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for a while as in any battle of the war; and the repulse of Miles on the 7th, the capture of a portion of Crook's cavalry with Gregg himself at their head, showed like the expiring flashes of a nearly burnt out fire.
The high commanders of Lee saw that the suffering was in vain, that no effort of gallantry or despair could now avail, and several of them approached him with the recommendation to yield.
But he was yet unwilling.
‘I have too many brave men,’ he said; ‘the time is not yet come for surrender.’
Nevertheless, he answered Grant's note, on the night of the 7th, in these words: ‘General, I have received your note of this day. Though not entirely of the opinion you express of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the army of Northern Virginia, I reciprocate your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and therefore, before considering your proposition, ask the terms you will offer on condition of its surrender.’
This note was handed to Grant early on the morning of the 8th, while he was still at Farmville, and he immediately replied: ‘Your note of last evening in reply to mine of same date, asking the conditions on which I will accept the surrender of the army of Northern Virginia, is just received.
In reply I would say that peace being my great desire, there is but one condition I would insist upon, namely: that the men and officers surrendered shall be disqualified for taking up arms again against the government of the United States until properly exchanged.
I will meet you, or designate officers to meet any officers you may name for the same purpose, at any point agreeable to you, for the purpose of arranging definitely ’
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