1865 Post

President Davis,

It is with a heavy heart and deepest regret that I am writing you. I have surrenderd to General Grant in Appomattox Courthouse, VA.

My men are weary, battered, and broken. My own son had become a Union prisoner. Nearly everybody was starving, I could not bear to see them like that. You know better than anyone that I care about my men, that is why I agreed upon General Grant's conditions:

1. The Army of Northern Virginia promises to surrender and not fight anymore. 

2. All Confederate-issued weapons must be turned over.

3. Privately owned weapons and horses may be kept.

4. The Union would give the Confederacy 25,000 rations.

Considering the circumstances, I found these terms quite agreeable. Grant promised to take no prisoners, and we are all now American citizens.

Again, I deeply regret writing you this letter and feel sorry for the men who lost their lives for this cause. I told my boys to go home. Many of them wanted to fight on, asking me for the next battle plans, but I simply do not have the heart to let them die for a lost cause. I could not put them through this hell anymore.

Sincerely,