Why is the Appomattox Court House a famous site?

Answer 1

Union calvary troops cut off the retreat of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia (under the command of General Robert E. Lee) near the Appomattox Court House. Lee knew the Confederate cause was effectively lost by this point, but was not yet willing to surrender. Confederate supplies at Appomattox were gone, but supplies were available at the Confederate railhead of Lynchburg to the west, so if Lee could reach Lynchburg, he stood a chance of at least delaying defeat (and potentially of negotiating better terms for the surrender).

Under the assumption that he was facing Union cavalry only, Lee ordered the Army of Northern Virginia to attack to try to break through Union lines. This worked to some extent, but when Confederate troops crested a ridge after fighting through several lines of cavalry they saw all of the Union XXIV Infantry Corps directly ahead of them, with the V Corps to their right.

Shortly after this, it became obvious to nearly all Lee's staff that surrender under whatever terms Grant was offering was essentially their only viable option. Fortunately, these turned out to be about as favorable as Lee could have hoped for, since the men under his command were not to be imprisoned or prosecuted for treason (which they were, at least technically, guilty of), but released on "parole" under the condition that they not again take up arms against the Government of the United States.

However, "why it happened" was basically "The Union Army got in the way of Lee's retreat, and Lee mistakenly thought he could break through."

Answer 2

General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Colonel Ulysses S. Grant, after a meeting at a private home meaning a confederate surrender.

Answer 3

It was the county seat for Appomattox County, Virginia. The rail line went through and it was where trials and business were conducted.