Head Quarters Armies of the United States
Appomattox C. H. Va Apl 9th 1865
Gen R. E. Lee
Comd’g C.S.A.
General,
In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 8th inst., I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of N. Va. on the following terms, to wit;
Rolls of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy to be given to an officer to be designated by me, the other to be restrained by such officer or officers as you may designate. The officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms against the Government of the United States until properly exchanged, and each company or regimental commander to sign a like parole for the men of their commands.
The arms, artillery and public property to be parked and stacked and turned over to the officer appointed by me to receive them. This will not embrace the side arms of the officers nor their private horses or baggage. This done each officer and man will be allowed to return to their homes, not to be disturbed by United States authority as long as they observe their parole and the laws in force where they may reside.
Very Respectfully
U.S. Grant
Lt. Gen
Source: The Archives of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation, Papers of the Lee Family, Jessie Ball duPont Library, Stratford Hall
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2015 November 2