Lee's Farewell and Final Order to His Troops

On April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia to Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. The following day, April 10, Lee delivered his farewell address to his troops, outlining the terms of surrender and issuing to them his final order, known as General Order No. 9. Lee dictated the order to his aide de camp Colonel Charles Marshall and then edited it himself to produce the final version. It was released for distribution sometime that morning.

General Lee signing surrender document at Appomattox

Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia, 10th April 1865.

General Order No. 9

After four years of arduous service marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources.

I need not tell the survivors of so many hard fought battles, who have remained steadfast to the last, that I have consented to the result from no distrust of them.

But feeling that valour and devotion could accomplish nothing that could compensate for the loss that must have attended the continuance of the contest, I have determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those whose past services have endeared them to their countrymen.

By the terms of the agreement, officers and men can return to their homes and remain until exchanged. You will take with you the satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty faithfully performed, and I earnestly pray that a merciful God will extend to you his blessing and protection.

With an unceasing admiration of your constancy and devotion to your Country and a grateful remembrance of your kind and generous consideration for myself, I bid you an affectionate farewell.

--R. E. Lee, General, General Order No. 9

One cannot help noticing the contrast between Lee's consideration for the lives of his soldiers, who had already sacrificed so much, and Grant's earlier callousness in such bloody battles as The Wilderness that led even his own troops to call him the "Butcher." To his credit, however, he granted gracious and humane terms for Lee's troops at their surrender. It was nonetheless doubtless the saddest day of Lee's illustrious life.

Confederate soldiers furl their battle flag following Lee's surrender at Appomattox

"You should do your duty in all things. You can never do more. You should never wish to do less."

--Robert E. Lee