Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant on this day 160 years ago...

Palm Sunday, April 9, 1865.

With the walls closing in on the once proud Army of Northern Virginia, Confederate General Robert E. Lee rolled the dice one last time in an attempt to breakthrough the Union encirclement of his army on the forlorn hope that they could reach Lynchburg for resupply and link up with Joe Johnston's army as it moved north from North Carolina and toward Virginia.

The Rebel Yell was raised one final time as troops under the command of Major General John B. Gordon launched a dawn assault against Union cavalry blocking the road just outside the small hamlet of Appomattox Court House. Gordon's men achieved initial success, brushing past Phil Sheridan's troopers and continuing their advance up the road toward a potential breakout.

However, once Gordon’s men crested the ridge west of town, they saw a daunting sight: two full Union infantry corps - the V Corps and XXIV Corps - had marched through the night to cut off Lee’s escape. Realizing they were completely surrounded, Lee called off the attack.

After realizing escape was impossible, General Robert E. Lee requested a meeting with General Ulysses S. Grant to discuss terms of surrender. The two met that afternoon around 1:00 p.m. in the parlor of the McLean House in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia.

Lee arrived impeccably dressed in a full dress uniform with sash and sword, while Grant, suffering from a headache, wore a muddy field uniform. The contrast in appearances reflected their personalities and situations—Lee the symbol of a fading aristocracy, Grant the practical soldier of democracy and industry.

The meeting began with friendly small talk. Grant reminisced about the Mexican-American War, in which both had served. Eventually, Lee steered the conversation back to the purpose of the meeting.

Grant offered generous terms, as Lincoln had directed him to do. Confederate officers and men would be paroled and allowed to return home, retaining their private horses and sidearms. Grant even allowed men to keep government-owned horses and mules, knowing they’d be needed for spring planting—a gesture of reconciliation and humanity.

There was no punishment, no imprisonment, and no triumphalism. Grant ordered his men not to cheer when word of the surrender spread, saying, “The war is over; the rebels are our countrymen again.”

The surrender at Appomattox didn’t end the Civil War immediately - other Confederate armies would surrender in the following weeks - but it symbolically and effectively marked the end of the Confederacy.