" But like the brave
soldier he was, he faced what seemed worse that death rather than
uselessly sacrifice gallant lives.
A few letters passed between the two great leaders, then they met
in a private house at Appomattox Court House. The contrast between
the two was great. Lee looked the Southern aristocrat he was.
White-haired and tall, erect still in spite of his sixty years, he
was dressed in splendid uniform, and wore a jeweled sword at his
side. Grant, half a head shorter, fifteen years younger, seemed
but a rough soldier beside him. He wore only the blue blouse of a
private, and carried no sword, nothing betraying his rank except
his shoulder straps.
It was Lee's first meeting with "Unconditional Surrender" Grant.
But this time Grant drove no hard bargain. "I felt like anything
rather than rejoicing at the downfall of a foe who had fought so
long and valiantly," he said many years after. The war was over,
and there was no need of severity. So officers and men alike were
all released on the promise that they would not again take up arms
against the United States. The officers were allowed to keep their
swords, their horses and belongings. The privates also were allowed
to keep their horses, for as Grant said, " they would need them
for their spring ploughing."
Everything being settled, Lee returned to his men to break the
news to them.
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