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==Surrender==

==Surrender==

At dawn on April 9, [[John B. Gordon]]'s Second Corps attacked Sheridan's cavalry and quickly forced back the first line, while Confederate cavalry under [[Fitzhugh Lee]] moved around the Union flank. The second line, held by Ranald S. Mackenzie and George Crook, fell back. Gordon's troops charged through the Union lines and took the ridge, but as they reached the crest they saw the entire Union XXIV Corps in line of battle with the V Corps to their right. Immediately the battle fizzled out; Fitz Lee's cavalry withdrew and rode off towards Lynchburg. Ord's troops began advancing against Gordon's corps while the Union II Corps began moving against General [[James Longstreet]]'s corps to the northeast. Colonel Charles Venable of Lee's staff rode in at this time and asked for an assesment, and Gordon gave him a reply he knew Lee didn't want to hear: "Tell General Lee I have fought my corps to a frazzle, and I fear I can do nothing unless I am heavily supported by Longstreet's corps." Upon hearing it Lee finally stated the inevitable: "Then there is nothing left me to do but to go and see General Grant, and I would rather die a thousand deaths."  He then penned out a letter to Grant, and sent it through the lines:

At dawn on April 9, [[John B. Gordon]]'s Second Corps attacked Sheridan's cavalry and quickly forced back the first line, while Confederate cavalry under [[Fitzhugh Lee]] moved around the Union flank. The second line, held by Ranald S. Mackenzie and George Crook, fell back. Gordon's troops charged through the Union lines and took the ridge, but as they reached the crest they saw the entire Union XXIV Corps in line of battle with the V Corps to their right. Immediately the battle fizzled out; Fitz Lee's cavalry withdrew and rode off towards Lynchburg. Ord's troops began advancing against Gordon's corps while the Union II Corps began moving against General [[James Longstreet]]'s corps to the northeast. Colonel Charles Venable of Lee's staff rode in at this time and asked for an assessment, and Gordon gave him a reply he knew Lee didn't want to hear: "Tell General Lee I have fought my corps to a frazzle, and I fear I can do nothing unless I am heavily supported by Longstreet's corps." Upon hearing it Lee finally stated the inevitable: "Then there is nothing left me to do but to go and see General Grant, and I would rather die a thousand deaths."  He then penned out a letter to Grant, and sent it through the lines:

:''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.''  

:''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.''  

A cease-fire was arranged, and several officers from both sides met to select a proper place for the surrender.  At '''Appomatox Court House''' stood the only available structure considered proper enough: the home of Wilmer McLean, who had the previous bad luck to have lived on the site of the first battle of the War; he had moved to Appomatox where he had hoped "never to see another soldier again."  Now, there were several in his parlor, with more showing up.

A cease-fire was arranged, and several officers from both sides met to select a proper place for the surrender.  At '''Appomatox Court House''' stood the only available structure considered proper enough: the home of Wilmer McLean, who had the previous bad luck to have lived on the site of the first battle of the War; he had moved to Appomatox where he had hoped "never to see another soldier again."  Now, there were several in his parlor, with more showing up.

Lee arrived dressed in his finest uniform, a sash around his waist, and a sabre hanging at his side.  He stood in McLean's parlor for thirty minutes when Grant finaly arrived, wearing his uniform casually with mud-spattered boots and a private's overcoat with a general's shoulder-straps hastily sewn on.  Pleasent conversation began, about times in the [[Mexican War]], until Lee brought up the subject of the meeting.  Grant replied the Lee's army "should lay down their arms, not to take them up again during the continuance of the war unless duly and properly exchanged."  Lee suggested that the terms be made in writing:

Lee arrived dressed in his finest uniform, a sash around his waist, and a sabre hanging at his side.  He stood in McLean's parlor for thirty minutes when Grant finally arrived, wearing his uniform casually with mud-spattered boots and a private's overcoat with a general's shoulder-straps hastily sewn on.  Pleasant conversation began, about times in the [[Mexican War]], until Lee brought up the subject of the meeting.  Grant replied the Lee's army "should lay down their arms, not to take them up again during the continuance of the war unless duly and properly exchanged."  Lee suggested that the terms be made in writing:

   

   

:''APPOMATTOX C. H., VA.,''     

:''APPOMATTOX C. H., VA.,''