The ruddy light brought out every detail of
these martial figures. By that fire on the roadside had assembled for
the last time General Robert E. Lee and his corps commanders.
The council was brief.
General Lee succinctly laid before his listeners the whole situation.
His army was on a strip of land between the James River and the enemy.
He could not cross the river--if he could not break through the enemy
in his front the army was lost. General Grant had understood his
situation, and a correspondence had taken place. He would read General
Grant's notes and copies of his own replies.
By the light of the fire, General Lee then proceeded to read the papers
alluded too.
Grant had opened the correspondence. "The result of the last week must
convince General Lee," he wrote, "of the hopelessness of further
resistance on the part of the army of Northern Virginia." He therefore
"asked the surrender" of that army to prevent bloodshed.
Lee had written in reply, requesting Grant to state the terms.
Grant had stated them on this 8th of April, and Lee had replied at once
that he "did not intend to propose the surrender of the army of
Northern Virginia, but to ask the terms of General Grant's proposition.
To be frank," he had added, "I do not think the emergency has arisen to
call for the surrender.
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