The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-09-16

The following correspondence was
printed in the st. Paul Press of Mon
day, April IA, 1865:
Headquarters Armies of the United
States, 4: 30 P. NJ, April 8, 1S65.-To
Hon. E. M. Stanton: General Lee sur
rendered the Army of Northern Vir-
ginia this afternoon upon terms pro-
posed by myself. The accompanying
additional correspondence will show
the conditions fully. U. S. GRANT,
Northumberland"
"APRIL 7, 1S65.-To General r. E.
Lee. General The result of last week
must convince you of the hopelessness
of further resistance on the part of the
Army of Northern Virginia in this
struggle. feel that it is so, and re.
gard it my duty to shift from myself
the responsibility of any further effu-
sion of blood by asking of you the sur
render of that portion of the Confed-
crate Army known as the Army of
Northern Virginia. Very respectfully,
your obedient servant, us. GRANT,
"Lieutenant-Gen
"APRIL Z, 1S65.-To Lieutenant
General Grant-General: / have re-
ceived your note of this date. Though
not entirely of the opinion you express
concerning the hopelessness of further
resistance on the part of the Army of
Northern Virginia, l reciprocate your
desire to avoid useless effusion of blood,
and therefore, considering your PROPOSE
ton, ask what terms you will offer on
condition of its surrender.
"R. E. LEE, General"
"APRIL 8, 1S65.-To General r. E.
Lee, Commanding G. s. A.-General:
Your note of last evening, in reply to
mine of same date, asking conditions
on which will accept the surrender of
the Army of Northern Virginia, is just
received. In reply would say that,
peace being my first desire, there is but
one condition l insist on, viz: That the
against taking up arms against the gov
eminent of the United States until
properly exchanged. 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 shall be
received. Very spectfully your obedi-
ent servant U. S. GRANT,
"Lieutenant-Genera
"APRIL s, 1965-General: 1 re-
ceived at late hour your note of to-
day in answer to mine of yesterday. l
DID not intend to propose the surrender
of the Army of Northern Virginia, but
to ask the terms of your propositions.
TO be frank with you, l do not think
the emergency has arisen to call for the
surrender of this army, but as the res
toration OF peace should be the sole OBJ
ject of all, l desire to know whether
your proposals would tend TO that end.
| cannot, therefore, meet you with
view to the surrender of the Army of
Northern Virginia, but as far as your
proposition may affect the Confederate
States Army under my command and
tend to the restoration of peace, /
should be glad to meet you at ten A. NJ.
tomorrow on the old stage road to
Richmond, between the picket lines of
the two armies. Very respectfully,
your obedient servant.
ROBERT e. LEE, General"
APRIL 8, 1865.-To General r. E.
Lee, Commanding G. s. A: You note
of yesterday is received. | have no
authority to treat on the subject of
peace. The meeting proposed for ten
A. NJ. to-day would lead to no good. l
will state, however, General, that am
equally anxious for peace with your.
self, and the whole North entertain he
same feeling. The terms by which
peace can be had are well understood
by the South. The laying down arms
by your army will hasten that most de-
sirable event, save thousands of human
lives and hundreds of millions of prop
erty not yet destroyed. Sincerely hop
ing that all our difficulties may be
settled without the loss of another man.