|
PEACEMAKERS
Published in the Spotsylvania
Presbyterian Church Post
by Michael Aubrecht, Copyright 2006
With all the excitement surrounding
SPC's upcoming "Peacemaker" Bible-Study program, I
thought it might be interesting to present one of
the most pivotal moments of peacemaking in American
history; the surrender at Appomattox.
On
April 9, 1865, after four long years of fighting,
Gen. Robert E. Lee gracefully submitted the control
of his Confederate forces to Union Gen. Ulysses S.
Grant at the village of Appomattox Court House in
Virginia. By the end of May, all of the remaining
Southern forces laid down their arms, bringing to
conclusion one of the worst trials in American
history and reuniting a country that had been
divided in a great Civil War. One of the most
interesting, yet often overlooked aspects of the
surrender is the intimate correspondence that was
exchanged by both the North and South's supreme
commanders over a three-day period. After
discussing the matter via couriers, both generals
agreed to gather together for a meeting that
initiated the end of the bloodiest conflict in the
nation's history. Below are some excerpts taken
from their dispatches:
April 7th, 1865
General: The results of the last
week must convince you of the hopelessness of
further resistance on the part of the Army of
Northern Virginia in this struggle. I feel that it
is so, and regard it as my duty to shift from
myself the responsibility of any further effusion
of blood by asking of you the surrender of that
portion of the Confederate States army known as the
Army of Northern Virginia. - U.S. Grant,
Lieutenant-General
General: I have received your note
of this date. Though not entertaining the opinion
you express of the hopelessness of further
resistance on the part of the Army of Northern
Virginia, I reciprocate your desire to avoid
useless effusion of blood, and therefore, before
considering your proposition, ask the terms you
will offer on condition of its surrender. - R.E.
Lee, General.
April 8th, 1865
General: Your note of last evening
in reply to mine of the same date, asking the
conditions on which I will accept the surrender of
the Army of Northern Virginia, is just received. In
reply I would say that, peace being my great
desire… I will meet you, or will designate
officers to meet any officers you may name for the
same purpose, at any point agreeable to you, for
the purpose of arranging definitely the terms upon
which the surrender of the Army of Northern
Virginia will be received. - U.S. Grant,
Lieutenant-General
General: I received at a late hour
your note of today. In mine of yesterday I did not
intend to propose the surrender of the Army of
Northern Virginia, but to ask the terms of your
proposition… I cannot, therefore, meet you with a
view to surrender the Army of Northern Virginia;
but as far as your proposal may affect the
Confederate States forces under my command, and
tend to the restoration of peace, I should be
pleased to meet you at 10 A.M. tomorrow on the old
state road to Richmond, between the picket-lines of
the two armies. - R.E. Lee, General.
April 9th, 1865
General: Your note of yesterday is
received. I have not authority to treat on the
subject of peace. The meeting proposed for 10 A.M.
today could lead to no good. I will state, however,
that I am equally desirous for peace with yourself,
and the whole North entertains the same feeling.
The terms upon which peace can be had are well
understood. By the South laying down their arms,
they would hasten that most desirable event, save
thousands of human lives, and hundreds of millions
of property not yet destroyed… - U.S. Grant,
Lieutenant-General
General: I received your note of
this morning on the picket-line, whither I had come
to meet you and ascertain definitely what terms
were embraced in your proposal of yesterday with
reference to the surrender of this army. I now ask
an interview, in accordance with the offer
contained in your letter of yesterday, for that
purpose. - R.E. Lee, General.
Soon after this last dispatch, both
commanders agreed (via messenger) to meet at the
house of Wilmer McLean. Upon arriving first, Gen.
Lee was asked to wait in a large sitting room on
the first floor of the residence. Gen. Grant
arrived shortly thereafter and entered the room
alone while his staff respectfully waited on the
front lawn. After apologizing for both his
tardiness and ragged appearance, Grant began the
conversation by saying, "I met you once before,
General Lee, while we were serving in Mexico... I
have always remembered your appearance, and I think
I should have recognized you anywhere." "Yes,"
replied General Lee, "I know I met you on that
occasion, and I have often thought of it and tried
to recollect how you looked, but I have never been
able to recall a single feature."
The
two veterans talked a bit more about Mexico and
moved on to a discussion of the terms of the
surrender when Lee asked Grant to commit the terms
to paper. At a little before 4 o'clock General Lee
shook hands with General Grant, bowed to the other
officers, and left the room. He then exited the
house and signaled to his orderly to bring up his
horse. As Lee mounted, Grant stepped down from the
porch, and, moving toward him, saluted him by
raising his hat. All of the Union officers present
followed him in this act of courtesy; Lee returned
the gesture and rode off to break the sad news to
the men whom he had so long commanded.
Years later, both generals met for
the last time. Grant had entered politics and was
elected as the 18th President of the United States.
Lee was President of Washington University. Both
men did not wish to reminisce and avoided
discussing the war. Their desire was to accept the
results as God's will, and move on together, in
peace.
|
