In the early hours of Sunday, April 2, 1865 Union troops advanced against the entire Petersburg front. Confederate resistance crumpled in front of the much larger Union forces. While rallying his men, Confederate General A.P. Hill was killed, and by noon only two fortifications along the western end of the Petersburg line had not capitulated to the Federals. It was obvious that Lee had to immediately abandon his defenses; a general retreat was ordered in the afternoon. In Richmond a messenger from Lee entered St. Paul’s Church, interrupting services to inform Davis that the capital had to be abandoned. By 11 p.m., the president and most of the Confederate Cabinet departed Richmond for Danville, Virginia. Soon after, inmates from the state prison escaped, looting began and uncontrolled fires devastated the city be immediately abandoned.
00000174-b11b-ddc3-a1fc-bfdbb1a20000The Schreiner University Department of History is honoring the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War with a series of short vignettes focusing on events from 1861 through 1865. The Civil War was the most destructive conflict in American history, but it was also one of our most defining moments as a people and as a nation. Let us know what you think about "This Week in the Civil War." E-mail your comments to Dr. John Huddleston at jhuddles@schreiner.edu.Airs: Weekdays at 5:19 a.m., 8:19 a.m., 4:19 p.m. on KTXI and 4:49 a.m., 9:29 p.m. on KSTX.