U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.”
GENERAL LEE TO GENERAL GRANT.
“Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia, }
April 9, 1865. }
“General—I have received your letter of this date, containing the terms of surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia as proposed by you. As they are substantially the same as those expressed in your letter of the 8th inst., they are accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the stipulations into effect.
“Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
“R. E. LEE, General.”
The national rejoicing over the capture of Lee’s army was, as may well be imagined, deep and general. Throughout the length and breadth of the land, thanksgiving to the God of battles—as of Peace—went up from the hearts of a whole people, happy in the rescue of the American Republic from division, and from the plague of human slavery.
The following documents were issued from the war office, at Washington, immediately after the great victory: