Surrender Terms At Appomattox

[ntsb]

Every so often I read of Lee "obtaining" terms of surrender from Grant. To me, that implies that Lee had negotiated the terms to some degree. On the other hand, I have read Grant "offered" or "presented" terms, which I take as Lee having no role in negotiating terms, just accepting what was offered. Is there a definitive source that can shed light on which case it could be? If Lee did negotiate, what did he obtain that was not first offered?

 

[Rebel_Giratina]

One thing that sticks out in my mind is letting his officers and men take their mounts/pack animals home with them for the spring plowing.

 

[ErnieMac]

The terms originally spelled out by Grant in a note to Lee drafted at about 5:00 a.m. on the morning of April 9 were as follows:

APPOMATTOX COURT-HOUSE, VA.
April 9, 1865

General R. E. LEE:

In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 8th instant, I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia on the following terms, to wit: Rolls of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy to be given to an officer to be designated by me, the other to be retained by such officer or officers as you may designate. The officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms against the Government of the United States until properly exchanged; and each company or regimental commander sign a like parole for the men of their commands. The arms, artillery, and public property to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the officers appointed by me to receive them. This will not embrace the side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or baggage. This done, each officer and man will be allowed to return to his home, not to be disturbed by U. S. authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in force where they may reside.

U.S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
​

The formal terms, which Grant and Lee had agreed to during their meeting at the McLean house, were written out and signed the following day. As Rebel_Giratina noted the major difference was allowing for enlisted men to keep horses that were their own personal property. This differed from the Union armies in which all cavalry and artillery horses used by enlisted men were furnished by the government. Grant was not aware of that when he wrote the original terms, but accepted the change when Lee made the request.

Appomattox Court House Virginia
April 10, 1865

Agreement entered into this day in regard to the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia to the United States Authorities.

1st The troops shall march by Brigades and Detachments to a designated point, stock their Arms, deposit their flags, Sabres, Pistols, etc. and from thence march to their homes under charge of their Officers, superintended by their respective Division and Corps Commanders, Officers, retaining their side Arms, and the authorized number of private horses.

2. All public horses and public property of all kinds to be turned over to Staff Officers designated by the United States Authorities.

3. Such transportation as may be agreed upon as necessary for the transportation of the Private baggage of Officers will be allowed to accompany the Officers, to be turned over at the end of the trip to the nearest U.S. Quarter Masters, receipts being taken for the same.

4. Couriers and Wounded men of the artillery and Cavalry whose horses are their own private property will be allowed to retain them.

5. The surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia shall be construed to include all the forces operating with that Army on the 8th inst., the date of commencement of negociation for surrender, except such bodies of Cavalry as actually made their escape previous to the surrender, and except also such forces of Artillery as were more than Twenty (20) miles from Appomattox Court House at the time of Surrender on the 9th inst.
​

 

[ntsb]

Thanks rebel and erniemac. It seems fair to say that the terms were more or less what was offered by Grant. So, most confederates went home empty handed. I can't imagine how bleak the future must have looked to these men on their journey home.

 

[rhettbutler1865]

The terms originally spelled out by Grant in a note to Lee drafted at about 5:00 a.m. on the morning of April 9 were as follows:

APPOMATTOX COURT-HOUSE, VA.
April 9, 1865

General R. E. LEE:

In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 8th instant, I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia on the following terms, to wit: Rolls of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy to be given to an officer to be designated by me, the other to be retained by such officer or officers as you may designate. The officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms against the Government of the United States until properly exchanged; and each company or regimental commander sign a like parole for the men of their commands. The arms, artillery, and public property to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the officers appointed by me to receive them. This will not embrace the side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or baggage. This done, each officer and man will be allowed to return to his home, not to be disturbed by U. S. authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in force where they may reside.

U.S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
​

The formal terms, which Grant and Lee had agreed to during their meeting at the McLean house, were written out and signed the following day. As Rebel_Giratina noted the major difference was allowing for enlisted men to keep horses that were their own personal property. This differed from the Union armies in which all cavalry and artillery horses used by enlisted men were furnished by the government. Grant was not aware of that when he wrote the original terms, but accepted the change when Lee made the request.

Appomattox Court House Virginia
April 10, 1865

Agreement entered into this day in regard to the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia to the United States Authorities.

1st The troops shall march by Brigades and Detachments to a designated point, stock their Arms, deposit their flags, Sabres, Pistols, etc. and from thence march to their homes under charge of their Officers, superintended by their respective Division and Corps Commanders, Officers, retaining their side Arms, and the authorized number of private horses.

2. All public horses and public property of all kinds to be turned over to Staff Officers designated by the United States Authorities.

3. Such transportation as may be agreed upon as necessary for the transportation of the Private baggage of Officers will be allowed to accompany the Officers, to be turned over at the end of the trip to the nearest U.S. Quarter Masters, receipts being taken for the same.

4. Couriers and Wounded men of the artillery and Cavalry whose horses are their own private property will be allowed to retain them.

5. The surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia shall be construed to include all the forces operating with that Army on the 8th inst., the date of commencement of negociation for surrender, except such bodies of Cavalry as actually made their escape previous to the surrender, and except also such forces of Artillery as were more than Twenty (20) miles from Appomattox Court House at the time of Surrender on the 9th inst.
​

Very thorough...well done!