[263]
By March 1865, Lee was trapped, Grant had severely weakened Lee's strength, having extended his lines to 35 miles.[264] Confederate troops no longer confident of their commander, deserted Lee by the thousands, starving and under the duress of trench warfare. [265] On March 25, in a desperate effort, Lee sacrificed his remaining troops (4,000 CSA casualties) at Fort Stedman, a Union victory, and considered the last Petersburg line battle. Grant, Sherman, Porter, and Lincoln held a conference to discuss the surrender of Lee's Confederate depleted armies and Reconstruction of the South on March 28.[266]

Defeated Lee and victory (1865)
Main articles: Third Battle of Petersburg, Appomattox Campaign, and Battle of Appomattox Court House
Defeated by Grant, Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House
On April 2, Grant ordered a general assault on Lee's entrenched depleted forces. Lee abandoned Petersburg and Richmond, while Grant's conquering Union troops easily took Petersburg and captured Richmond the next day.[267] A desperate Lee, and part of his army cut and ran, attempted to link up with the remnants of Joseph E. Johnston's defeated army. Sheridan's cavalry, however, stopped the two armies from converging, cutting them off from their supply trains.