The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1865-04-15
THE END.
Surrender Of General Lee.

General Gran. closed his magnificent
campaign on Sunday last with the surrender
of Gen. Lee and all that remained Of the
Rebel army of Northern Virginia. The
General whose military abilities and personal
character have defended and upheld the re-
bellion is now a paroled prisoner The ar
my which for four years has been the main
strength of the rebellion, which has given
and taken the fiercest blows of war, has laid
down its arms, delivered up its artillery and
war material, and men and officers have as,
sumed an obligation not to again take up
arms against the United Ltates. Gen. Grant
announced this important fact to the Gov
nrnment in these words Gen. Lee surren-
dered the Army of Virginia this afternoon
upon the terms proposed by myself This
brief sentence tells us of the close of the
war, proclaims the coming of peace, and
pronounces the triumph and justification of
the great principles for the vindication of
which the war was accepted by the United
States.
The surrender was brought about thus -
Gen. Grant, having badly defeated the forces
under Lee on Thursday, and having his ar
my nearly surrounded, on Friday sent let.
ter to Gen. Lee saying: 1.-The result of the
last week must convince you of the hope
Iessness of further resistance on the part of
The army of Northern Virginia in this strug-
gle. | feel that it is so and regard it as my
duty to shift from myself, the responsibility
of any further effusion of blood by asking
of you the surrender of that portion of the
Confederate States Army known as the Army
of Northern Virginia" To this Gen. Lee
replied: "Though not entirely of the opin-
ion you express of the hopelessness of the
further resistance on the part of the Army
of Northern Virginia, reciprocate your de-
sire to avoid useless effusioL of blood and
therefore before considering your PROPOSE
ton ask the terms you will offer on condition
of its surrender
Two or three more letters passed between
the Generals, when the surrender was finally
acceded to by Gen. Lee. The official des.
patches of Gen. Grant explain the terms
proposed by himself, on which the surrender
was made. They are sufficient for all the
requirements of the situation, asserting the
power of the conqueror and the dignity of
the nation, whilst they impose no unneces.
sary humiliation on the defeated army The
whole army was required to surrender, to
give up all its arms, artillery and public
property, the officers being allowed to retain
their side arms, their private horses and bag
gage rolls Of all the officers and men to be
made in duplicate, the officers to give their
individual parole not to take up arms against
the Government OF the United States until
properly exchanged, and each company and
regmental officer to sign like parole for
the men OF his command. On these terms
the officers and mon arc allowed to return to
their homes. not to be disturbed hy he
United States authorities so long as they OBJ.
serve their parole and the laws in force
where they may reside. These are the terms
as at first proposed by Gen. Grant, General
Grant, in his preliminary letter proposing
the terms, stated that "PEAcE'' being his
first desire, there would be but one condition
insisted upon, namely, that the men surren-
dcred should be disqualified for taking up
arms against the Government of the United
States until properly exchanged. Gen. Lee,
without admitting his intention to surrender,
desired to know whether Cen Grants pro-
posals would tend to the restoration of
Peace, and proposed meeting to discuss
the subject. Gen. Grant states in reply that
he had no authority to treat on the subject
of Peace, and declines meeting for that
purpose. He adds that the terms upon
which Peace can be obtained are well under
stood, and that by the South laying down
her arms they will hasten that desirable
event, save thousands of human lives and
hundreds of millions of property not yet
destroyed This closed all reference to the
subject Of Peace, and Gen. Grant, in his
final letter more formally proposed the terms
on which he would receive the surrender
which, as already specified, were accepted
by General Lee.