Appomattox Surrender
On April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee met with Union General Ulysses S. Grant to discuss terms of the surrender of the Armies of Northern Virginia. The setting was the town of Appomattox Courthouse, in the parlor room of local resident Wilmer McLean. Ely Parker was there as a witness, and by his mere physical presence, almost caused a major incident.

"Grant and Lee invited the staff into a parlor of the house where they met. Those who were present, Horace Porter for one, said that when Parker was introduced to Lee, Lee appeared startled. And the assumption was, Lee mistook Parker for a Black man and was insulted that Grant was bringing a Black person to the surrender. There's another account that said the negotiations were going to be broken off."

William Armstrong
Parker Biographer

"And Lee took a long look at this copper-colored person, and then said, I'm glad, shaking Parker's hand, I'm glad there's one real American here. Parker's response was, "We are all Americans."

Stephen Saunders Webb Ph.D
Maxwell School, Syracuse University

Ely Parker described the following events:

"Generals Grant and Lee talked over the surrender then Lee rose and said, "General Grant I want to ask you something. If our positions were reversed I would grant it to you. My men are starving and I would ask if you would give them rations." Grant asked, "How many men have you got?" "About twenty thousand," said General Lee. General Grant came over to me then and told me to make out an order for rations for thirty thousand. He knew - he did not propose to have anyone suffer."

Union Colonel Joe Bowers had been assigned to make the official copy of the terms of surrender, but Parker said that he "became so nervous he could not write." Parker took the book from Bowers' shaking hands and penned the following terms in his perpetually imperturbable manner.

HEAD QUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES
Appomattox C.H., April 9th, 1865

Gen. R. E. Lee
Comd'g C.S.A.

General,
In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 8th inst., I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of N.Va. on the following terms, to wit; Rolls of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy to be given to an officer to be designated by me, the other to be retained by such officer or officers as you may designate. The Officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms against the Government of the United States until properly exchanged, and each company or regimental commander to sign a like parole for the men of their commands.

The arms, artillery and public property to be parked and stacked and turned over to the Officer appointed by me to receive them. This will not embrace the side arms of the Officers nor their private horses or baggage. This done each officer and man will be allowed to return to their homes, not to be disturbed by United States authority as long as they observe their parole and the laws in force where they may reside.

Very Respectfully,

U.S. Grant
Lt. Gen.