Mangesh & Jason
The Final Moments of the Civil War
by Mangesh & Jason - June 29, 2010 - 3:10 PM

Our new issue is on newsstands and in mailboxes (or beach bags or bathrooms or wherever it is you do your _flossing). This week we’ll be sharing a few excerpts from the cover story, “The 50 Most Interesting Places in the Space-Time Continuum,” by Jenny Drapkin and Ethan Trex, plus a few places that ended up on the cutting room floor.

21. In the Final Moments of the Civil War
How do you get a tenacious general like Robert E. Lee to surrender? Make him an offer he can’t refuse. In April of 1865, General Ulysses S. Grant cornered General Lee at Appomattox Court House in Virginia. After making a last-gasp effort to break through Union lines, Lee realized the situation was hopeless. “There is nothing left for me to do but go and see General Grant,” he concluded, “and I would rather die a thousand deaths.”

But Grant took it easy on Lee. He told him that if he surrendered, the Confederate soldiers would be allowed to return home without being imprisoned or charged with treason. Grant also promised to give the starving Rebel troops several days of rations and to let them keep their horses. Lee accepted, knowing it was the best deal he was going to get.

Grant may have defeated Lee, but it was a surprisingly civil affair. As Lee rode away, the Union soldiers began firing their guns and cheering, but Grant quickly put a stop to their antics. “The war is over,” he told them. “The Rebels are our countrymen again.” If only all of Reconstruction had gone so smoothly.

See Also: The Final Resting Place of the Russian Mafia. If you’re in a subscribing mood, here are all the details.

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Comments (8)

  1. Thanks a lot, Andrew Johnson.

    posted by Will on 6-29-2010 at 4:48 pm

  2. And at the actual formal surrender of guns and flags, Union General Joshua Chamberlain gave the order to his soldiers to salute the surrendering army as a sign of honor to fellow soldiers and countrymen. Confederate General Gordon called his troops to salute in return.

    Here’s a good article about it: http://www.civilwarhome.com/chamberlainsurrender.htm

    There’s also a great book entitled “April 1865″ that describes how the honorable actions of many of the military leaders of the war helped reunify the country.

    posted by JMB on 6-29-2010 at 5:01 pm

  3. I went to college not far from Appomattox, and part of the story I heard (a student at the time wrote up a piece for Harper’s years after the war ended) is that Grant allowed all the girls to return home unharmed (and I believe with no charge) by rail. The article is “The Chivalric Side of General Grant” by Mary Lynn Williamson.

    posted by Amy on 6-29-2010 at 6:15 pm

  4. @Will,

    I don’t blame Johnson, it’s not his fault he was a douche. Lincoln wanted him to keep the border states from turnin’ Reb. He was never supposed to be President, it was a gesture towards “Malice towards none, charity to all.”

    I blame Booth.

    posted by Big Jonny on 6-29-2010 at 7:29 pm

  5. Unlike 99% of the population, you guys got it right – it wasn’t the court house in a town called Appomattox. The surrender took place in the Village of Appomattox Court House – in a private residence. You’ll see signs as you drive thru some rural parts of Virginia you may notice signs for places such as “Bedford CH” – some areas weren’t incorporated so the village with the county court house was known as ___ Court House.

    posted by PartiallyDeflected on 6-29-2010 at 8:53 pm

  6. @Big Jonny
    ditto

    posted by Cassy on 6-29-2010 at 10:24 pm

  7. @ Partially

    Another interesting fact is that the private residence was owned by one Wilmer McClean, who had moved to AC after the first Battle of Manassas was fought on his farmland.

    posted by Crazy on 6-29-2010 at 11:32 pm

  8. My magazine arrived in my computer, and on my I-Pod Touch, thank you Zinio (shameless plug).

    posted by gus on 6-30-2010 at 3:45 am

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