Appomattox Campaign, 1865; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns
General Lee immediately alluded to the conditions of the surrender, and
said he would leave the details to General Grant's own discretion. General
Grant stated the terms of the parole; that the arms should be stacked, the
artillery parked, and the supplies and munitions turned over to him, the
officers to retain their side arms, horses, and personal effects. General
Lee promptly assented to the conditions, and the agreement of the
surrender was engrossed and signed by General Lee at half-past three
o'clock in the afternoon.
A northern correspondent thus described the appearance of General Lee in
this memorable interview: "General Lee looked very jaded and worn, but,
nevertheless, presented the same magnificent _phisique_ for which he has
always been noted. He was neatly dressed in grey cloth, without any
embroidery or ensigna of rank, except three stars worn on the turned
portion of his coat collar. His cheeks were very much bronzed by exposure,
but still shone ruddy underneath it all. He is growing quite bald, and
wears one of the side locks of his hair thrown across the upper portion of
his forehead, which is as white and fair as a woman's. He stands fully six
feet one inch in height, and weighs something over two hundred pounds,
without being burdened with a pound of superfluous flesh. During the whole
interview he was retired and dignified to a degree bordering on
taciturnity, but was free from all exhibition of temper or mortification.
His demeanor was that of a thoroughly possessed gentleman, who had a very
disagreeable duty to perform, but was determined to get through it as well
and as soon as he could.
It is to be fairly and cheerfully admitted that General Grant's conduct,
with respect to all the circumstances of the surrender exhibited some
extraordinary traits of magnanimity. He had conducted it with as much
simplicity as possible, avoided sensation, and spared everything that
might wound the feelings or imply the humiliation of a vanquished foe.
Such conduct was noble. Before the surrender, General Grant had expressed
to his own officers his intention not to require the same formalities as
are required in a surrender between the forces of two foreign nations or
beligerant powers, and to exact no conditions for the mere purpose of
humiliation.
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