The American Civil War Overview THE EASTERN THEATER: PETERSBURG
AND APPOMATTOX Inside the Richmond fortifications, Lee's army
had slowly been starving. Morale began to take a nose dive and
between mid-February and mid-March about 8% of the men deserted.
Grant meanwhile, took little offensive action but continued to
extend his line southward which served to stretch Lee's already
over-extended defenses almost to the breaking point. On March
25, 1865, Lee attempted to break through Grant's lines at Fort
Stedman, but despite some initial success, was finally beaten
back with heavy losses. On April 1, Sheridan broke the Southside
Railroad, defeating Pickett's division in the Battle of Five
Forks. Sheridan was now in Lee's rear and the Danville Railroad,
Lee's last supply line, lay fully exposed to capture. Lee had no
choice. He ordered the immediate evacuation of Richmond. The
Confederate government and the remaining gold in its treasury
were put on a special train and headed south. Richmond fell on
April 2. Lee's