The entire program at 6 p. M. And 10 p. M. Eastern sunday on american artifact. This is American History tv, only on cspan 3. On the civil war, this author talks about general ulysses s. Grant. Conducted the surrender at appomattox. And saw to foster an atmosphere of reconciliation. She argues that grant through the agreed terms begin the agreement of reconstruction. This talk was at the annual lincoln symposium. It is just under one hour. [applause] good morning. Welcome to the first session of the 21st annual Lincoln Forum symposium. It is always wonderful to come back to meet again with old friends and meet new people who are about to become friends. It is my pleasure to introduce our first speaker. A professor and vice chair of ucla department of history. She is the author of several monographs or it among them the awardwinning american hero. The memory of the civil war and american culture. War within a war, controversy on the american civil war. She recently published the work, the american war. This came out this year in 2016. Her scholarship has been recognized in the following awards. She had the 2010 choice award, the Jefferson Davis award in 2009. Also the award for excellence in civil war biography. Her stellar publication has that one cannot produce great scholarship without 14 great excellence in teaching. She is the recipient of for teaching awards. Including the most prestigious one at ucla. Her teaching extends beyond the classroom. She is a frequent participant and workshops, secondary schools, she has been featured in documentaries and programs towards the examination of the civil war. This topic will be the surrender of ulysses s. Grant. [applause] joan thank you. Now it is my turn to say good morning. I am delighted to be here. This is my first time speaking at the Lincoln Forum symposium. I am, i could not be more thrilled. The title is Abraham Lincoln his life and legacy. Certainly the civil war played a big part of his life and legacy. The title of my talk is actually Ulysses S Grant and the surrender of the appomattox. I would use that to gently not just into a discussion on nudge us into discussion on various times during reconstruction. It is the annual centennial of reconstruction. No one really cares about it. [applause] it is of vital importance. As you can see, i have a powerpoint presentation. I will be showing that as i go along. I want to start with an echo . Can i turn that off . Can i rip it out . Is it ok now . It sounds ok now, are you sure . Ok. I am going to start on april 9, it is going to be 2015. 2015 was the 150th anniversary of Robert E Lees surrender to general Ulysses S Grant or it it was commemorated on that day. On april 15, this is a photograph of that day. At 3 00 p. M. The anniversary of the surrender was commemorated and on april 15 3 00 p. M. Bells rang out across the nation. At schools, historic sites, religious sites, for four minutes. One fell for each minute of the bloody conflict. The National Parks core database. It put the statement on its website. Some communities may bring their bells in celebration of freedom of a restored union. Others out of an expression of mourning in a moment of silence for the fallen. I think that statement is a desire to please everyone. No one was left out. How many in this room actually heard any of those bells . A few of you. On that day, april 9 2015, the 150th anniversary of the surrender many people gathered at the National Historical park near lynchburg, virginia. To hear speeches from historians, that was the high point of course. And National Park officials, to view battles and the restaging of the surrender. Like my students do when i lecture on the civil war. I cannot wait to do that next quarter. The ceremony commemorating this unfolded over a full week. There were also some different perspectives that you would not normally get. Those changes reflected a culture and society over the past half century. For example, previously ignored topics like the role of slavery. The story of emancipation, the extent of civilian suffering. The life of a common soldier, those were all highlighted in museum exhibits at appomattox area they were featured in reenactments, i want to call your attention to one particular one. This is a picture you are seeing now. It was a part of the 150th celebration. The africanamericans in this picture were holding a picture of enslaved woman, who is the only civilian casualty at the Appomattox Campaign. She was caught in the final crossfire before the guns fell silent. Her sacrifice was honored as it was not in the past. Following this reenactment, 4000 candles were lit. One for every slave freed in the surrender. This example underscores that emancipation and the unfolding story of black freedom. It is placed at our National Narrative of the civil war. It was not always so. Of course you know that. For at least half of the 20th century, it was reconciliation not emancipation that was at the heart of the civil war commemoration especially at the National Level or it reconciliation blending in upon the most agreedupon elements. However one facet of the commemoration in 2015 remained the same. The surrender that took place at the house at the village of Appomattox Court house, still stands as a final monument to American History. It is a luminous event. It marks the end of bloody warfare, this is a reenactment that you see when grant left the courthouse. Two of the greatest figures of the civil war, grant and lee. They met and that intensely dramatic moment, they followed etiquette that capture generations of americans. A National Myth of the reconciliation was enshrined in pictures from this moment. In paintings, infidels, in film and in fiction. And history textbooks are. Ever since this is that a peaceful reunion, for those who want to immerse themselves in the period. A pilgrimage to appomattox is necessary. That is our job to revisit and revise. All kinds of history. Particularly civil war history. The surrender at appomattox has not escaped the dreaded scholarly scrutiny. It may still be the place where history ended and where it began a new grid the terrible civil war was over. The armys disbanded, the surrender generous promise was proved wrong. That is what we are looking at as we go through these years of reconstruction. What followed was a violent and bitter struggle over the shape of reconstruction. Some of called that, i recently reviewed books that came out about reconstruction. These books had a different view. There was a different argument, one thing they have in common is that reconstruction was a walk thatey didnt accept reconstruction was a walk in the park. They did not feel the same, they thought it was a failure. They thought that they among other authors who are ready now called the price of reconstruction resulted in jim crow. It resulted in over 100 years of black disenfranchisement. They call that price too high. Appomattox was a shameful capitulation, or the beginning of one on the part of united dates. Of the United States. It began with generous terms. When all is said and done, i do believe that appomattox will continue to reign as an american historical memory as a symbol of our past renewal. Our myths are so powerful, if you look at the nurse behind a the narrative behind the myth, it is hard to shake the idea. As a historian of bread, that is historian of u. S. Grant that is the truth. It seems appropriate at the close of these centennial ceremony to revisit appomattox. Find out what the surrender is all about, to appreciate the last months going into the last months of the war and into reconstruction. See the contingency, feel the urgency behind it. The principle of this war much less the soldiers who fought in the populations that supported them. No one knew if the war was ever going to end. This talk that i giving, that i am told must and at least by 45 minutes. No applause, please. [applause] im going to give you a brief introduction. I am going to linger on the campaign, and the surrender of appomattox. Taking time to review and analyze some aspects that i think are great. Then im going to give you some concluding thoughts about grants surrender at appomattox. I only knew what was in my mind, general ulysses s. Grant said as he thought about writing out the terms of surrender at the Appomattox Courthouse. Somehow that sentence makes it all sounds so simple, it was not. That early day in april was the height of his military career. Cementing his reputation as a magnanimous warrior. As well as foreshadowing his postwar role, including his twoterm presidency. In his mind thinking he was carrying out lincolns legacy in that regard. Twice before appomattox, grant accepted the surrender of a major confederate force. That was in tennessee, and also mississippi in 1863. Those campaigns, he was relentless in pursuing victory. Once it was secure, he deliberately displayed in generosity. Anticipating the more celebrated surrender at 1865. This generosity where he would give generous terms, or gestures at vicksburg, reflected his and president lincolns desire for an easy reunion. Not that it was going to be easy after all the death and destruction. They wanted an easy reunion with the Confederate Army or it while the people of the rebellious states had to swear a loyalty oath to the states and swear emancipation. I like to defy my terms in context, in terms of the civil war. A military surrender is to find by giving up something valuable. A fortress. An army. A defined territory, a country. A set of demands, to an enemy. At appomattox grant was already well aware of the complications of surrender. Both as a process, a ceremony, this carried out implications for the future. Grant was always considering reunion while dealing with the immediate issues of the war. That was because all of the military commanders had to do that on the northern side. Yes you have to defeat the enemy, but then you occupied. What are the policies for occupation. I just want to take a couple of minutes and refresh your memory on grant. I know you have lincolns biography memorized or it. Later on tonight, is theater will tell you more about grant it a much more open way. I want to remind you that lincoln asked for volunteers in 1861, grant was clerking at his fathers store. It is a great story. He responded eagerly to the countrys call. He rapidly advance to fame, this is a phrase i like to use. To give you all the details. It was an amazing theater of war. I think it should really be studied. People should be interested, i know here at gettysburg that will fall on deaf ears. I thought i would give it a try. [laughter] grant carried out devastating military tactics. With his surrenders at fix burke at vicksburg and tennessee, i want to go to the next part. Combined council of war with lincoln. This is a very wellknown piece. To give you the idea of grant having a national perspective. He earned the nickname the Unconditional Surrender of grant. He combined these military victories with a surrender that included gestures towards reunion of the warring countries. His actions of winning the war would have to take its place in winning the fees, both were take its place beside winning the peace. Lincoln rejoiced that he had finally found his general that brought these. He was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1864. Lincoln and grant were both from illinois. They never met personally until grant came to washington dc. While lincoln develop skills and military strategy that started his own National Strategy for the union, grant and other generals developed a political skill that would complement his military abilities. With the ultimate goal in mind to save the union. Grant assumed direction of the entire military effort in the last year and a half of war. That spring, during the overland campaign. Grant and lee were at the head of the most famous armies. The potomac army against the Northern Virginia army. The cost of this warfare was high, the Political Drama im sure you are all aware of lincolns reelection. The warfare and that to some extent when grant crossed the river and pinned lees army. He conducted a ninemonth siege of petersburg. His lieutenants, sherman and sheridan took the war to georgia and virginia. They conquered territories, beating rebel armies and destroying large parts of the countryside. Their combined victories vindicated grants larger strategic plan. A guaranteed lincolns reelection, breaking the confederacy to their knees. In 1864, that turned to 1865 Union Victory seemed increasingly likely it brought a lot of new worries. The confederate leadership remained despite lincolns reelection. Stanton and grant all worried about the terms of any kind of surrender. What were their terms . What would it mean for politics . What were the policies of reconstruction . The secretary of war wanted to keep control of the political terms of surrender. He wanted to limit grants role in military matters. Perhaps you are aware of all of the initiatives that popped up during this time. This happened throughout the war. These initiatives happened with confederate officials, they worried lincoln. He knew that confederates were not going to accept giving up their independence. That any kind of these negotiations would be that for the United States. It would raise hope that was not ready to be fulfilled. All of these overtures are going on. The point that i want to make with this, this point, lincoln and stanton were in constant communication with grant. Lincoln visited grant at this point a couple of times. Including when general grant invited president lincoln to visit him on march 20, 1865. They had a meeting on the riverboat. On the river queen, i am sorry. There you have grant and lee some famous pictures i put together. These are the peacemakers by george healy. A good friend of sherman, who is actually the commander in chief in that picture and not lincoln. [laughter] anyway, they had a meeting to discuss what the terms of surrender would be area the imminent surrender of robert e lee, if it did happen, where would it happen, what was the exact thing that we may say to lead . Lincoln supposedly gave his ideas of reconstruction in that meeting. There is nobody was transcribing the conversation. Historians have assumed quite recently that lincoln while expressing his desire for a harmonious reunion also insisted that two demands be made. That they swear a loyalty oath to the United States and that they accept the emancipation. This is what he really wanted grant to know. Grant would handle the surrender of lees army. Whenever and wherever that surrender was to take lace. Was to take place. He was going to have the surrender of one army to a another. Lincoln said to grant i will deal with the political risks and negotiate for peace. Your job is to fight. I am sure this is something you all know, the surrender of the Confederate Army were all conducted separately. This will be the topic of the next talk. When johnston surrendered to sherman, sherman went over his Job Description there. All of the surrenders were conducted on the terms that grant be negotiated at appomattox. Lincoln worried that these commanders may go beyond their Job Description. That is what he wanted to put in grants mind. Part two, i went to address the Appomattox Campaign and the end of the war and the actual surrender of appomattox area here is a map that you probably cannot see very well. It is a map, it has spread and blue lines. It is from petersburg to appomattox. The Appomattox Campaign began on march 25, 1865. This mark the end of the road for the confederate nation. After 10 months of siege, the union forces broke through the defensive line of petersburg and richmond. The unions destruction of the rebels last supply line on april 1, they quickly evacuated petersburg and richmond. Grants cavalry and infantry cut off the remaining escape routes. Grant remarked on april 7, 1865, i have a great mind to some and to summon lee to surrender. He sent a note on april 7. The result of the last week must convince you of the hopelessness of future resistance on your part of the army of Northern Virginia. I feel it is so, and it is my duty to shift the responsibility of any further diffusion of blood. That is not too much to ask, is it . No. [laughter] lee had no obvious escape route replied asking grant to hear his proposal. He received another note from grant written in the next day. I would say that peace be my great desire, there is but one demand that the officers will be disqualified from taking up arms against the government for the United States until properly exchanged. It was at this point that we responded to grant with a note that he was not ready to surrender yet. Instead he said they needed a meeting to discuss possible peace negotiations. That is a typical step when intending surrender that you ask for peace negotiations. That was something that grant did not do at tennessee or vicksburg. He said no i am not interested in that. So robert e lee went back to his headquarters, he pulled his commanders and found that the overwhelmingly supported the sentiment for surrender, he said there is nothing left for me but to go and see general grant and i would rather die a thousand deaths. At this moment in the civil war grant admired lees decision to surrender rather than disband. Or to wage guerrilla warfare some feel that was suggested to him, he brushed that aside. That is important for reconstruction as well. Making this dramatic moment more so, grant had been suffering a migraine headache. Naturally he was very anxious and exhausted despite his condition on the morning of the prolife him and his staff rode andorning of april 9, he his staff rode down the road towards Appomattox Courthouse intent on joining sheraton. A week before easter, the mosys sacred holiday on the christian calendar. At 11 00 a. M. They stopped to rest or it as they were resting they saw an aide running towards them. He was riding on a horse at a fast clip. In his hand was a sealed envelope containing lees reply to grants most recent communique. The message was handed to his aide and was asked to read it out loud to his staff. General, i therefore request an interview at such time and place that you designate to discuss the terms of surrender of this army in accordance with your offer to have such an interview that would contain in your letter yesterday. A little after 1 30 p. M. Grant and his staff rode into the tiny village of Appomattox Courthouse , there you can see the mclean house. They were shown to a twostory farmhouse that was originally built in 1848. It was owned in 1863 by Wilmer Mclean. It is one of the most remarkable stories. I am giving you quotes and making sure you cannot hear enough. Mclean of a plantation during the battle of bull run. He quickly removed his family from the theater of war to the Virginia Hills country. The war found him in the end and at the end. We arrived first, at the house of his aid. They waited in the parlor, 30 minutes later, grant dismounted his horse and climbed the seven steps into the house. As he met with lee in the room to the left of the entrance. This is a depiction of that. That moment i am going to be talking about. Grant came in, they returned to his chair and sat next to a pine table with a pedestal base. There was a square white marble top. Grant drew up a leather back seat and also sat down placing his gloves and hat on a nearby wooded trestle. He was about 10 feet from lee. Outside thousands of weary soldiers watched and waited for news. This is a panoramic picture that was put out for the centennial. I just love it. It makes me a little busy to look at. This is what it looks like. When you are on lsd if you enter the house. [laughter] i want to take this image away and that thought. Everyone in the room was aware of the extraordinary contrast between the two commanders, general lee was so aristocratic looking while general grant looked like an ordinary dude. While lee had his best dress uniform, the commander of the Northern Army did not. Instead he wore his preferred casual uniform with his Lieutenant General shoulder straps pinned. In addition he was covered in mud from the journey that they. He did not think that he was insulting, he just wanted to get the deal done. The two commanders engaged in a rather awkward conversation with their service of the mexican war. Lee brought the conversation of short and asked for the terms of surrender. Grant responded that it was the same that he had indicated on april 8. Saying that the men and officers surrender could not take up arms again. Now famously in his memoir, grant observed the counterparts faced during the conversation. Remembering that he did not know what lees feelings were as he was a man of much dignity with an impassive face. It was impossible to say whether he felt inwardly glad. I think we can be grateful that there was no tweaking back then. No tweeting back then. [laughter] grant prepared to write or when i put my pen to paper i thought there was no words i could make use of. I only knew what was in my mind. I wish to express a clearly so that there could be no mistaking it. There was no mistaking it. Acutely aware of lincolns plan, grant rejected any formal words and went for a straightforward explanation of the process by which the officers and men of the Northern Virginia army would stack their arms and record their parole. Grant explained the thought occurred to me that the officers had their own private courses and affects. It was no use to us. Also it would be a unnecessary affiliation to deliver their humiliation to call upon them to deliver their sidearms. I love them to have their weapons and property excluded to the federal forces. The other was the final part of draft letter to lead. Grant letter to lee. The famous last sentence which is as followed. Each man, and officer may be allowed to return to their home, not to be disturbed by United States authorities so long as they observe their parole and the laws going forth where they may reside. This is guaranteed to secure a future for all confederate soldiers. Even the highest military officials such as robert e. Lee. It was of vital importance in ending the war and shaping the piece. The peace. Grant looked at his handiwork, made a few corrections that it was lees job to review it. When he came to the end he remarked that it will have a very happy affect on my army. Lee had one more request, would he consider allowing the enlisted men to keep their animals for farming. Grant agreed. Lee said this would be very gratifying and will do much towards consolidating our people. Lee returned the book to grant and a letter was drafted accepting the terms which also had to be copied to lease documents were prepared, grant was introduced to the Staff Officers and generals. Including captain robert lincoln. Around 3 00 p. M. They parted ways and the confederate commander left the house. When lee mounted, grant lifted his hat in salud without speaking as did the other officers present. Lee did the same and rode away. After that grant went to his headquarters, he informed the officials of the surrender. News of the surrender spread quickly throughout the union, thousands of soldiers were cheering and throwing their hats in the air. A 100 gun salute commenced, grant stopped it. The war is over, the rebels are our countrymen the best sign of rejoicing would be to abstain from all demonstrations in the field did he said that does not mean that it did not happen, it was a bit soft, right. It was a good thought, right . Grant was not interested in participating in a sustained celebration, a victory dance. Winning the peace would be just as vital as winning the war. Although there were several more armies that would still have to surrender. The meeting between grant and lee at appomattox is considered the end of the civil war. When ulysses s. Grant got to washington, president lincoln expressed unqualified approval with the terms that he was given. The north celebrated although grant provoked controversy and the press. In the week after the agreement when it was heard about, many in the north were talking about traitors and treason trials. This agreement seemed overly generous, the feelings were checked after the surrender to stand behind grant peace agreement. Despite the misgivings, the majority of loyal citizens conflated and combined the appomattox peace treatment with victory. The deeply christian nation, exalted and commemorated the connection of what they deemed to be sacred occasion, paul sunday commemorating christs triumphal entry. This is a very similar depiction by a man who was published in 1865. This was after the assassination. It invites america to witness the end of the civil war. As well as the unions work as an act of god. It prepares the ground for reconstruction. In the middle of this illustration says blessed are the peacemakers. The christian spirit of reconciliation is not unfamiliar even to our more secular time. We too, even today who have been through a contentious election were called upon to make new beginnings. To forge relationships, to come together as family and friends. It certainly was powerful. I only know what was in my mind, i say in my concluding comments. General Ulysses S Grant said describing his feelings general grant said with what was happening at the surrender. It was the height of his career, it revealed that grant who was prominent second only to lincoln , he had a view that once the war was over there should be no thing did give policy toward the enemy. An agreement that favored clemency, generosity, love and mercy. He revealed in his believe that reconstruction should not be an indulgence in revenge. Grants sentiment joined lincoln firmly with reconstruction. Conducted with as little rank or as possible. Here i would argue that reflected the majority of the northern people vision. Grants final sentence made the military surrender at appomattox. His final sentence made the military surrender a military agreement. Into a peace agreement. That would set the stage for reconciliation. If not in the near future, but sometime in the next few generations. That is what historians are hired to do for you. I believe that the restoration of the union traveled a complete success. Especially when you look at the civil war in the past and the current civil wars. In short, grants terms offered peace and reconciliation to those who would embrace it. Because the final part packs so much punch, some have pointed out that grant allowed confederate soldiers unmolested, to the regulars that grant did intrude on political regular reconstruction. By designing conditions of the parole. But lincoln had no problems with it. He loved the surrender document. And supported grant 100 . This talk ahs been has been appomattox and the surrender that marks the end of the war. War,e context of the civil a military or political surrender is defined as giving up something valuable, a fortress, and army, a defined territory, a country, a set of demands to an enemy. It can also mean other things. It can mean something beautiful, tender, or forgiving. Surrender means that, too. It can mean surrendering to a lever or surrendering a soul to god. A surrender of individual selfishness to a greater good. Appomattox was certainly a side of brutal where for warfare, but it was also a site ever reconciliationf and immediately a site of sacred memory. The scars of this awful war were too deep to heal quickly or easily. In the moment of victory proved easier than true, loving reunion. Building a newf society in the south that included both black and white proved nearly impossible. It certainly was in the north as well. Reconstruction, restoration and political accommodation, there was precious little reconciliation. Perhaps no true reunion by 21st century standards or frame of reference. What there was came out of the appomattox surrender agreement. An act of mercy that secure the United States for all time and within time, maybe, just enough reconciliation that it kept the spirit of unity flickering. The complex nature of surrender during the civil war encompassing hatred and love, despair and hope, bitterness and forgiveness, can somehow be summed up in one deceptively simple sentence i only knew what was in my mind. Thank you. [applause] edna we have time for a few questions, if you are interested. Thank you. Do we have any details of grants communication to lincoln . That he had the surrender in hand . And if so what lincolns reaction may have been back at the executive mansion . Joan grant sent a telegram to stand in. Stanton. It was a terse statement just saying, general lee and i met, he accepted the terms of the surrender and what was the reaction . They went bonkers in washington, d. C. I mean, it was incredible. Thats what stanton told lincoln . Joan yes. Thank you. Joan i recently read a book where the focus on the terms of book, theder in this emotional aftermath of the detractors of the surrender turned. , what wasdered underlined . What motivated the detractors of the surrender . The people that were opposed . Yes, why the heated attack on grant . Because he did what . Wasell, what was motivated four years of death and destruction on both sides. Here were a lot of dissenters i love that book, though. [inaudible] joan i hope so, yes. [laughter] joan its a great question. And that is a whole you know that in a 40 minute talk i cant really give you all the information you need. Meet me outside and i will continue. There is so much to be said about the negative reaction to appomattox. Afteru can imagine that all the bitterness that had accumulated, why shouldnt the terms . Impose harsh why shouldnt there be treason trials . The motivation is that they were angry that the confederates were getting off too easy. The x confederates. And they didnt want that to happen. But really, what remarkable time. Interestednyone be in anything other than the civil war and its aftermath . I dont know, because you have the end of this terrible conflict on generous terms that most people supported and then a week later, the assassination of sherman reallyn gave i dont know what john is going to say about this, but sherman pretty much gave incredibly generous terms of surrender to joe johnson, dictated by the confederates that intruded into the politics and that was so controversial the grants terms seemed reasonable by that time. Thats a great question. Hi, im from the western new york area. Joan congratulations. [laughter] its a great place to live. Joan i know it is. I great i gave a talk at chautauqua a few years ago. We have a few more silver bowls super bowls. [laughter] joan you were in one of them. [laughter] i wanted to mention that the indian in Forest Lawn Cemetery in buffalo, i wanted you to expand a little bit on his role with appomattox and with lee. Well, eli parker, a seneca and one of the first native americans to be appointed ,o a top position in government which granted when he appointed him as commissioner of indian affairs. Acting as grandpas secretary. Hes right there next to marshall. Transcribed grants terms of surrender. Supposedly when he saw him he thought he was an africanamerican but when apprised that he was a fullblooded Seneca Indian said Something Like well, at least theres one american in the room. [laughter] joan he could be a comedian. [inaudible] joan well, you know what . You tell me, because im forgetting. That was the perfect thing to say. The perfect thing. Eli parker, by the way, had an incredible history. He was an engineer in california , anyway, but thats i know we have to presentation your brings me to a concept that the German Military has. Commonly translated by the u. S. Military as mission tactics, but that doesnt really get to the heart of it. As i listen to your presentation it seems that grant and lincoln would get a plus and it. The essence of a subordinate spent so much time with his superior, lincoln, a political leader, his superior doesnt have to be there. That grant, in this case, new precisely what to put in that. And lincoln, as you pointed out overwhelmingly approved it. Guess im a little suspicious. Can you give us your best example where grant and lincoln disagreed . Is there one out there . Joan well, im not sure they disagreed very much, but one grant didght be the not actually want to come to washington, d. C. When he was made Lieutenant Commander and be corrupted by the rig system in washington, d. C. [laughter] joan his original strategy was armiesy to move his through alabama and take the bay and then recatholic on the countryside and let the commanders and washington, d. C. Take care of the armies of the potomac and lincoln said no, thats that going to happen. Youve got to deal with robert ely. So that might be an example of a disagreement. Happynt that lincoln was she wasnt happy in the summer of 1864, spring and summer, when the spring campaigns did not go well in any theater the grant had armies operating in. But really, it was an amazing synchronicity between these men and also stanton as well. They were in constant contact. I like that idea that you articulated of that part of German Military strategy. Interestingly enough, Jefferson Davis did not accept lees surrender, as we know, and that with theof the problem surrender of the took place in north carolina. Just wanted to point something out. First of all, about two and half years ago i moved from los angeles to washington, d. C. And what i missed the most about it your Huntington Library conference but one of the things i am doing now is i am a docent at the Smithsonian Museum of african American History and a part of my two or is we have table and chairs therefrom appomattox. The picture that you showed from Wilmer Mclean house, those are joan right, yeah. If anyone wants to see the real ones, they are at the smithsonian. The table, by the way, if anyone has seen the show mercy street, that was manufactured by james green. He was a furniture maker. Mr. Green as portrayed in the show made the table. Thank you. And thats the only thing you miss about l. A. . [laughter] the weather, also. [laughter] very short questions . I wanted to continue on that, but ill stop. Quite how you evaluate the role, if any, of Joshua Chamberlain at appomattox . How do you evaluate the role, if any, of Joshua Chamberlain at appomattox . Joan thats a great question. On the 12th he appointed Joshua Chamberlain and gave him instructions in the spirit of reconciliation. That is what Joshua Chamberlain tried to do. It is another moving example. Heres thee thing. That the confederate soldiers were not happy. They didnt embrace the union. The overwhelming feeling was this is over. We dont have to die. At least in battle. That was a relief. From letters written at the time from confederate soldiers