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# Ulysses S. Grant's chair from Appomattox

National Museum of American History

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                      -     DetailsRelatedObject Details- associated person
- Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson)
- Description
- On April 9, 1865, General Ulysses S. Grant and General Robert E. Lee met in the home of Wilmer McLean at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, to negotiate the surrender of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia to the United States Army. Sitting in the chair on the right, Grant discussed the fate of Lee's troops. Then, leaning over the oval table, he drafted and signed the final terms of surrender. While there were still Confederate troops in the field under other commanders, Lee's surrender effectively marked the end of the Civil War.
- Union officers, recognizing the significance of the event, individually took pieces of furniture as souvenirs. General E. W. Whitaker grabbed Lee's chair, General Henry Capehart claimed Grant's chair, and General Philip Sheridan took the table and presented it to the wife of Major General George Amstrong Custer. In three separate donations, by 1915, these items were reunited at the Smithsonian Institution.
- Credit Line
- Estate of General Wilmon W. Blackmar
- before 1865
- associated date
- 1865-04-09
- ID Number
- PL.010517
- catalog number
- 010517
- accession number
- 45493
- Object Name
- chair
- Physical Description
- wood (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 37 1/2 in x 21 3/4 in x 17 1/2 in; 95.25 cm x 55.245 cm x 44.45 cm
- used
- United States: Virginia, Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
- associated place
- United States: Virginia, Appomattox
- Related Publication
- Kendrick, Kathleen M. and Peter C. Liebhold. Smithsonian Treasures of American History
- National Museum of American History. Treasures of American History online exhibition
- Related Web Publication
- http://americanhistory.si.edu/treasures
- See more items in
- Political and Military History: Political History, General History Collection
- Government, Politics, and Reform
- Military
- National Treasures exhibit
- Exhibition
- Price of Freedom
- Exhibition Location
- National Museum of American History
- National Museum of American History
- used
- Civil War
- related event
- Civil War
- Surrender by General Lee
- Record ID
- nmah_515977
- Metadata Usage (text)
- CC0
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a3-ca4d-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
Related Content-                    Explore America: Virginia                 
  CC0Creative Commons - No Rights Reserved iconUsage Conditions Apply>download icon>          This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions).  You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian.  For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Open Access page.        International media Interoperability FrameworkIIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.View manifestView in Mirador ViewerExpand to view image×                PreviousNext             Footer logo      
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