Why did Robert E. Lee surrender in the Civil War?

Question

I'm ok, my allergies suck though.
"He got his butt whipped" isn't something I can say to my teacher.

Answer 1

He was a gentleman warrior who recognized that the war was lost and that continuation of hostilities would only cause further suffering of the Southern populace.

The most remarkable thing about the surrender was that the Confederate generals were allowed to return home and not face trial all in the name of nation healing.

Answer 2

The North created a Union and wanted to bring the South into it. The "union" refers to the federal government that was in place at the start of the civil war. Abraham Lincoln was president at the time and one of the things the Union wanted to do was end slavery which was still present in the eleven southern states that opposed the Union. As a result of the South disagreeing with the Union, they formed their own government and called it the "Confederacy". When serious talk of war on both sides came about, the south were poorly informed. The North had better ammo, better weapons, more men, and so on. What really hit the south hard was that the North were able to cut off shipping in the south of cotton between the south and England who were buying the cotton. A good chunk of the money made in the south was from cotton and now they were making none which sent many people in the south to financial ruin. They had it in their minds that they were "going to lick the yankees in a matter of days" but the war lasted four years and the south were ultimately defeated. Abraham Lincoln lived to see the end of the war which was officially declared on April 9, 1865. However, Lincoln was shot and killed a few days later.

Answer 3

If no one else will give it, here is a REAL answer. After serious Confederate reverses in North Carolina, Georgia and after the fall of Richmond and Petersburg Virginia, Lee was heading west to rendevous with other Confederate forces. He had planned having supplies of food delivered to his army near Appamatox Courthouse since his army was surviving on the barest amount of food. When he arrived Lee found that the promised food had not been delivered. Around the same time a large body of Confederate troops had been attacked and surrendered to the Union Army of the Potomac, this was the first time a large body of Confederates serving under Lee in the Army of Northern Virginia had done so. While some officers urged Lee to go into the mountains and conduct a guerilla campaign, Lee realized that he would only be delaying final defeat and decided to surrender. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

But for the military genius of Robert E. Lee, the Civil War would have ended long before it did. He surrendered because he realized the South had lost and to continue the war would be fruitless and would only cause many more southern casualties.

Chow!!

Answer 5

Lee's army, like most of the southern forces throughout the war, was poorly supplied and equipped. Lee had just lost the battle of Five Forks and was desperate for supplies. The Union Calvary, under George Armstrong Custer, got ahead of Lee and destroyed the supplies. This forced Lee to turn to Lynchburg in an attempt to get the needed supplies. The Union managed to get their infantry in positions around Lee's and Calvary in front - blocking his access to Lynchburg and escape. At Appomattox Courthouse, Lee made an attempt to break through the Northern Calvary, but failed. Lee made the decision to surrender his army rather than fight in vain and lose more lives.

It's important to note that Lee did not surrender on behalf of the entire South. He only admitted defeat of his forces - there were still 175,000 Confederate troops fighting elsewhere under other Southern Generals. With the surrender of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, other Confederate Armies followed suit as word reached them and brought the war to an end.

Answer 6

He was trying to "skeddadle" as they put it and follow back through to meet up with his other Army. Calvalry slowed Him a bit Just outside the Town and then he was slowly encircled. His troops had not eaten the railcars holding food and Ammo was cut off from him. within hours his troops were surraounded by 10 times his amount. He could have ran for the Mountains and Did a sniper war for years but figured that had no honor and would destroy the south forever. So he wrote to Grant for Terms and when that was settled went to sign. Lincoln was shot just within days of that and Joe Jacksons army got a rougher set of terms from Sherman But still less than Washington DC was demanding.

Answer 7

Because his entire army was decimated from years of combat against the North. Also, the North had an immense advantage over the South in that it could produce weapons and equipment much easier and faster than the South, because the South had virtually no factories, just plantations.

Answer 8

The war had been going on for four and a half years. All his other commanders had been defeated in the field. His army was the only one left operating.
He was out of supplies, men, money, food, horses, and options. It was clear that he could not continue. He had the option of trying to keep small guerrilla bands raiding the north, or sending the remaining men home in time for spring planting.
He chose to surrender and to send his men home so that they and their families wouldn't starve.
You could probably find more if you type "Robert E. Lee" and "Appomattox" in your search engine.

Answer 9

He got his butt whipped...

And I was always glad he did.. but the way society is going nowdays, I am wondering if maybe things might have been better if he had won...

Answer 10

Um, because the south had LOST.

Are you feeling ok?