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Lee Surrenders! … 150 Years Ago
On April 9, 1865 Confederate General Robert E. Leesurrendered his army to Union General Ulysses Grant. The event marked the beginning of the end of the four-year U.S. Civil War that killed more than 700,000people and freed the slaves.
Today, Americans note the 150th anniversary of General Lee’s surrender. Many consider it one of themost emotional moments in U.S. history.
David Ward is a senior historian at the SmithsonianInstitution’s National Portrait Gallery. He calls thesurrender scene dramatic.
One reason, he says, is because the personalities ofLee and Grant showed the two sides of the war.
Lee’s side, the south, included many large farms thatdepended on slave labor. The southern farm ownerswere often wealthy, polite and well-connected in society. Even though Leewas not wealthy, he belonged to a famous family.
“And he very much embodied the whole seigniorial, aristocratic, paternalelement in the Old South, the slave-owning states.
In contrast, Grant’s family had neither money nor social influence. But he, likethe north, was able to use the resources he had in a new way to achievesuccess. Grant eventually defeated Lee because Grant’s army had more foodand supplies.
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Alonzo Chappel, Lee Surrendering to Grant at Appomattox, c. 1870 . Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, gift of Nancy L. Ross in memory of Patricia Firestone Chatham
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When it became clear that Lee could not continue to fight, the two generalsagreed to meet in a house in a Virginia town called Appomattox Courthouse.
Historian David Ward says Lee arrived at the meeting well-dressed. Grantwore a dirty uniform. Their appearances, too, seemed to show theirdifferences. But, Mr. Ward explains, General Grant did not know the fightingwas going to end and so did not have his best uniform ready.
Mr. Ward calls the meeting “awkward,” or uncomfortable. He says the mentalked about unimportant things at first because they did not know what to do.
“Grant reminds Lee that they had met in the war with Mexico, and Lee, who is a much taller man, Lee looks down at Grant and says, ‘I don’t remember youat all.’ Which, I always think, it must be really tough to lose a war. And Lee at that point I think really feeling the fact that he’s having to surrender tosomebody who he’s not regarding really as his equal.”
Except for that moment, Mr. Ward says the two men behaved politely. Leereminded Grant they were there to discuss the conditions of surrender. Grantsat down and quickly wrote them in a letter.
Most historians agree the conditions were generous. They permitted thesouthern soldiers to keep their horses and personal weapons. Grant alsooffered to feed the southern troops.
Mr. Ward points out the conditions discussed only military issues. They didnot force Lee to agree to political or social changes. In that way, he says, theconditions aimed to make it easier for the south and north to operate as onecountry again.
“It’s this moment where the society rips itself apart, remakes itself, and noweveryone recognizes in some way, shape or form, through some compromiseor another, we now have to put everything back together again.”
Indeed, when Lee left the building, Grant stopped the Northern troops fromcheering. He said the two sides were no longer enemies, and the best way toshow the North’s joy was not to celebrate the South’s defeat.
I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.
Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this report. Hai Do was the editor.
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Words in This Story
seigniorial – adj. related to the power and authority of a feudal lord
aristocratic – adj. belonging to the highest social class
paternal – adj. fatherly
generous – adj. providing more than the amount that is needed normally;showing kindness and concern for others
