<P> While the Union Army was closing in on Lee, all that lay between Lee and Lynchburg was Union cavalry . Lee hoped to break through the cavalry before infantry arrived . He sent a note to Grant saying that he did not wish to surrender his army just yet but was willing to discuss how Grant's terms would affect the Confederacy . Grant, suffering from a throbbing headache, stated that "It looks as if Lee still means to fight ." The Union infantry was close, but the only unit near enough to support Sheridan's cavalry was Maj. Gen. John Gibbon's XXIV Corps of the Army of the James . This corps traveled 30 miles (48 km) in 21 hours to reach the cavalry . Maj. Gen. Edward O.C. Ord, commander of the Army of the James, arrived with the XXIV Corps around 4: 00 a.m. while the V Corps of the Army of the Potomac was close behind . Sheridan deployed his three divisions of cavalry along a low ridge to the southwest of Appomattox Court House . </P> <P> At dawn on April 9, the Confederate Second Corps under Maj. Gen. John B. Gordon attacked Sheridan's cavalry and quickly forced back the first line under Brevet Brig. Gen. Charles H. Smith . The next line, held by Brig . Gens . Ranald S. Mackenzie and George Crook, slowed the Confederate advance . Gordon's troops charged through the Union lines and took the ridge, but as they reached the crest they saw the entire Union XXIV Corps in line of battle with the Union V Corps to their right . Lee's cavalry saw these Union forces and immediately withdrew and rode off towards Lynchburg . Ord's troops began advancing against Gordon's corps while the Union II Corps began moving against Lt. Gen. James Longstreet's corps to the northeast . Colonel Charles Venable of Lee's staff rode in at this time and asked for an assessment, and Gordon gave him a reply he knew Lee did not want to hear: "Tell General Lee I have fought my corps to a frazzle, and I fear I can do nothing unless I am heavily supported by Longstreet's corps ." Upon hearing it Lee finally stated the inevitable: "Then there is nothing left for me to do but to go and see General Grant, and I would rather die a thousand deaths ." </P> <P> Many of Lee's officers, including Longstreet, agreed that surrendering the army was the only option left . The only notable officer opposed to surrender was Longstreet's chief of artillery, Brig. Gen. Edward Porter Alexander, who predicted that if Lee surrendered then "every other (Confederate) army will follow suit". </P> <P> At 8: 00 a.m., Lee rode out to meet Grant, accompanied by three of his aides . Grant received Lee's first letter on the morning of April 9 as he was traveling to meet Sheridan . Grant recalled his migraine seemed to disappear when he read Lee's letter, and he handed it to his assistant Rawlins to read aloud before composing his reply: </P>

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