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now here he sat, with his lost cause like a broken idol in his hands.
For a moment he shrank from the final pang of renunciation.
“I have received your note,” he replied to Grant on that same Friday.
“Though not entertaining the opinion you express of the hopelessness of further resistance, I reciprocate your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and therefore ask the terms you will offer.”
And Grant on Saturday replied, “Peace being my great desire, there is but one condition — that the men and officers surrendered shall be disqualified for taking up arms until properly exchanged.”
And then follows a touch of his perfect consideration for the defeated opponent: “I will meet you or will designate officers to meet any officers you may name.”
So did Washington write to Cornwallis, as Horace Porter reminds us. But Lee would himself go through with whatever had to come.
Only still he pushed the
Boston. Small, Maynard and Company. 1901.
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