Lee and Grant Meet

At Appomattox Court House, Lee and Grant held the second of their two meetings on the morning of April 10 as Grant sought Lee’s support in urging the surrender of other Confederate armies and Lee focused on settling the final details of surrender. Lee refused to use his influence with other armies, but the two officers resolved key terms: Grant agreed to provide Confederate soldiers with individual parole passes to protect their journey home and to let surrendered soldiers travel free on all government transportation. During their two meetings at Appomattox, no harsh words passed between them, and one Confederate wrote, “General Grant and his men treated us nobly, more nobly than was ever a conquered army treated before of since.” The process of reconciliation had already begun.

Appomattox, Virginia · United States