The road to Appomattox and the end of the Confederacy began on this day 160 years ago

The Third Battle of Petersburg - aka the Breakthrough at Petersburg.

On April 2, 1865, after a nine-month-long siege, the Union Army of the Potomac launched a general offensive against the Confederate trenches to the south and west of Petersburg, VA. The first breakthrough came via the Union VI Army Corps at the Boydton Plank Road. Horatio Wright's 14,000 men attacked along one mile of ground against 2,800 Confederate defenders. After about 30 minutes of fighting, the Confederate line collapsed along the Boydton Plank Road and Confederate general A.P. Hill was killed shortly thereafter by members of the 138th Pennsylvania.

The VI Corps, supported by the XXIV Corps, continued to roll up the right end of the Confederate line. By mid-morning, Lee knew the gig at Petersburg was up, and began shooting off telegrams to members of the civilian high command.

To Secretary of War John C. Breckenridge, he sent the following message:

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I see no prospect of doing more than holding our position here until night. I am not certain I can do that. If I can I shall withdraw to-night north of the Appomattox, and, if possible, it will be better to withdraw the whole line to-night from James River. I advise that all preparations be made for leaving Richmond tonight. I will advise you later according to circumstances.

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Later, when the situation had worsened, Lee shot off a message to Confederate President Jefferson Davis:

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I think it is absolutely necessary that we should abandon our position tonight. I have given all the necessary orders on the subject to the troops; and the operation, though difficult, I hope will be performed successfully. I have directed General Stevens to send an officer to your Excellency to explain the routes to you by which the troops will be moved to Amelia Court-House, and furnish you with a guide and any assistance that you may require for yourself.

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Davis immediately began making preparations for the evacuation of the Confederate government from Richmond.

Meanwhile, the Union IX Corps added their muscle to the assault on the Petersburg line, bringing the number of Union attackers up to around 63,000 men. They attacked southeast of Petersburg, closer to the Confederate left flank, and drove in the Confederate line around Hatcher's Run and the White Oak Road. By nightfall, the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia had begun abandoning the Petersburg-Richmond line as it started its retreat to the west along the Appomattox River.

The Third Battle of Petersburg resulted in 4,000 Union casualties and at least 5,000 Confederate (though that number is likely a little higher due to the number of prisoners taken). The most immediate impact of the battle was the end of the Siege of Petersburg and the war going mobile for the first time since June 1864.