The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-02-26
GRANT AND LEE.
The Letters That Passed Between
Grant and Lee at the Time Of
The Surrender of the Con-
fe6eracy.
Ex.Confederate in American.

EX-COniSQerato IN American.
Long before the surrender of our
armies, Gen. Grant saw the end
with clear vision. Behind this Wis
ion was the indomitable will. In
August, 1864, he wrote these memoir
able words-sad ones, too to us:
The rebels have now in their
ranks their last man. The little
boys and old men are guarding
PRISONS, guarding railroad bridges
and forming a good part of their
garrisons for entrenched positions.
A man lost to them cannot be re-
placed. They have robbed alike
the cradle and the grave to get
their present force. The end
is not far distant.
And in this way the end came:
April 7, 1865.
To Gen. r. Z. Lee, Com. G.. S. A.
GENERAL-the result of the last
week mast convince you Of the hope
lessness of further resistance on the
part of the army of northern Virgin
is in this struggle. 1 feel that it is
SO, and feel it my duty to shift from
myself the responsibility of any
further effusion of blood by asking
you the surrender of that portion of
the Confederate states army known
as the army Of northern Virginia.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT, Lieut.. Cen,
Commanding Armies of the United
States.
April Z, 1865.
To Lieut.. Gen. q. S. Grant, Com
manding Armies Of the U. S:
GENERAL have received your
note of this date. Though not en-
tirely of the opinion you express of
the hopelessness of further resis-
lance on the part of the army of
northern Virgins, 1 reciprocate
your desire to avoid a useless effu-
sion of blood, and, therefore, before
considering your proposition, 1 ask
the terms you will offer on cozdi-
ton of its surrender.
R. E. LEE, General.
And this message, every word of
which coat so much of heart and
brain, was replied to thus:
April 8, 1866.
GENERAL--Your note of last even
ing, in reply to mine of same date,
asking conditions Oh which 1 will
accept the surrender of the army of
northern Virginia, is received. In
reply 1 would say that peace being
my first desire, there is but one
condition insist upon, viz: That
the men surrendered shall be dis
qualified for taking up arms against
the government of the United States
until properly exchanged. L will
meet you, or designate officers to
meet any officers you may name for
the same purpose, at any point,
agreeable to you, for the purpose, of
arranging definitely the terms upon
which the surrender of the army of
northern Virginia will be received.
Very respscttully,your obsdient ser
vent. U. 5. GRANT,
Lieut.. General.
Commanding Armies of the United
States.
Now we approach the crisis.
April s, 1865.
GENERAL-I received at = late
hour your note to-day in answer to
mine Of yesterday. l did not pro-
pose the surrender of the army OF
northern Virginia, but to ask the
terms Of your proposition. Te be
frank, l do not think the emergency
has arisen to call fer the surrender
of this army, but as the restoration
of peace should be the sole object
of all, desire to know whether
your proposal would tend to that
end. cannot, therefore, meet you
with a view to surrender the army
of northern Virginia; but so far as
your proposition may effect the
Confederate states forces under my
command, and tend to the restora-
ton of peace, I should be pleased
to meet you at 10 a. N. tomorrow,
on the old stage road to Richmond,
between the picket lines of the two
armies. Very respectfully, your
obedient servant,
r. E. LEE, Gen'l C. S. A.
TIE Lieut.. Ger. U. S. Grant, com
msnding Armies q. S. A.
And here Gen. Grant folds his
arms and stands still, but writes, af-
ter sleeping, as follows;
April 8.
Gen. r. E. Lee, Commanding C.S.A
GENERAL-Yeur note of yesterday
is received. AS 1 have no authori
" to treat on the subject of peace,
the meeting proposed for 10 a. m.
to-day could do no good. l will
state, however, General, that l am
equally anxious for peace with
yourself, and the whole north en-
tertains the same feeling.
The terms upon which peace
could be had are well understood.
By the south laying down their
arms they will hasten that most de-
sirablo event, save thousands of hu-
man lives and hundreds of millions
OF property not yet destroyed. Sin
cerely hopelng that all our Difficult
ties may be settled without the loss
of another life, subscribe myself,
very respectfully, your obedient ser
want, U. S. GRANT.
Lieut.. Gen'l U. S. Army.
There is letter you may pick to
pieces word for word, and every
where you find brain and heart
Like estranged brothers, they come
up nearer to each other. So Gen.
Lee writes:
April 8, 1865.
GENERAL received your note
Of this morning on the picket line,
whittier / had come to meet you
and ascertain definitely what terms
were embraced in your proposition
OF yesterday with reference to the
surrender of this army. 1 now re-
quest an interview in accordance
with the offer your letter of yester |
day for that purpose. Very respect
fully, your obsdisnt servant,