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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Lee, Robert E. (1807-1870) to Ulysses S. Grant

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07967 Author/Creator: Lee, Robert E. (1807-1870) Place Written: Virginia Type: Letter signed Date: 9 April 1865 Pagination: 1 p. ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy PDF Download(s): PDF of image and transcript

In regard to his forthcoming surrender to Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, Lee writes requests "a suspension of hostilities pending the discussion of the terms of surrender." A endorsement by General Edward O.C Ord appears on the lower fold, made at 11:55 AM and indicating that the letter was read and acted upon by Ord's and General Philip H. Sheridan's troops. Letter marked "Duplicate."

Duplicate
9th April 1865

General,
I ask a suspension of hostilities pending the discussion of the Terms of surrender of this army in the interview which I requested in my former communication of Today St Gen U S Grant Very respectfully
Commanding U.S. Armies Your obt servt.
R E Lee
Genl
[endorsement]
April 9th 11-55
the am
Within read -
acted on - my troops
and Genl Sheridans
being south &
west - of Appomattox
covering Exits that
way - and men
at rest - firing
stopped -
[E]OC Ord
Mjr Genl -

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870
Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885
Ord, Edward Otho Cresap, 1818-1883
Sheridan, Philip Henry, 1831-1888

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