Surrendering the Army of Northern Virginia - photo 1

Surrendering the Army of Northern Virginia

Lot 23
22.04.2021 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
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$ 50 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
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Archive
ID 517669
Lot 23 | Surrendering the Army of Northern Virginia
Estimate value
$ 50 000 – 80 000
LEE, Robert E. (1807-1870). Manuscript document signed ("R E Lee, Genl."), as Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, comprising his GENERAL ORDERS NO. 9, the body of the text in the cursive hand of an unidentified Aide-de-Camp, "Headquarters, Army of Northern. Virginia" [near Appomattox, Virginia,] 10 April 1865.

One page, 250 x 198mm, accomplished on grey-blue, lined paper (light scattered toning, pinholes at mailing fold intersections).

Lee's eloquent farewell to his Army, the day after his surrender at Appomattox, and given to Samuel E. Holt, his telegrapher: "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 brave survivors of so many hard fought battles who have remained steadfast to the last, that I have consented to this result from no distrust of them."

"But feeling that valor and devotion could accomplish nothing that could compensate for the loss that would must have attended the continuance of the contest I 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 of myself, I bid you all an affectionate farewell."

By April 1865, most of the key Southern cities had fallen to advancing Union forces. Desertions were rampant; rations and munitions dangerously low. Lee's last ditch attempt to take the offensive was decisively repulsed. On April 7, 1865, Ulysses S. Grant wrote to Lee: "The result of last week must convince you of the hopelessness of further resistance," adding that he believed it his "duty to shift from myself the responsibility of any further effusion of blood, by asking you to surrender that portion of the Confederates States Army known as the Army of Northern Virginia." Lee responded: "Though not entertaining the opinion you expressed of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia, I reciprocate your desire to avoid the useless effusion of blood," and requested "the terms you will offer on condition of its surrender."

Lee and Grant exchanged additional notes and Lee conferred with his senior officers and aides. A cease-fire was agreed and on 9 April Lee arranged to meet Grant to finalize surrender terms. "There is nothing left for me to do but to go and see General Grant...and I would rather die a thousand deaths," Lee confided. In their historic meeting, Grant offered famously generous terms, allowing paroled Confederates to keep their personal side-arms and to retain a horse or mule. Lee concurred and signed the final surrender documents on Sunday, April 9. That night, he discussed with his aide-de-camp, Lt. Col. Charles Marshall, what he wished to express in his farewell message to his men. Marshall produced a draft the following morning. Lee edited it, making a few minor changes and striking out a paragraph that he felt was inappropriate. (Marshall's original draft was sold at Christie's New York, 15 December 2005, lot 252, $84,000.) Lee's General Order No.9 overnight became one of the best-known documents of the entire Civil War.

Manuscript copies of the Order were prepared by Lee's aides and signed by the Lee for presentation to ranking corps commanders and chiefs of departments of the staff in the Army of Northern Virginia. Some individual officers evidently made copies and brought them to Lee to be signed. For a detailed account of the genesis of the Order, see Joseph E. Fields, "Robert E. Lee's Farewell Order," in Manuscripts: The First Twenty Years, 1984, pp.260-265; Howard R. Crouch, General Lee's Farewell, Oak Park, 2007. Provenance: Samuel E. Holt – to his descendants – purchased by the Donnelly Company, 1964 and presented as as a gift – by descent to the consignor.
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