Correspondence Between Grant and Lee Discussing Surrender Terms at Appomattox

Grant's Asks Lee to Surrender, April 7th

General R. E. LEE:

GENERAL: The result of the last week must convince you of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia in this struggle. I feel that it is so, and regard it as my duty to shift from myself the responsibility of any further effusion of blood, by asking of you the surrender of that portion of the C. S. Army known as the Army of Northern Virginia.

U.S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General

Lee Asks Grant for Terms of Surrender, April 7th

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
APRIL 7, 1865

Lieut. Gen. U.S. GRANT:

GENERAL: I have received your note of this date. Though not entertaining the opinion you express on the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia, I reciprocate your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and therefore, before considering your proposition, ask the terms you will offer on condition of its surrender.

R. E. LEE,
General.

Grant Gives Lee Conditions of Surrender, April 8th

APRIL 8, 1865

General R. E. LEE:

GENERAL: Your note of last evening, in reply to mine of same date, asking the condition on which I will accept the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, is just received. In reply I would say that, peace being my great desire, there is but one condition I would insist upon, namely, that the men and officers surrendered shall be disqualified for taking up arms again against the Government of the United States until properly exchanged. I will meet you, or will designate officers to meet any officers you may name for the same purpose, at any point agreeable to yell, for the purpose of arranging definitely the terms upon which the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia will be received.

U.S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

Lee Urges Grant to Consider Peace, and a Meeting, April 8

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
APRIL 8, 1865

Lieut. Gen. U.S. GRANT:

GENERAL: I received at a late hour your note of to-day. In mine of yesterday I did not intend to propose the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, but to ask the terms of your proposition. To be frank, I do not think the emergency has arisen to call for the surrender of this army, but as the restoration of peace should be the sole object of all, I desired to know whether your proposals would lead to that end. I cannot, therefore, meet you with a view to surrender the Army of Northern Virginia, but as far as your proposal may affect the C. S. forces under my command, and tend to the restoration of peace, I should be pleased to meet you at 10 a.m., to-morrow; on the old stage road to Richmond, between the picket-lines of the two armies.

R. E. LEE,
General.

Grant Gives His View on Peace and Surrender, April 9th

APRIL 9, 1865

General R. E. LEE:

GENERAL: Your note of yesterday is received. I have no authority to treat on the subject of peace; the meeting proposed for 10 a.m. to-day could lead to no good. I will state, however, general, that I am equally anxious for peace with yourself, and the whole North entertains the same feeling. The terms upon which peace can be had are well understood. By the South laying down their arms they will hasten that most desirable event, save thousands of human lives, and hundreds of millions of property not yet destroyed. Seriously hoping that all our difficulties may be set-tied without the loss of another life, I subscribe myself, &c.,

U.S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

Lee Asks Grant Meet to Discuss Terms, April 9th

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
APRIL 9, 1865

Lieut. Gen. U.S. GRANT:

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 ask an interview in accordance with the offer contained in your letter of yesterday for that purpose.

R. E. LEE,
General.

Grant's Terms for Surrender as Agreed at Appomattox Court-House, April 9th

Appomattox Court House.
Head Quarters Armies of the United States
Appomattox C. H. Va. Apl. 9th 1865

Gen R. E. Lee
Comd'g C.S.A.

General,
In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 8th instant, 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 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 U. S. authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in force where they may reside.

U.S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

Lee Accepts Grant's Terms at Appomattox Court-House, April 9th

Hd. Q. A. N. Va.
9th April 1865

Lt. Gen. U. S. Grant
Commandg U. S. Armies

General
I have received your letter of this date containing the terms of 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 instant, they are accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the stipulations into effect.

Very respectfully
Your ob serv
R. E. LEE,
Gen.

Grant's Special Orders to his Command, April 9th

Hd. Qre Armies of the United States
In the Field April 9th 1865

Special Orders,
Maj. Gen. John Gibbon, Brevet Maj. Gen. Charles Griffen and Brevet Maj. Gen. Wesley Merritt are hereby designated to carry into effect the Stipulations this day entered into between Gen. R. E. Lee Comd'g C.S. Armies and Lieut. Gen. U. S. Grant comd'g Armies of the United States, in which Gen. Lee surrendered to Gen. Grant the Army of Northern Virginia.

Brevet Brig. Gen George H. Sharpe Asst. Provost Marshall General will receive and take charge of the rolls called for by the above mentioned Stipulations.

By command of
Lieut Gen. Grant
E. S. Parker
Lt. Col. A.A.A.G.

Grant's Special Orders for Safe Passage of Parolees, April 9th

Hd Qrs Armies of the U. S.
In the Field Apl 10th 1865

Special Orders -
All officers and men of the Confederate service paroled at Appomattox C.H. Va., who to reach their homes are compelled to pass through the lines of the Union Armies will be allowed to do so and to pass free on all Government Transports and Military Rail Roads.

By command of Lt. Gen. Grant
E. S. Parker
Lt. Col. A.A.A.G.