As another Lame Cherry exclusive in matter anti matter.
Most people think that the surrender of General Lee was afforded to General Grant at Appomatox Court House. The reality is that after a crushing defeat of General Ewell at Sailor's Creek by General Sheridan, that the Confederate forces formed before Appomattox Court House to face Sheridan's Cavalry.
In the morning's battle, the Confederates saw the futility of their attempt to break through, and as General Sheridan formed on the Confederates right led by General George Custer's Division of Cavalry, the Confederates understaning the attack was about to begin, raised the flag of surrender.
General George A. Custer received the surrender of General Lee.
"I decided to attack at once, and formations were ordered at a trot for a charge by Custer's and Devin's divisions down the slope leading to the camps. Custer was soon ready, but Devin's division being in rear its formation took longer, since he had to shift further to the right; Devin's preparations were, therefore, but partially completed when an aide-decamp galloped up to with the word from Custer, "Lee has surrendered; do not charge; the white flag is up." The enemy perceiving that Custer was forming for attack , had sent the flag out to his front and stopped the charge just in time."
Personal Memoirs of P. H. Sheridan, General, United States Army
Sheridan and his personal command were almost slaughtered by Confederates in his attempt to reach Appomatox Court House.
It was a hairy ordeal as the flag of truce was flying, and in the meantime Custer was being fired at by Confederate Gordon's command who told Sherman to just let them fight it out.
Sheridan not agreeing sent his own officer to the South Carolinians doing the firing, who was then made prisoner. Sheridan having enough of this, sent his General Merritt in to put an armed end to General Geary's last ditch stand, and this enforced the truce which the Confederates started.
General Gordon stated that while negotiations between Grant and Lee were taking place that hostilities should cease. General Sheridan noted that while negotiations were taking place that General Lee had just attempted to break through his lines, and stated that General Lee would surrender immediately and then hostilities would cease.
General Meade of the Union was pressing on Lee's flank and was concerned Lee might be buying time for mistake, and as things were at a point of action to stop more attacks, General Sheridan and General Longstreet sent aides to General Meade to quell that front too.
The meeting of General Grant and General Lee took place at McClean's House. Grant was accompanied by his staff, General Ord and General Sheridan.
General Lee was standing in the house accompanied only by Colonel Marshall one of his staff officers.
Lee was dressed in a new uniform with sword and Grant was in a dingy dirty uniform.
The surrender was written by General Grant and signed. General Lee apologized to General Sheridan that some of the Confederate Cavalry were not obeying the order of ceasing hostilities in firing on General Crook's command.
With that General Lee shook General Grant's hand and mounting his "chunky" horse, lifted his hat and rode to the Confederate bivouac received by cheers.
The real history of the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, which did not end the war as fighting still continued in Tennessee.
It is the reality though that Traveler was a chunky white horse ridden by General Lee, the surrender was at McClean's House and General George Armstrong Custer received the surrender first.
agtG
