The Confederate retreat had been a disaster—food was scarce, desertions were mounting daily, and on April 6th Lee lost 7,000 troops at the Battle of Sayler’s Creek. Nonetheless, early on the morning of April 9th at Appomattox Court House, Lee mounted a last-ditch attack that was initially successful. Soon, however, Lee saw that the way westward was blocked and he was hopelessly outnumbered. Lee uttered “there is nothing left me to do but to go and see Gen. Grant, and I would rather die a thousand deaths.” And he sent a message to Grant announcing his willingness to surrender his remaining 27,000 men.

The two war-weary generals met in the front parlor of the Wilmer McLean home at one o’clock that afternoon. Characteristically, Grant had arrived in his mud-splattered field uniform while Lee had turned out in full dress attire. Lee asked for the terms of surrender, and Grant hurriedly wrote them out. Generously, all officers and men were to be paroled, and they would be sent home with their private property–most important to the men were the horses, which could be used for a late spring planting. Officers would keep their side arms, and Lee’s starving men would be given Union rations.

Quieting a band that had begun to play in celebration, Grant told his officers, “The war is over. The Rebels are our countrymen again.” The war in Virginia was over.