surrendered his army to Grant at Appomattox, Virginia. For all practical purposes, the Civil War was over.

Lincoln was not present for the surrender. The two generals met in a courthouse. Grant was careful to treat Lee generously. He knew that was what Lincoln wanted. The defeated soldiers would not be paraded through the streets or mocked. They would even be allowed to keep their horses. And Grant arranged for food to be given to the starving Confederate troops.