1. Does my introduction clearly state my thesis and give the reader an indication of the direction my essay will take?
Yes, it is clear and describes what the essay is about. 2. Are my topic sentences and body paragraphs clear and well developed?
Yes, topic and body paragraphs support thesis statement and are in chronological order. 3. Have I fully supported my thesis with ample supporting details and examples?
Yes, multiple examples of Grant maneuvering his troops to capture Lee were given. 4. Have I used a sufficient number and variety of sources in my paper?
Yes, I used three. 5. Are all of my sources properly cited in the body of my paper according to MLA format?
I believe that all of them are. 6. Does my conclusion effectively summarize my main points and restate my thesis in different words?
Yes, it summarizes main points and the thesis is restated in different words. 7. Have I carefully proofread and revised my paper for sentence variety, word choice, grammar, and punctuation?
Yes, I proofread as well as had others proofread my paper. 8. Does my Works Cited page include only the sources cited in the text? Is it correctly formatted?
Yes, I use all three sources in the paper and they are correctly formatted to my knowledge. 9. Have I used the correct margins, line spacing, and other format issues required by the MLA sample essay and the sample provided by my instructor?
Yes, I used the example essay as a template provided by my instructor and double checked the margins.
English 101
24 October 2012
The Surrender at Appomattox General Grant wasted no time in pursuing Lee out of Petersburg. Grant was able to block Lee from moving south at Jetersville on April 5th, forcing Lee to move further west in order to reach rations to feed his army (Trudeau 14). Then on April 6th, Grant took advantage of the exhausted state of Lee’s army by attacking at Sailor’s Creek. During the engagement Lee lost approximately 8,000 men and eight generals either by death, capture, or injury due to Grant’s attack (Trudeau 19). General Grant consistently stayed one step ahead of General Lee from the moment he began his retreat out of Petersburg in order to force Lee to surrender at Appomattox.
On the night of April 8th, 1865 after six days of marching out of Petersburg, Lee found himself with a mere shadow of the once great Northern Virginian Army setting up camp one mile north of Appomattox Court House. His men were exhausted from marching almost none stop to stay ahead of the pursuing Union Army that was led by Lieutenant General U. S. Grant.
Lee’s last hope rested on a small detachment led by General Walker’s ability to secure supplies at Appomattox Station. The news of these supplies reached Major General Sheridan, commander of the Union Cavalry, who quickly took action. The first of Sheridan’s men to reach the station was General Custer, who pushed his division forward along a shorter approach by using southern roads. As the cavalry moved fast along the roads the Army of the James, led by Ord and the Fifth Corps from the Army of the Potomac, under Griffin, were slowly following behind them (Trudeau 30).
General Walker and his men did not expect a conflict on April 8th; however that afternoon General Custer and his men attacked from the south catching the Confederates completely off guard. By that evening, the Union army had captured the Confederate supplies, and the Richmond-Lynchburg Stage Road on the west side of Appomattox Court House was now occupied by Union cavalry. General Grant’s army now surrounded the Confederates (Trudeau 31).
Lee ordered General Gordon’s 2nd Corps into formation on the west side of Appomattox Court House early on the 9th. Just as the sun began to rise Gordon’s men were ordered forward with the goal of recapturing
