"Ending the War, More or Less" Topic

"April 9, 1865, is the day that most people think the American Civil War came to an end. General Robert E. Lee realized his gallant Army of Northern Virginia was simply too beaten up to continue its fight for Confederate independence. Union General Ulysses S. Grant stopped his headachy ride about noon when he saw the Confederate courier coming his way. Might this be it? Finally? It was. Lee requested a meeting, and Grant's headache disappeared.

The surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia is legendary. It was held at the McClean House, owned by the same Wilmer McClean who had decided, after First Bull Run exploded in his front yard, to move to a quieter place. Lee wore a spotless officer's uniform; Grant's attire was mud-spattered and informal. Lee got to the house first and waited for about thirty minutes. Grant claimed later that all the chit-chat in which he and General Lee engaged when he finally arrived was because he was embarrassed to ask Lee for his surrender. The generals agreed upon terms: Lee's men got to keep their horses, and Grant sent over 25,000 rations to ease the southerners' hunger, if not their pride…"
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Amicalement
Armand

For a superior account of the many Confederate surrenders (starting with correct spelling of the McLean House), see Robert M. Dunkerly, To the Bitter End: Appomattox, Bennett Place, and the Surrenders of the Confederacy, discussed last week on Civil War Talk Radio link

Thanks!.

Amicalement
Armand