On March 25, 1865, Lee unleashed his last offensive, an attack on federal Fort Stedman. It was part of the grand encirclement that the Federals had been drawing for months, and Lee saw this as his only hope for a victory—however small—that might bolster the Confederate cause. The attack did not go well, however.

There was a significant Confederate movement early in the day, but by afternoon the Confederates were in full retreat, and Lee lost roughly four thousand men killed, wounded, or missing, a solid ten percent of his remaining force.