April 7th, 1865.
General: I have received your note of this day. Though not entirely of 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 the useless effusion of blood, and therefore, before considering your proposition, ask the terms you will offer on conditions of its surrender.
R. E. LEE, General.
Lt. Gen. U. S. Grant,
Commanding Army of the United States.
To Gen. R. E. Lee, Commanding Confederate States Army:
General: Your note of last evening, in reply to mine of 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 first desire, there is but one condition that I insist upon, viz:
That the men surrendered shall be disqualified for taking up arms against the government of the United States until properly exchanged.