The U.S. Civil War Ended 150 Years Ago Today

VOA: US Marks 150th Anniversary of Civil War's End

WASHINGTON - One-hundred-fifty years ago Thursday, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to Union General Ulysses Grant, marking the end of the four-year U.S. Civil War that killed more than 700,000 people and freed the slaves.

Many consider it one of the most emotional moments in U.S. history. One reason the surrender scene was so dramatic is because the personalities of Lee and Grant reflected the two sides of the war.

Lee’s side, the South, included many large farms that depended on slave labor. The southern farm owners were often wealthy, polite and well-connected in society. Even though Lee was not wealthy, he belonged to a famous family.

WNU Editor: Regular readers of this blog know that my family has a tradition of lighting a candle every Friday night .... to remember loved ones or to remember past events that resulted in shaping the life that we live today. Tonight .... we remember the ending of the U.S. Civil War.