Appomattox is a small town in Virginia, known for its historical significance during the American Civil War. It was the site of the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee to Union General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, effectively marking the end of the Civil War. The surrender took place at the Appomattox Court House, where the two leaders negotiated terms that allowed Confederate soldiers to return home peacefully. This event symbolized the reunification of the United States and set the stage for the Reconstruction era that followed.