"My apologies, General Grant, I am sorry but I do not recall you. I hope you do not take offense." "No, sir, of course not.

"Sir, I feel I should inform you that the president has personally looked into the case of your son, Rooney. He has already been paroled and should be home by now with your wife. The president apologizes for any distress this might have caused you by his capture and confinement He wished for me to express to you that the moment he heard of the situation he ordered his parole and release."

"Convey my thanks, sir."

Grant nervously cleared his throat again.

"Sir, I hope you accept my compliments that you and your men fought masterfully these last few months."

Lee did not reply for a moment and sighed.

"General Grant perhaps we should get down to the business at hand."

"Yes, sir, of course."

Grant motioned to Ely, who opened his haversack and drew out two sheets of paper.

"Sir, I've drawn up a draft of terms." He slipped the paper across the desk.

Grant looked at him carefully as Lee drew out his spectacles and adjusted them.

"Sir, I do not see this as an unconditional surrender as I have done so in the past The situation here is different. I have been in communication with the president these last few days."

He nodded over to Elihu, who stood in the corner of the room.

"These terms are a reflection of communications with President Lincoln, but also my own heartfelt convictions as well.

"Upon the signing of this document, you, sir, all your staff, all officers and men, are to be paroled until exchanged." Surprised, Lee looked up at him. "Paroled?"

"Yes, sir. We are bringing down a printing press from Frederick. It should be here later today, and the forms can be turned out. Each man is to sign his parole, once done he is free to go home."

Lee looked at him in surprise. He expected that by this evening his men would be marched north to prison or, worse yet, paraded in triumph through the streets of Washington.

"But there is one clause in here I feel I should tell you about now before you sign." "And that is?"

"The president, as of two days ago, has placed a ban on any further exchange of prisoners. You are paroled, sir. You and your men may go home, but you will not be exchanged for an equal number of our prisoners that you now hold or have paroled as well. In short, sir, you and your men are permanently out of this war. I want you to understand that. Go home, but it is over for all of you."

Lee sat back in his chair and hesitated. Traditionally, for the last two years, prisoners had indeed been held, but always there was the promise of exchange, an equal number of privates for privates, generals for generals. Once officially exchanged, the men were released, whether in a holding camp behind enemy lines, or back home… and allowed to return to the fight.

"I must think on this a moment, sir," Lee said.

'Take your time, sir," Grant replied. "But, sir, if you refuse, we will be forced to fight this day, and tomorrow the surrender will be unconditional."

He hesitated, not wishing to push too far, but feeling he had to.

"Sir, I shall lay my cards on the table to you. To your left flank General Hancock has massed more than fifteen thousand men. General Sykes is behind you with fifteen thousand more. Grierson is on your right flank, and I have thirty thousand blocking your way in this direction. I force-marched my men throughout yesterday and deployed them out here. Many are already dug in. Sir, you are trapped. I promise you, that is not a threat or a bluff. I would not stoop to that. It is the reality of this moment."

Lee looked at the other Union officers, Hancock, leaning heavily on his cane, nodding in agreement, Elihu Washburne, standing the corner, nodding as well.

"I am here as a representative of the president," Elihu said, "as secretary of war. I will take an oath affirming the truth of what General Grant has just told you, and the promise, as well, that if we are forced to fight again, unconditional surrender will be the tragic result. Please, sir, that is not the wish of President Lincoln now."

Lee glanced at Judah, who looked over at Elihu and then back to Lee and nodded an assertion.

"Then I believe it is my duty to sign," Lee replied softly.

Grant smiled.

'Thank you, sir. I think you are as weary of the fighting as I am. Let us end it this day."

"Several favors, please," Lee asked. "Certainly."

"Many of the mounts belong to the men themselves. May they please take them home with them. Fall harvest is about to come in, and it would be a tremendous help if they could return with their horses and mules."

"Of course."

"Officers to retain side arms. That is a traditional mark of rank and will help to maintain order as well if any men might rebel against this surrender."

"I understand."

"Finally, it humbles me to ask this. Some of my men have not eaten in two days." Grant smiled.

"Our own supply wagons are stuck in the mud, but I promise I shall see what I can do."

"I have enough rations on the canal boats," Hancock interjected. "I will have them brought up with all possible speed."

Grant motioned to Ely, who quickly added in the extra provisions on the two copies of the document.

A minute later Ely carefully slid the document over to Lee, who scanned it one last time, took up a pen from the inkwell, and without hesitation signed it. He passed it back to Grant. The second copy was signed, both of which Grant now countersigned, and then there was a long silence.

"Once the printing press is up and paroles printed out and signed, your men will stack arms. That done, you and your army are free to march out of here and back into Virginia. I think we can make those arrangements by late tomorrow."

"General, I think I shall return to my men," Lee said. "I must break the news now and see to their welfare."

Grant stood up, hesitated, then extended his hand, which Lee took.

Lee walked out, staff and officers following, mounted, and rode off.

"He didn't offer you his sword," Elihu said as the room emptied out.

"Nor should he, nor would I have taken it," Grant said softly. "He is an honorable man and I would have been ashamed to take it. Elihu, we fought him for two years, perhaps this final action by him has saved this country after all. He may keep his sword."

Elihu looked over at Grant and smiled.

"I know I shouldn't ask, but how's the headache?"

"What headache?" Grant said with a grin. "It disappeared the moment I saw that white flag."

Grant stepped out of the chapel, all order having broken down around it. Hundreds of men, Union and Confederate gathered around the outside.

As Lee mounted, he looked around and offered a salute, every man returned it. He set off at a slow trot, riding back to the South.