On the morning of April 9, 1865, ROBERT E. LEE
conceded defeat to Ulysses S. Grant. A ceasefire followed,
and soon after, the two generals had their historic meeting
at Appomattox Court House and both the Civil War and Lee’s
military career came to a close. The following is a large
copy of General Order No. 9, Lee’s farewell to his
troops composed the day after his surrender to Grant.
Get transcript
Ruins of a railroad bridge and building on the Richmond
& Petersburg Railroad, Richmond, VA, April 1865. Photograph
by Alexander Gardner (GLC 05111.01.0198)
