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April 9, 1865.
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 settled without the loss of another life, I subscribe myself, &c.,
Sheridan was with his cavalry near the
Court House, when the Army of Virginia made its
last charge. By his order, his troopers, who were in line of battle, dismounted, gave ground gradually, while showing a steady front, so as to allow our weary infantry time to form and take position.
This effected, the horsemen moved swiftly to the right and mounted, revealing lines of solid infantry in battle array, before whose wall of gleaming bayonets the astonished enemy recoiled in blank despair, as
Sheridan and his troopers, passing briskly around the
Rebel left, prepared to charge the confused, reeling masses.
A white flag was now waved by the enemy before
Gen. Custer, who held our cavalry advance, with the information that they had concluded to surrender.
Riding over to Appomattox C. H.,
Sheridan was met by
Gen. Gordon, who requested a suspension of hostilities, with the assurance that negotiations were then pending between
Gens. Grant and
Lee for a capitulation.
Gen. Grant, before reaching Sheridan's head quarters, had received the following additional note:
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 ask an interview in accordance with the offer contained in your letter of yesterday for that purpose.
The two commanders met immediately at the dwelling of
Mr. W. McLean, near the
Court House.
The interview was brief: the business in hand frankly discussed, as became soldiers.
Three commissioners on either side were appointed; but the day's work was done by the chiefs, and its result summed up in these concluding letters:
Appomattox Court House, Va., April 9, 1865.
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
United States authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in force where they may reside.
headquarters army of Northern Va., April 9, 1865.
General — I 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 instant, they are accepted.
I will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the stipulations into effect.
