Our eight day tour follows the final struggle of Lee’s magnificent Army of Northern Virginia: the battles and defences around Richmond and Petersburg; his route of the retreat and the final urrender at Appomattox Court House. During the last two days of the tour we will witness re-enactments of final skirmishes, mix with the soldiers of both sides at their last encampments and witness the final event of the Civil War Sesquicentennial commemorations, the moving final march of the defeated army and the emotional ‘Stacking of Arms’ ceremony which marked the end of this terrible war.

The four years of the American Civil was winding to a close 150 years ago. Nearly 750,000 Americans had already perished as the damp and cold winter of 1864-1865 descended on the miserable soldiers, north and south huddled in nearly a hundred miles of trenches and fortifications protecting the Confederate capital of Richmond and the vital rail hub of Petersburg, Virginia. The warm sun heralding a Virginia spring would bring a new onslaught of the combined armies of Federal General Ulysses S. Grant; an onslaught the dwindling and ragged soldiers remaining under the command of Confederate General Robert E. Lee would be ill equipped to handle. Over a period of approximately ten days in late March and early April that onslaught came. The last railroad supplying Richmond was cut, the Petersburg siege lines collapsed under a massive Union attack and Lee’s army began a desperate hundred mile retreat to try to escape the inevitable. The Confederate capital of Richmond, long a focal point of the rebellion, was abandoned and burned. On April 9, 1865 the end came at a little county seat named Appomattox which this year will again host crowds to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of Lee’s surrender.

Day 1 - Outward Travel.
Fly from London to Washington DC and drive to our hotel in Chester for four nights.

Day 2 – Richmond – the Confederate capital.
We start at the Civil War Visitor Centre at Tredegar Iron Works which is near Belle Isle, a significant prison site. We stroll around many of the city’s important civil war sites including the Museum of the Confederacy, the Confederate White House, Monument Avenue and Hollywood Cemetery and Chimborazo, site of the largest Confederate hospital.

Day 3 – Richmond in defence.
In the spring of 1864 General Ulysses S. Grant again threatened the city and we will tour the remaining massive fortifications that were prepared for its defence and visit Cold Harbor, scene of one of the bloodiest of battles. At New Market Heights, Fort Harrison and Drewy’s Bluff we see further defences.

Day 4 – Petersburg.
By June 1864 both Richmond and its important railroad hub of Petersburg were besieged by Union forces. We travel to Pamplin Park, one of the finest Civil War History Parks in the United States, and visit its excellent museum facilities including a restored plantation home and the magnificently preserved trenches dating from the siege. At the National Park Visitor Centre we see the defence batteries captured during the initial Federal assaults, famous battle of the Crater and the scene of Lee’s final offensive at Fort Stedman. We see the historic Blandford Church with its beautiful Tiffany stained glass memorial windows that honour the Confederate dead and trek across the complex trenches, counter-trenches and fortifications to the remote crossroads of Five Forks where Lee’s lines were finally breached.

Day 5 – Lee’s Retreat.
Following the route of Lee’s retreat we travel to Appomattox via Sailor’s Creek and Amelia Springs, the scene of sharp rear-guard actions. We arrive in time to witness the first anniversary reenactment: the cavalry and artillery action at Appomattox Station. Check-in to our hotel in Lynchburg for two nights.

Day 6 – Re-enactment.
We spend the full day at Appomattox exploring the battlefield and the numerous camps, the re-enactment of the battle of Appomattox Court House and observe the meeting of Generals Lee and Grant.

Day 7 – Surrender.
We return to Appomattox to witness the final major event of the American Civil War sesquicentennial commemorations, the extremely moving ‘Stacking of Arms’. Continue to Washington for return flights to UK.

Day 8.
Arrive London