Inside the Vault: The Surrender of Robert E. Lee

“I ask a suspension of hostilities pending the discussion of the Terms of surrender of this army.”
—Robert E. Lee, April 9, 1865

Shortly before noon on April 9, 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee sent a message to Union General Ulysses S. Grant asking for a “suspension of hostilities pending the discussion of the Terms of surrender of this army.” By the end of the day, Lee had accepted Grant’s terms for surrender. The next day, Lee issued General Order No. 9, a farewell message to his troops.

On Tuesday, April 9, 2024, our curators discussed the surrender of Robert E. Lee and related documents with Dr. Caroline Janney, John L. Nau III Professor in the History of the American Civil War and director of the John L. Nau III Center for Civil War History at the University of Virginia.

View slides from the presentation here.

FEATURED DOCUMENTS

• Robert E Lee’s request for “a suspension of hostilities”
• Ulysses S. Grant’s proposal for terms of surrender
• Robert E Lee’s farewell orders to his troops

USE THE TIMESTAMPS BELOW TO JUMP TO THE TOPIC YOU WANT TO VIEW

1:48–3:08: Today’s documents

3:09–11:27: The Appomattox Campaign

11:28–12:36: Robert E. Lee’s request for “a suspension of hostilities”

12:37–15:44: Ulysses S. Grant’s proposal for terms of surrender

15:45–19:34: Special Orders No. 73 and soldier parole

19:35–23:38: Robert E Lee’s farewell orders to his troops

23:39–29:45: After the surrender

29:46–39:44: How can these documents be used in the classroom?

39:45–45:55: Why are there so many copies of General Order No. 9?

45:56–47:57: What did Lincoln think of the surrender?

47:58–49:48: How long were the night marches?

49:49–50:40: Why was the location for surrender chosen?

50:41–55:28: How did the Southern men travel home?

55:29–1:00:45: How should souvenir taking be taught?

RELATED RESOURCES

• Essay: “The American Civil War” by Gary W. Gallagher (University of Virginia)
• Book Breaks: “Robert E. Lee: A Life” by Allen C. Guelzo (Princeton University)
• Book Breaks: “Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner’s Reckoning with the Lost Cause” by Ty Seidule (US Military Academy at West Point)
• Inside the Vault: “Two Generals: George Washington and Robert E. Lee”
• Inside the Vault: “Ulysses S. Grant”
• Spotlight on a Primary Source: “A political cartoon of Grant and Lee, 1864”
• Spotlight on a Primary Source: “The surrender of Robert E. Lee, 1865”