I will meet you, or 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.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT,
Lieut. General, Commanding Armies of the United States.
April 8th, 1865.
General: I received, at a late hour, your note of to-day, in answer to 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. To be frank, I do not think the emergency has arisen to call for the surrender.
But as the restoration of peace should be the sole object of all, I desire to know if your proposals tend to that end.
I cannot, therefore, meet you with a view to surrender the Army of Northern Virginia; but so far as your proposition 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., to-morrow, on the old stage road to Richmond, between the picket lines of the two armies.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
General Commanding Confederate States Army.
To Lieut. Gen. U. S. Grant, Commanding United States Armies.