On April 2, 1865, after a ten-month siege, Gen. Robert E. Lee abandoned the cities of Richmond and Petersburg and retreated west. Lee hoped to resupply his army and then move into North Carolina to join Confederates under Gen. Joseph Johnston. Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and three Union armies pursued Lee. After a fight at Sailors Creek on April 6, Union cavalry blocked Lee's retreat at Appomattox Station on the night of April 8. Unable to break through and Lee surrendered the next day.