General Lee had been waiting for Gen. Grant. The room was at the left of the doorway of the house, which was reached by a high stoop, with benches on each side of the doorway. When Grant arrived and met Lee Grant introduced his officers to Lee and Lee's aide.
Gen Grant took a seat at the table in the center of the room; Gen Lee sat near the front window. Grant took out a manifold book, placed in 3 carbons and begun to write. Most people think the surrender was written on one piece of paper and signed by Lee; it consisted of two letters, one written by Grant and the other-accepting the terms- was written by Lee. After Grant had written the terms, he stepped over and handed them to Lee, who put on his spectacles and after reading the terms, handed them back to Grant, saying they were satisfactory.
After Lee had handed his acceptance to Grant, he said "General Grant, I would like to ask a favor-if our positions were reversed- I would do it for you. My men are starving, will you give them rations?" "How many are there?" asked Grant "Twenty thousand" replied Lee. Grant commanded his aide to prepare an order for 30,000.
-General Ely Samuel Parker, USA
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4 comments:
Two great leaders,what a tragedy they were pitted against each other.
Why do I always cry at these Civil War posts of yours. Guess it's like James said, tragic.
Meanwhile, suffering through the countdown to Memorial Day when we may finally see your new hat.
-Flo
Good stuff. Thank you for reminding me of the anniversery.
Scott
Although unintended, the Civil Wars stories are in a way a metaphor for the men and women who defend each of our countries daily. Unending sacrifice is the lot of military families. The best that anyone can hope for is to be used in defense of an honorable cause.
god bless 'em.
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