An Important Printed Record Of the Grant / Lee Surrender Correspondence

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Newspaper, "Charleston Courier, April 14, 1865, 4pp, minor weakness at the folds. This Union occupied newspaper reports from the front page in stacked headlines, "THE END OF THE REBELLION," "Surrender of Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Entire Army of Northern Virginia", "Glory to Grant". Two complete columns provide verbatim letter exchanges between Grant and Lee between April 7th and the 9th. Grant opens the negotiations with his April 7th letter, "April 7, General R.E. Lee, The results of the last week must convince you of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia in this struggle. I feel that it is so, and regard it as my duty to shift from myself the responsibility of any further effusion of blood by asking of you the surrender of that portion of the Confederate States army known as the Army of Northern Virginia.U.S. Grant, Lieutenant-General". Lee quickly responds, "April 7, General, I have received your note of this date. Though not entertaining the opinion you express of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia, I reciprocate your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and therefore, before considering your proposition, ask the terms you will offer on condition of its surrender. R.E. Lee, General." There are six additional letters, finally closing with Lee's acceptance, "Headquarters Army N. Va., April 9th, 1865. Lt. Gen. U. S. Grant Com'dg Armies U. S., General: I have received your letter of this date containing the terms of the surrender of the Army of Northern Va, as proposed by you. As they are substantially the same as those expressed in your letter of the 8th inst, they are accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the stipulations into effect. Very Respectfully, Your obt. Servt R. E. Lee, General. Of course there are several other reports, Stanton / Grant exchanges, Grant / Lincoln exchange, etc. This is an Important record of the Lee/Grant surrender negotiation. Incredibly printed on the day that President Lincoln was shot.

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