April 09, 2006

Gratuitous Historickal Posting (TM)

Appomattox Ct. H., Va.
Apl 9, 1865
General R.E. Lee
Commanding C.S.A.

General:

In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 8th instant, I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia 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 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 baggege. This done, each officer and man will be allowed to return to his home, not to be disturbed by the United States authorities so long as they observe their paroles, and the laws in force where they may reside.

Very respectfully,

U.S. Grant, Lt-G

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Posted by Robert at April 9, 2006 03:40 PM | TrackBack
Comments

Historians have noted that Gen Lee considered Gen Grant's surrender terms so generous, that for the rest of his life, Lee would not permit an unkind word to be said about Grant in his presence.

Posted by: KMR at April 9, 2006 04:56 PM

The irony (I guess) is that Grant opted for such generous surrender terms primarily out of a pragmatic belief that such generosity would reduce the threat of the rebellion morphing into a protracted guerilla campaign.

Lee saw the pragmatic side too, but was also motivated in his evident praise by a regard for the gentlemanliness of Grant's forebearance.

I find that when discussing Civil War leaders in general and Lee in particular, this very Victorian code of values tends to get swept aside. It seems much easier for modern pundits to damn Lee out of hand as a rebel rather than to try and understand him as a tragic hero.

How is it that Kate Hepburn's character summed him up in Rooster Cogburn? "He was a Christian Gentleman, who was soundly whipped in the field by Yankees."

Posted by: Robbo the LB at April 9, 2006 10:42 PM