The+End+of+the+War

On April 9th, 1865, the war ended when General Robert E. Lee surrendered at the Appomattox Cout House. A soldier, General Horace Porter, writes that General Lee was both respected by both General Grant and many Union soldiers. The elegant Robert Lee was tall and older than Grant by 16 years; Grant lacked Lee's manners and upbringing but tried to make the surrender easier on Lee.

At the surrender, General Grant wrote the terms of surrender and he made it so that the Confederade army could keep their horses, guns, etc. General Lee was so touched that he immediately wrote his name on the paper.

Although not all the fighting ended with the signing at Appomattox (armies in distant locations fought on until they were finally notified), most of the country found out quickly and in the North, celebrations erupted. Lincoln and his government began to plan for reuniting the Nation.

Less than one week later, the celebrations abruptly ended when John Wilkes Booth, a famous actor who supported the Confederacy, fatally shot Abraham Lincoln while the President was relaxing at a performance of "Our Amercian Cousin" at Ford's Theater. With Lincoln's death, the South's hopes for a generous reconciliation were dashed.



//Peace at the End of the Civil War,// Allyn Cox