Surrendering in a Sentence

After four arduous years of war, Robert E. Lee conceded defeat in a mere sentence sent to Ulysses S. Grant on the morning of April 9, 1865 (GLC 07967). Left with no route of escape after the fall of Petersburg a week earlier, Lee had a choice: annihilation or surrender. The decision did not come easily. Lee had wrangled with Grant over a possible surrender for the past two days. He expected to meet the Union General in person that morning, but when he arrived in a pristine uniform to discuss peace, he was met only by another message demanding capitulation. Over 620,000 Americans had already perished and there would be more deaths that day - overwhelmingly those under Lee’s charge - if he refused to act. With the Federal force bearing down on the remnants of the Army of Northern Virginia, he relented, lifted his pen, and signed this letter. The endorsement records the ceasefire that followed. Soon after, the generals had their historic meeting at Appomattox Court House and both the Civil War and Lee’s military career came to a close.

Robert Lee, Manuscript Cataloger
The Gilder Lehrman Collection

GLC 07967, Robert E. Lee to Ulysses S. Grant, 9 April 1865

For more information or to obtain copies, contact Ana Ramirez-Luhrs at reference@gilderlehrman.com or call (212) 787-6616 ext. 209.

Duplicate 9th April 1865

Robert E. Lee to Ulysses S. Grant Virginia, 9 April 1865. Letter signed, 1 page.

General,
I ask a suspension of hostilities pending the discussion of the Terms of surrender of this army in the interview which I requested in my former communication of Today Lt Gen U S Grant Very respectfully
Commanding U.S. Armies Your obt. servt.
RE Lee
Genl

[endorsement]
April 9th 11-55
the am
Within read –
was acted on- my troops
and Genl Sheridans
being south &
west - of Appomattox
covering exits that way- and men
at rest- firing
stopped-
EOC Ord
Mjr Genl –

Denney, Robert E., The Civil War Years; A Day-by-Day Chronicle of the Life of a Nation. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., 1992.

McPherson, James, Battle Cry of Freedom; the Civil War Era. New York: Oxford University Press, 1988.

Thomas, Emory M., Robert E. Lee: A Biography. New York: W.W. Norton, 1995.

Weigley, Russell F. A Great Civil War: A Military and Political History, 1861-1865. Indiana University Press, 2000.

Winik, Jay. April 1865; The Month That Saved America. Harpers Collins Publishers, 2001

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