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Introduction
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
(GLC07967). 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
Transcript
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 – |
Item Description and Credits
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.
Suggested Reading
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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