Surrender Documents

Contrary to many visitor’s expectations, there is no formal surrender document. The surrender was conducted through an exchange of two short letters. General Grant’s was a mere five sentences long and General Lee’s reply was only three short sentences.

Aside from Grant and Lee, only Lt. Colonel Marshall and perhaps a dozen of Grant’s staff officers were present for the meeting. The heart of the terms was that Confederates would be paroled after surrendering their weapons and other military property. If surrendered soldiers did not take up arms again, the United States government would not prosecute them. Grant also allowed Confederate officers to keep their mounts and side arms.

Below is a copy of the terms of surrender issued by General Grant. A transcription follows.

 

Handwritten letter describing the terms of surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia

Stratford Hall

Transcription:

Terms of Surrender

Headquarters Armies of the United States
Appomattox C H Va Apl 9th 1865.
Gen. R. E. Lee,
Comd’g C. S. A.

General,
In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 8th inst., I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of N. Va. 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 Government of 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 parked 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 officers and men will be allowed to return to their homes, not to be disturbed by the United States authority as long as they observe their parole and the laws in force where they may reside.

Very respectfully
U. S. Grant
Lt. Gen

Below is a copy of General Lee's acceptance letter. A transcription follows.

 

Copy of a copy of Lee's handwritten letter of acceptance

Transcription:

Headquarters Army N. Va.
April 9th, 1865.
Lt. Gen. U. S. Grant
Com’dg Armies U. S.

General:
I have received your letter of this date containing the terms of the surrender of the Army of Northern Va, as proposed by you. As they are substantially the same as those expressed in your letter of the 8th inst, they are accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the stipulations into effect.

Very Respectfully
Your obt. Servt
(Sgd) R. E. Lee
General

 

General Order #9

General Order #9 is Lee's farewell letter to his troops after he surrendered his to General Grant. This letter was issued on April 10,1865.

His letter is as follows:

GENERAL ORDER
No. 9
After four years of arduous service marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources.
I need not tell the brave survivors of so many hard fought battles, who have remained steadfast to the last,that I have consented to this result from no distrust of them.
But feeling that valor and devotion could accomplish nothing that would compensate for the loss that must have attended the continuance of the contest, I determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those whose past services have endeared them to their countrymen.
By the terms of the agreement officers and men can return to their homes and remain until exchanged. You will take with you the satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty faithfully performed, and I earnestly pray that a merciful God will extend to you His blessing and protection.
With an increasing admiration of your constancy and devotion to your country, and a grateful remembrance of your kind and generous considerations for myself, I bid you all an affectionate farewell.
R.E. LEE

Genl.