From the Trenches to Triumph: The ‘Amateurs’ of the Army of the James in the War’s Final Act
Join the Appomattox Petersburg Preservation Society at the American Civil War Museum – Appomattox for “From the Trenches to Triumph: The ‘Amateurs’ of the Army of the James in the War’s Final Act” with historian Carson Butler.
Come hear the untold story of the U.S. Army of the James—an army once dismissed as “amateurs,” but which emerged in the spring of 1865 as a decisive force in the war’s closing days. Under General Edward Ord, these soldiers helped bring about the end of the Siege of Petersburg and marched into the Confederate capital of Richmond, capturing it with African American troops of the 25th Corps present as living symbols of emancipation fulfilled. From the storming of Fort Gregg to the final encirclement at Appomattox, the Army of the James helped bring the Confederacy to its knees. This lecture will explore how an overlooked army, long overshadowed by Grant’s, Meade’s and Sherman’s armies, played a defining role in Union victory and the birth of freedom. Join us to uncover the drama, sacrifice, and legacy of the Army of the James in the Civil War’s final act.
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
6:30 PM
American Civil War Museum – Appomattox
Free | No Registration Required
Don’t miss this powerful story of courage, sacrifice, and triumph in the Appomattox Campaign!