The last major battle of the American Civil War was the Battle of Appomattox Court House, fought on April 9, 1865. This battle marked the culmination of a series of confrontations between Union General Ulysses S. Grant and Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The confrontation ended with Lee's surrender to Grant, effectively signaling the end of the Civil War in Virginia. The terms of surrender were generous, allowing Confederate soldiers to return home with their horses and rations, highlighting Grant's intentions for reconciliation. This significant event ushered in the beginning of the Reconstruction era, which sought to address the war's legacies and rebuild the South.