What was the most significant event on April 2 during the U.S. Civil War?

At approximately 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 2, 1865, Ulysses S. Grant's army attacked Confederate lines at Petersburg, Virginia. By mid-afternoon, Confederate troops had begun to evacuate the town. The Union victory ensured the fall of Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy, located just twenty-five miles north of Petersburg.
President Jefferson Davis received word of the events in Petersburg while attending services at St. Paul's Church in Richmond. He abandoned the capital late that night on a train bound for Danville, Virginia.
Richmond, meanwhile, burned, as fires set by fleeing Confederates and looters raged out of control. Davis was eventually captured by Union soldiers, but not until May 10, 1865.

I was impressed that CSA President emptied his own wallet to give to CSA soldiers wives and widows to help them, buy much needed bread in the Richmond Bread Riot. Starvation in the south was threatening more civilians in the south. By spring 1863 with most able bodied men away fighting the smaller farms were deprived of the primary workers.
By 1865 the fall of the CSA was all but assured as Petersburg in the east and Selma in the south fell. A captured southern courier’s package revealed General Nathan Bedford Forrest’s plans “As Lee’s dispatch in the Maryland campaign, found in the roadway by McClellan, told of the Confederate General’s intentions, so these communications told Gen James Wilson exactly what Forrest planned.”
Since RallyPoint truncates survey selection text I am posting events that were not included and then the full text of each survey choice below:
1. April 2, 1862: --- In Corinth, Mississippi, at the Confederate base for the new Army of the Mississippi, Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston and Gen Pierre G.T. Beauregard have been drawing up plans, knowing that the Union armies of Buell and Grant are planning to converge at Pittsburg Landing prior to a big push toward Corinth. To prevent this juncture, they decide to attack the Union forces in detail, beginning with Grant. Johnston issues orders for the army to be ready to march in the morning:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Corinth, Miss., April 2, 1862. GENERAL: The commander of the forces directs that you hold your command in hand ready to advance upon the enemy in the morning by 6 a.m., with three days' cooked rations in haversacks, 100 rounds of ammunition for small-arms and 200 rounds for field pieces. Carry two days cooked subsistence in wagons and two tents to the company.
Respectfully, your obedient servant, THOMAS JORDAN, Assistant Adjutant-General.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=April+2%2C+1862
2. Thursday April 2, 1863: --- Gideon Welles, the U.S. Secretary of the Navy, writes in his journal of a meeting with Sen. Charles Sumner and Sec. of State William Seward. Inevitably, the topic of Britain and its involvement arises: I then opened on the subject generally. England is taking advantage of our misfortunes and would press upon us just as far as we would bear to be pressed. She rejoiced in our dissensions and desired the dismemberment of the Union. With this rebellion on our hands we were in no condition for a war with her, and it was because we were in this condition that she was arrogant and presuming. A higher and more decisive tone towards her will secure a different policy on her part. A war with England would be a serious calamity to us, but scarcely less serious to her. She cannot afford a maritime conflict with us, even in our troubles, nor will she. We can live within ourselves if worse comes to worse.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=April+2%2C+1863
3. Thursday April 2, 1863: --- George Templeton Strong of New York City, in his ever-perceptive observation of war events, comments on the latest news, although ending with a despairing note: We have news today of successful fighting in the West, though not on any large scale, and the rebel foray into Kentucky seems advancing backward. Report that Burnside is advancing on East Tennessee. I hope he is. Why that important wedge of loyal territory, penetrating into the heart of seceshdom, has been so long neglected and its people left to be harried by beastly gangs of merciless rebel marauders, is (to me) the one great inscrutable mystery in our conduct of the war. From Vicksburg and Port Hudson our tidings are bad and indicate probable failure.
Http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=April+2%2C+1863
4. Saturday April 2, 1864: --- George Templeton Strong of New York City records in his journal his sense of the war news and high-placed gossip: The war languishes and makes no progress. People naturally turn their thoughts, therefore, to questions of finance, taxation, and prices, and wonder whether gold will not soon be at 200 and butter a dollar a pound. I believe General Grant is working in his new place [German] ohne hast, ohne Rast, [Without haste, but without rest] purging the Army of the Potomac of disaffected McClellanists in high command and bringing its morale into training for hard work in its next campaign against “Lee’s Miserables.” Stanton seems trying to interfere and thwart the lieutenant-general. So people say. If he is doing so, I hope Grant will tender his resignation and tell the country the reason why.
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5. Saturday April 2, 1864 --- As the Federals enter the town of Natchitoches, Gen. Taylor leaves just ahead of the enemy, and directs his spread-out forces to gather at Pleasant Hill.
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6. Saturday April 2, 1864 --- Pres. and Mrs. Lincoln, accompanied by Mrs. Grant, attend a performance of Faust at Grover’s Theater tonight.
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7. Saturday April 2, 1864 --- John Beauchamp Jones, a Confederate War Department clerk in Richmond, writes with some despondency in his journal about dire conditions in the capital, including the dark shadow of illegal trade across enemy lines: It rained furiously all night; wind northwest, and snowed to-day until 12 m. to a depth of several inches. It is still blowing a gale from the northwest. To-day the clerks were paid in the new currency; but I see no abatement of prices from the scarcity of money, caused by funding. Shad are selling at $10 each, paper; or 50 cents, silver. Gold and silver are circulating—a little.
A letter from Liberty, Va., states that government bacon (tithe) is spoiling, in bulk, for want of attention.
From Washington County there are complaints that Gen. Longstreet’s impressing officers are taking all, except five bushels of grain and fifty pounds of bacon for each adult—a plenty, one would think, under the circumstances.
Senator Hunter has asked and obtained a detail for Mr. Daudridge (under eighteen) as quartermaster’s clerk. And Mr. Secretary Seddon has ordered the commissary to let Mrs. Michie have sugar and flour for her family, white and black.
Mr. Secretary Benjamin sent over, to-day, for passports to the Mississippi River for two “secret agents.” What for?
Gen. Lee has made regulations to prevent cotton, tobacco, etc. passing his lines into the enemy’s country, unless allowed by the government. But, then, several in authority will “allow” it without limit.
I set out sixty-eight early cabbage-plants yesterday. They are now under the snow!
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8. Sunday April 2, 1865: Selma, Alabama assailed and captured
http://www.civilwar.org/150th-anniversary/this-day-in-the-civil-war.html
9. Sunday April 2, 1865: Battle of Fort Blakely, Alabama begins. [April 2-9] General E.R.S. Canby’s forces, the XVI and XIII corps, moved along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, forcing the Confederates back into their defenses. Union forces then concentrated on Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely. By April 1, Union forces had enveloped Spanish Fort, thereby releasing more troops to focus on Fort Blakely. CSA Brig. Gen. St. John R. Liddell, with about 4,000 men, held out against the much larger Union force until Spanish Fort fell on April 8, allowing Canby to concentrate 16,000 men for the attack on April 9. Sheer numbers breached the Confederate earthworks compelling the Confederates to capitulate. The siege and capture of Fort Blakely was basically the last combined-force battle of the war. African-American forces played a major role in the successful Union assault.
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/fort-blakely.html
10. Sunday April 2, 1865: Grant's forces begin a general advance and break through Lee's lines at Petersburg and Fort Gregg stormed. Confederate Gen. Ambrose P. Hill is killed. Lee evacuates Petersburg. The Confederate Capital, Richmond, is evacuated. Fires and looting break out. The next day, Union troops enter and raise the Stars and Stripes.
http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/
11. April 2, 1866: The United States declares that a state of peace exists with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
A. April 2, 1862: In Congress, today is issued this historical document advocating Compensated Emancipation:
Congressional Joint Resolution on Compensated Emancipation
Joint Resolution declaring that the United States ought to cooperate with, affording pecuniary Aid to any State which may adopt the gradual Abolishment of Slavery.
Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the United States ought to cooperate with any State which may adopt gradual abolishment of slavery, giving to such State pecuniary aid, to be used by such State in its discretion, to compensate for the inconveniences, public and private, produced by such change of system.
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April 2, 1862 --- In response to this resolution, the New York Times offers commentary upon members of both Houses who opposed this bill, and any bill that would free slaves:
Congress upon Mr. Lincoln’s Emancipation Message.
The President’s Emancipation policy has been made the policy of the Government. The joint resolution, which so readily passed the House of Representatives, was yesterday passed in the Senate, the vote being thirty-two for the measure and ten against it. The Executive signature will at once complete this all-important act.
It must always be a source of mortification to remember the almost perfect unanimity of the Border State members in opposition to the benignant proposition of Mr. LINCOLN. The President appealed directly to the justice and patriotism of the Border States. . . .
But Mr. LINCOLN’s presentation of the matter left these people without excuse. The demonstration was too palpable to be mistaken. In shutting their eyes to it, and in this post meridian of the nineteenth century, and during the very twelvemonth which has seen Slavery effervesce into treason, to record their testimony in favor of the condemned institution, shows an impenetrability to reason and right, which is simply inconceivable. . . . We tell these Knights of the Border, who have rewarded the President’s tolerance of their sluggish loyalty by throwing themselves compactly into the ranks of opposition, that the ground is crumbling under them, and that the people they speak for are already making ready to approve and fully support the Administration, even in its plan of enfranchisement.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=April+2%2C+1862
B. Thursday April 2, 1863 Richmond Bread Riots: A mob demands bread from a supply wagon in Richmond, Virginia starting the so-called Bread Riot. The mob looted other stores and was personally addressed by Jefferson Davis, who tossed the money from his pocket into the crowd. Police and soldiers eventually dispersed the crowd.
http://blueandgraytrail.com/year/186304
Thursday April 2, 1863: --- Richmond Bread Riots: a group of poor women, several hundred strong, meets at a Church in Richmond this morning to find ways to feed their children in a city with hugely inflated grocery prices. They force their way into Governor Letcher’s house, and he refuses to see them. Finally, the crowd begins to loot bakers’ shops to steal the bread they need. There is some wholesale looting in addition, but mostly the crowd is out to get bread. President Davis makes his way to the rioting part of town, and speaks to the crowd, asking for their patience and forbearance, but the women (mostly wives or widows of soldiers) answer that they have not enough money to buy bread, even with the soldiers’ wages being sent home. Davis takes out his wallet, and all his change, and gives it to the crowd. They still do not disperse. He orders the troops to load their rifles, and just before they open fire, the crowd begins to disperse. In the preceding week, there have been similar disturbances in many places throughout the South such as Georgia, North Carolina, and Alabama.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=April+2%2C+1863
C. Saturday April 2, 1864: Red River Campaign: The last few days have been spent by Admiral David D. Porter in dragging his gunboats across the shoals at Alexandria, where the river is not rising enough to make comfortable passage. The river fleet finally gathers at Grand Ecore. Gen. Grant has written to Gen. Banks to remind Banks that he must part with A.J. Smith’s divisions by April 15. Banks writes in return to Grant, promising that he is “keeping in view the necessity of the co-operation of some of my troops east of the Mississippi, and losing no time in the campaign in which I am engaged.” And yet Banks is not moving with any kind of alacrity upriver.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=April+2%2C+1864
D. Sunday April 2, 1865: Selma, Alabama assailed and captured. Union General James H. Wilson’s forces defeated CSA General Nathan Bedford Forrest’s forces and the defense works of Selma. The previous day, the Federal forces outside of Randolph captured a courier carrying Forrest’s orders of the previous evening to Jackson. As Lee’s dispatch in the Maryland campaign, found in the roadway by McClellan, told of the Confederate General’s intentions, so these communications told Wilson exactly what Forrest planned.
In the morning Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest continued on to Selma, reporting to General Dick Taylor the Departmental commander who had come to prepare it for defense, and suggesting to Taylor that he return to Headquarters at Meridian, Mississippi before the Federal attack.
Forrest, left in command, determined to make the best possible defense, about 8,000 people was surrounded by a well-constructed, bastioned line of earthworks and stockades, extending in a complete semi-circle about three miles — from the river bank above the town to the river bank below the town, with an inner line not yet complete covering the principle roads from the city to the surrounding country. The city was surrounded by cultivated land swept by thirty-two guns in position behind heavy parapets. The stockades were about five feet high and firmly planted in the ground with their tops sharpened.
Forrest ordered that every male citizen of the town “must go into the works in into the river.” However, even then the line was thin, with an interval of six to ten feet between the men as they stood behind the works. Armstrong’s Brigade of Chalmers’ Division (the remainder of which had not even yet arrived) composed of 1,432 men, were stationed on the left of the Confederate position. Roddey’s Division was placed on the extreme right, while the Militia numbering about 2,000 filled in the center between these two commands. In the rear of the Militia was stationed Forrest with his escort and the Kentuckians. The total Confederate force appears to have numbered 5,000 – 6,000 men compared to General J. H. Wilson’s 9,000 men. However, these odds would not appear unreasonable considering the strong defensive position.
Wilson, meanwhile, had captured an English Civil Engineer who had been employed on the fortifications at Selma, and hence learned of the strong defensive fortifications. Proceeding toward Selma early on the morning of April 2nd, Wilson reviewed with his officers plans for the attack. Upton, who had some experience in this type of battle at Mare’s Hill and the dead angle at Spotsylvania, was to approach and attack on the Federal left, working through a swamp and creek bottom not covered by earthworks. Long’s Division, heavier by two regiments, was to follow the right hand road, parallel to the other, to the main entrance of the city, while Wilson with the Fourth Regular Cavalry would develop the center.
As the Federals approached the city, Gen. Eli Long turned to the right and crossed over to the Summerfield Road. He posted a strong regiment at the creek to his right rear to look out for General W. H. Jackson’s and Chalmers’ forces and to protect the horses and pack train. A dismounted line of 1,500 men was formed behind a low ridge, concealing it from the Confederate force of about equal number in the works.
Upton, meanwhile, had dismounted a line on the left with a mounted brigade in support. The signal for the advance was to be a single shot from one of the Federal guns in the rear. However, this arrangement was interfered with by a movement against Long’s rear by a part of Chalmers’ Division of Forrest’s Cavalry which was finally closing up. However, a second regiment was dispatched as reinforcement and as the position was a good one for defense, Long concluded that it could be held until the battle in front should be won.
Long, realizing that with the additional factor of the force in his rear, time was of the essence, ordered the attack on the right. The Federals advanced, meeting a storm of shot and shell from twenty guns sweeping the front as well as fire from Armstrong’s Brigade behind the parapets. However, the Federal charge carried the Confederate line, despite the loss of 270 wounded, 38 men and 4 leading officers killed out of the attacking force of 1500. Upton, hearing the noise on the right, made his way through the brush and across the swamp, to again strike a portion of the line covered by Militia which he easily carried with negligible loss.
Wilson, meanwhile, had moved to the left of Long’s line and led a charge of the Fourth Regulars through the first line of defense where his horse was shot from under him. During this initial fighting, Forrest had attempted to stem the tide until Roddey and Arrnstrong could be united at the second line of defense.
However, on reaching this line, Wilson now remounted, continued the frontal attack while both Upton and Long flanked the defenders. Seeing further resistance now hopeless, Forrest ordered the dismounted men to secure their horses and escape as best they could.
Forrest, with the remnants of Roddey’s men, moved out of Selma on the Burnsville road, again being compelled to fight their way through, with Forrest personally engaging in a hand to hand encounter. Armstrong, moving out and toward the west where all of Forrest’s men had been ordered to assemble if the defense was unsuccessful, also was forced to cut his way out with but little loss. Don Adams crossed the river immediately behind the city, as did many of the other troops.
So ended the battle of Selma. It was not until later that Wilson learned that on this same day, at the other end of the supply line, Richmond had been evacuated by Confederate Forces, and these simultaneous events were practically the end of the war for the Confederacy.
While Confederate losses in killed and wounded at Selma were probably less than the equivalent Federal figures, the total losses were irreparable. Captured were 2,700 prisoners (with 150 officers), 2,000 horses, 32 guns in position on the defenses, 44 siege and seacoast guns, 26 field guns. 66,000 rounds of artillery ammunition, large quantities of cartridges and fourteen thousand pounds of gunpowder. Destroyed was the Selma arsenal, covering about 20 acres with twenty-four buildings filled with machinery and munitions, a foundry for casting naval and military guns, three iron plants, niter works and two magazines, besides many storehouses filled with quartermaster’s and commissary’s supplies.
http://battleofselma.com/?page_id=1208
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