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[620] from General Lee, requesting a suspension of hostilities looking to a surrender, and an interview with General Grant. This meeting was had at a dwelling in Appomattox Courthouse, where the rival chieftains, sitting together at a deal table, reduced to form the act that put out of existence the Army of Northern Virginia. The agreement was embodied in the two following papers:

Appomattox Courthouse, 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 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 packed 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.

U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General. General R. E. Lee.

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 instant, they are accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the stipulations into effect.


These terms were, on the part of General Grant, liberal and magnanimous; and that officer displayed throughout the transaction the delicacy of a great soul.

In the course of the afternoon, the result of this momentous interview became known to both armies, and then all the intense,

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