This Day in History:, Robert E. Lee Surrenders.<br />April 9, 1865.<br />Surrounded with no possibility of escape, <br />the Confederate General surrendered his troops to <br />Union General Ulysses S. Grant in Appomattox, VA.<br />Lee met Grant in full dress attire at 1 p.m. <br />in the parlor of the Wilmer McLean home.<br />His surrender ended the U.S. Civil War, <br />the bloodiest war in American history.<br />Having known each other from the Mexican War, <br />the two spoke briefly before Grant wrote out the terms.<br />As part of the terms, Lee's 28,000 starving troops, <br />who had been cut off from supplies, would be pardoned <br />and fed Union rations.<br />The solemn ceremony ended with Grant telling his officers, <br />"The war is over. The Rebels are our countrymen again."
