Grant was travelling with Rawlins, Porter and Babcock along the Farmville Road about eight miles east of Appomattox Court House, when up galloped Lieutenant Charles Pease of Meade's staff with Lee's letter.
Pease handed the letter to Rawlins who read it and handed it to Grant. The letter read as follows.
April 9, 1865.
GENERAL:--I received your note of this morning on the picket line whither I had come to meet you and ascertain definitely what terms were embraced in your proposal of yesterday with reference to the surrender of this army. I now request an interview in accordance with the offer contained in your letter of yesterday for that purpose.
R. E. LEE, General.
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT,
Commanding U. S. Armies. 16
Grant read the letter, expressing as usual, no emotion, but his anxiety had been relieved and his headache immediately vanished. He dismounted and wrote out his response to Lee.
April 9, 1865.
GENERAL R. E. LEE,
Commanding C. S. Armies.
Your note of this date is but this moment (11.50 A.M.) received, in consequence of my having passed from the Richmond and Lynchburg road to the Farmville and Lynchburg road. I am at this writing about four miles west of Walker's Church and will push forward to the front for the purpose of meeting you. Notice sent to me on this road where you wish the interview to take place will meet me.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General. 17
Grant remounted Cincinnati and headed toward Appomattox Court House and his rendezvous with destiny.
As he neared Appomattox Court House his mind came back to the subject at hand. It had been a long war and he had seen more suffering than he cared to recollect. Imagine a person who could not stand the sight of blood, in command of a nation's armies.
About one o' clock, Grant and his staff entered the village of Appomattox Court House. Here they found Sheridan and Ord in a group of officers standing, waiting for Grant. As he rode up, he greeted Sheridan, "How are you, Sheridan?" "First-rate thank you; how are you?" replied Sheridan. 18 "Is he over there?" asked Grant as he pointed up the road. "Yes; he is in that brick house, waiting to surrender to you," replied Sheridan. "Well, then, we'll go over," said Grant. 19
Ord and Sheridan accompanied Grant as they soon found themselves in front of the home of Wilmer McLean. As he entered the house he was greeted by Colonel Babcock who had escorted General Lee and his military secretary Colonel Charles Marshal. Generals Ord and Sheridan along with Grant's staff remained outside allowing the two generals to meet privately. Colonel Babcock led General Grant to the room where General Lee was and as Grant entered the room Lee arose and the two shook hands cordially.
Soon Colonel Babcock came to the door and motioned for all the officers standing outside to come in to the parlor. As the officers entered the room many noticed the marked contrast in appearance between the two soldiers.
Lee was immaculately dressed in his last good uniform, every bit the impressive soldier. Lee was over six feet tall and presented a very stately image. One could tell he had trained under General Winfield Scott.
Grant on the other hand learned about dress in the field from General Zachary Taylor and personified that image. He was dressed for comfort in a private's uniform with nothing to indicate his rank other than the insignia on his shoulder straps. Grant actually worried about offending General Lee by appearing in such a rugged condition.
In his memoirs, Grant described the situation. "What General Lee's feelings were I do not know. As he was a man of much dignity, with an impassable face, it was impossible to say whether he felt inwardly glad that the end had finally come, or felt sad over the result, and was too manly to show it. Whatever his feelings, they were entirely concealed from my observation; but my own feelings, which had been quite jubilant on the receipt of his letter, were sad and depressed." 20
As the meeting commenced, Grant did not want to appear to offend General Lee by rushing to the subject, so he began the conversation by recollecting old times in Mexico. Grant began by saying: "I met you once before, General Lee, while we were serving in Mexico, when you came over from General Scott's headquarters to visit Garland's brigade, to which I then belonged. I have always remembered your appearance, and I think I should have recognized you anywhere." 21 "Yes," replied General Lee; "I know I met you on that occasion, and I have often thought of it, and tried to recollect how you looked, but I have never been able to recall a single feature." 22
On this subject, Grant, in his memoirs, embellished the truth. In all recorded instances of the meeting by those in attendance, none except Grant recorded Lee as saying that he remembered Grant. Only Grant recorded Lee as saying he recollected him. It is the author's opinion that Grant was trying to save face. After all, when he wrote his memoirs, Grant had held high offices including General-in-Chief and President of the United States. He had become a very important person and did not want to say in his memoirs that Lee could not remember him.
After the conversation continued a while, General Lee interrupted bringing General Grant back to the topic at hand. General Lee said: "I suppose, General Grant, that the object of our present meeting is fully understood. I asked to see you to ascertain upon what terms you would receive the surrender of my army." 23 General Grant replied: "The terms I propose are those stated substantially in my letter of yesterday; that is, the officers and men surrendered to be paroled and disqualified from taking up arms again until properly exchanged, and all arms, ammunition, and supplies to be delivered up as captured property." 24 Lee nodded his agreement saying: "Those are about the conditions which I expected would be proposed." 25 Then Grant continued: "Yes; I think our correspondence indicated pretty clearly the action that would be taken at our meeting, and I hope it may lead to a general suspension of hostilities, and be the means of preventing any further loss of life." 26
Now Grant digressed again to talk about the upcoming prospects for peace. Lee, apparently anxious to conclude the proceedings again interrupted Grant by saying: "I presume, General Grant, we have both carefully considered the proper steps to be taken, and I would suggest that you commit to writing the terms you have proposed, so that they may be formally acted upon." 27
Grant agreed and proceeded to write out the following terms.
Appomattox Court-House, VA; April 9, 1865.
GENERAL R. E. LEE, Commanding C. S. A.
GENERAL: In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 8th inst., I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia on the following terms, to wit: Rolls of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy to be given to an officer to be designated by me, the other to be retained by such officer or officers as you may designate. The officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms against the Government of the United States until properly [exchanged], and each company or regimental commander to sign a like parole for the men of their commands. The arms, artillery, and public property to be parked and stacked and turned over to the officers appointed by me to receive them. This will not embrace the side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or baggage. This done, each officer and man will be allowed to return to his home, not to be disturbed by the United States authorities so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in force where they may reside.
Very respectfully,
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General. 28
In the final sentence of the terms, it should be noted that Grant went beyond his nominal powers as General-in-Chief, which only allowed him to treat on the subject of military matters. What Grant did, in effect, was grant a general amnesty which was a purely political question and was reserved for the discretion of the President. Grant was ruling out any reprisals in the future against the former Confederates and in doing so took a large step toward conciliating the two sections of the country. In his line of thinking regarding this matter, his opinion entirely coincid
ed with Lincoln's, embracing a lasting peace.
Grant handed Lee his order book where he had written out the terms and Lee began to study over the document. As Lee finished reading the terms, he was apparently touched by the act of kindness Grant had demonstrated in allowing the officers to keep their sidearms, horses and private baggage. He stated: "This will have a very happy effect upon my army." 29
General Grant was then ready to have the terms committed to ink and sign them. He said, "Unless you have some suggestions to make in regard to the form in which I have stated the terms, I will have a copy of the letter made in ink and sign it." 30
Lee did have one thing he wanted to mention stating: "The cavalrymen and artillerists own their own horses in our army. Its organization in this respect differs from that of the United States." He continued, "I should like to understand whether these men will be permitted to retain their horses." 31
Grant replied, "You will find that the terms as written do not allow this, only the officers are permitted to take their private property." 32
Lee then reread the second page of the terms and said: "No, I see the terms do not allow it; that is clear." 33
Without waiting for Lee to make a direct request that this be granted, Grant stated: "Well, the subject is quite new to me. Of course I did not know that any private soldiers owned their animals; but I think we have fought the last battle of the war,--I sincerely hope so,--and that the surrender of this army will be followed soon by that of all the others; and I take it that most of the men in the ranks are small farmers, and as the country has been so raided by the two armies, it is doubtful whether they will be able to put in a crop to carry themselves and their families through next winter without the aid of the horses they are now riding, and I will arrange it in this way: I will not change the terms as now written, but I will instruct the officers I shall appoint to receive the paroles to let all the men who claim to own a horse or mule take the animals home with them to work their little farms." 34
Lee greatly appreciated this act of kindness and said: "This will have the best possible effect upon the men. It will be very gratifying, and will do much toward conciliating our people." 35
Grant now handed the draft to Joe Bowers to make the copy in ink. Bowers was apparently shaken by the gravity of the moment for he tried to start three times, but could not do it. He handed the job over to Colonel Parker. When Parker was done, Lee directed Colonel Marshal to draw up his letter of acceptance. It read as follows.
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
April 9, 1865.
GENERAL: I have received your letter of this date containing the terms of the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia as proposed by you. As they are substantially the same as those expressed in your letter of the 8th inst., they are accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the stipulations into effect.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
General.
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT,
Commanding Armies of U. S. 36
While the letters were being prepared for signatures, General Grant introduced General Lee to everyone in attendance. Finally, General Lee brought the conversation back to the business at hand. He said: "I have a thousand or more of your men as prisoners, General Grant, a number of them officers, whom we have required to march along with us for several days. I shall be glad to send them into your lines as soon as it can be arranged, for I have no provisions for them. I have, indeed, nothing for my own men. They have been living for the last few days principally upon parched corn, and we are badly in need of both rations and forage. I telegraphed to Lynchburg, directing several train-loads of rations to be sent on by rail from there, and when they arrive I should be glad to have the present wants of my men supplied from them." 37
General Grant replied: "I should like to have our men sent within our lines as soon as possible. I will take steps at once to have your army supplied with rations, but I am sorry we have no forage for the animals. We have had to depend upon the country for our supply of forage. Of about how many men does your present force consist?" 38
"Indeed, I am not able to say," answered Lee. "My losses in killed and wounded have been exceedingly heavy, and, besides, there have been many stragglers and some deserters. All my reports and public papers, and indeed some of my own private letters, had to be destroyed on the march to prevent them from falling into the hands of your people. Many companies are entirely without officers, and I have not seen any returns for several days, so that I have no means of ascertaining our present strength." 39
Grant replied, "Suppose I send over 25,000 rations, do you think that will be a sufficient supply?" 40
To this General Lee responded: "I think it will be ample, and it will be a great relief, I assure you." 41
General Grant directed Colonel Morgan to issue the rations and as the conversation continued Grant took note of Lee's sword. As a means to explain why he was not more formally attired Grant said: "I started out from my camp several days ago without my sword, and as I have not seen my headquarters baggage since, I have been riding about without any side - arms. I have generally worn a sword, however, as little as possible -- only during the active operations of a campaign." 42
General Lee replied: "I am in the habit of wearing mine most of the time, when I am among my troops moving about through the army." 43
The terms were now ready for signature. Grant signed the terms offered General Lee and handed them to Parker who gave them to Colonel Marshal. General Lee signed his acceptance and Marshal handed them to Colonel Parker.
About 4 P.M., General Lee shook hands with General Grant, bowed to the others present and left the room with Colonel Marshal. The Union officers all followed to the front porch. General Lee's horse was soon readied and as he mounted, General Grant stepped down from the porch and raised his hat in salute. He was followed by all the Union officers present. Lee raised his hat in return and rode off. One of the most important events in American history had been concluded.
Soon Grant left the McLean house for his headquarters which had been established in Appomattox. Before going very far Porter asked him if he did not think the news of the surrender should be shared with the War Department. Grant admitted that he had forgotten all about it and dismounted to write out the dispatch. It read as follows.
HEADQUARTERS APPOMATTOX C. H., VA.,
April 9th, 1865, 4.30 P.M.
HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War,
Washington.
General Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia this afternoon on terms proposed by myself. The accompanying additional correspondence will show the conditions fully.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieut.-General. 44
Just then Union artillerists began to fire salutes in celebration as the news of the surrender began to get out. Grant immediately ordered the firing halted saying, "The war is over. The Rebels are our countrymen again." 45
At dinner that night Grant announced to his staff that he wanted to begin his return to Washington in the morning, so he could begin paring back the government's expenses which were costing $4,000,000 per day. His staff wanted to visit old acquaintances in the other army and reminded him that by the following day the railroad would be repaired as far as Burkeville, so he would lose no time if he remained one more day, so Grant decided to remain one extra day.
The next morning Grant rode out between the lines to meet Lee. Grant urged Lee to use his influence to impress upon the remaining armies the need to surrender and end the useless loss of life. Lee said he was sorry, but felt powerless in his present state saying it was up to Davis to do what he felt best. Grant knew he could not persuade Lee to go against his judgment. Soon officers from both sides joined them in a conversation that lasted until noon. At that time, Grant and his staff left for Burkeville.
Grant finally reached City Point and after greeting Julia threw himself into som
e paper work at his old office. There were but two or three aides sitting about the room waiting for orders, when "after a few minutes he stopped writing, looked off into distant space, grinned, and remarked to nobody in particular: More of Grant's luck." 46
AND SO HISTORY RECORDS!
NOTES
Chapter 1 "I had not the moral courage to halt"
1. Grant, Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, p. 152, 1990, Library of America.
2. Lewis, Captain Sam Grant, p. 400, 1950, Little, Brown & Company.
3. McFeely, Grant, p. 73, 1981, W. W. Norton & Company.
4. Lewis, Captain Sam Grant, p. 413, 1950, Little, Brown & Company.
5. Grant, Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, p. 962, 1990, Library of America.
6. Lewis, Captain Sam Grant, p. 419, 1950, Little, Brown & Company.
7. Grant, Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, p. 158, 1990, Library of America.
8. Lewis, Captain Sam Grant, p. 426, 1950, Little, Brown & Company.
9. Lewis, Captain Sam Grant, p. 428, 1950, Little, Brown & Company.
10. Grant, Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, p. 161, 1990, Library of America.
11. Lewis, Captain Sam Grant, p. 430, 1950, Little, Brown & Company.
12. Grant, Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, p. 163, 1990, Library of America.
13. Grant, Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, p. 164, 1990, Library of America.
14. Grant, Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, p. 164, 1990, Library of America.
15. Grant, Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, p. 972, 1990, Library of America.
16. Grant, Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, p. 976, 1990, Library of America.
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