On April 7, 1865, having nearly
surrounded General Lee's exhausted, hungry, diminishing force, Union General Ulysses S. Grant felt that Lee's Army had no hope of
successful resistance. In order to avoid any further loss of life, he would begin his famous correspondence with Lee attempting to put
an end to the hostilities that consumed so many lives. In his memoirs, Grant would note the back and forth between he and his able foe.
"Feeling now that General Lee's chance of escape was utterly hopeless, I addressed him the following communication from Farmville:
"April 7, 1865.
"GENERAL--The result of the last week must convince you of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of
Northern Virginia in this struggle. I feel that it is so, and regard it as my duty to shift from myself the responsibility of any
further effusion of blood, by asking of you the surrender of that portion of the Confederate States army known as the Army of Northern
Virginia.
U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
GENERAL R. E. LEE.
Early on the morning of the 8th, before leaving, I received at Farmville the following:
April 7, 1865.
GENERAL: I have received your note of this date. Though not entertaining the opinion you express on 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.
R. E. LEE, General.
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT.
To this I immediately replied:
April 8, 1865.
GENERAL:--Your note of last evening, in reply to mine of same date, asking the condition 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 will 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 the terms upon which the surrender of
the Army of the Northern Virginia will be received.
U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
GENERAL R. E. LEE.
Early on the morning of the 8th the pursuit was resumed. General Meade followed north of the Appomattox, and General Sheridan, with all
the cavalry, pushed straight ahead for Appomattox Station, followed by General Ord's command and the 5th corps. During the day General
Meade's advance had considerable fighting with the enemy's rear-guard, but was unable to bring on a general engagement. Late in the
evening General Sheridan struck the railroad at Appomattox Station, drove the enemy from there, and captured twenty-five pieces of
artillery, a hospital train, and four trains of cars loaded with supplies for Lee's army. During this day I accompanied General Meade's
column, and about midnight received the following communication from General Lee:
April 8, 1865.
GENERAL:--I received, at a late hour, your note of to-day. In mine of yesterday I did not intend to propose the surrender of the
Army of Northern Virginia, but to ask the terms of your proposition. To be frank, I do not think the emergency has arisen to call for
the surrender of this army; but as the restoration of peace should be the sole object of all, I desired to know whether your proposals
would lead to that end. I cannot, therefore, meet you with a view to the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia; but as far as your
proposal may affect the Confederate States forces under my command, and tend to the restoration of peace, I should be pleased to meet
you at ten A.M. to-morrow on the old stage-road to Richmond, between the picket-lines of the two armies.
R. E. LEE, General.
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT.
Early on the morning of the 9th I returned him an answer as follows, and immediately started to join the column south of the Appomattox:
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 ten
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, etc.
U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
GENERAL R. E. LEE.
On this morning of the 9th, General Ord's command and the 5th corps reached Appomattox Station just as the enemy was making a desperate
effort to break through our cavalry. The infantry was at once thrown in. Soon after a white flag was received, requesting a suspension
of hostilities pending negotiations for a surrender.
Before reaching General Sheridan's headquarters, I received the following from General Lee:
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.
R. E. LEE, General.
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."
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