Lee remarked again that this would have a happy effect.
He then sat down and wrote out the following letter: HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, April 9, 1865.
GENERAL:--I received your letter of this date containing the terms of the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia as proposed by you.

As they are substantially the same as those expressed in your letter of the 8th inst., they are accepted.

I will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the stipulations into effect.
R.E.LEE, General.

LIEUT.-GENERAL U.S.GRANT.
While duplicates of the two letters were being made, the Union generals present were severally presented to General Lee.
The much talked of surrendering of Lee's sword and my handing it back, this and much more that has been said about it is the purest romance.
The word sword or side arms was not mentioned by either of us until I wrote it in the terms.

There was no premeditation, and it did not occur to me until the moment I wrote it down.