Could Confederate surrender paper be original?

Inquirer ^ | Edward Colimore

[indcons]

Ever since the document was examined several weeks ago, it's been a mystery.

Initially, it appeared to be a reproduction of the terms and conditions of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's surrender in Appomattox, Va., in 1865.

But staff members of the Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum in Center City - who came upon the document while preparing for the museum's relocation - soon noticed pen indentations in the paper, and darker and lighter ink strokes consistent with handwriting.

They also found a notation in a 1935 museum inventory identifying the document as an "original."

Could this artifact, crudely varnished and glued to cardboard, be one of the three known originals of the historic surrender terms?

Or is it a souvenir or military field copy produced and signed later?

Those are the questions historians and curators are now trying to answer. The discovery of Lee's missing copy would be a tremendous discovery for Civil War historians.

[indcons]

Thanks to Sunken Civ for the heads-up for the article on this historic find.

[indcons]

Milhist ping

[stainlessbanner]

ping for later

[Professional Engineer]

ing

[nctexan]

Many folks don’t realize that Appomattox was only Lee’s surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia... General Joseph Johnson still had a somewhat viable fore in NC and points south. The final terms that were agreed with Sherman and Johnston later in a little farmhouse outside of Durham, NC.

[SunkenCiv]

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[CivilWarguy]

Probably not the Lee original. From what the article says, there’s no provenance, and no connection between Lee and the collector. Perhaps a “letterpress” copy (letterpress being an early form of copying similar to mimeographing) with some live strokes added.

[Sherman Logan]

General Joseph Johnson still had a somewhat viable fore in NC and points south.

There were several other Confederate armies that surrendered even later than Johnston.

Taylor surrendered in Alabama on May 8.

The very last was Stand Watie on June 23 in what is now OK.

[smokingfrog]

Doubt if it is a copy of the official surrender. Would be even more interesting if it was a copy of the original draft or "gentleman's agreement" though.

[PAR35]

Many folks don’t realize that Appomattox was only Lee’s surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia... General Joseph Johnson still had a somewhat viable fore in NC and points south.

Don't forget the forces in the west that surrendered later -- or not at all.

[fzx12345]

If you count naval forces, the CSS Shenandoah surrendered to the British on November 6 after circumnavigating the globe.

[Charles Henrickson]

I've seen it--I even was allowed to make a copy for my files (below). Call me a skeptic if you like, but I'm a little bit suspicious. I just can't put my finger on it, though. . . .

.

Abilene, Texas

We of the Sou^th do hereby surrender to you of the Nor^th.

Signed,

Gen. Robert E. Lee (1807-1870)

[indcons]

LOL

[edwinland]

genius!! I love it. Thanks for a good laugh!

[tubebender]

Calling Mr Rather...Mr Dan Rather...white courtesy straight jacket please

[PzLdr]

The final terms were agreed with the Trans-Mississippi Department - after Sherman/ Johnston [Taylor?]

[bcsco]

The final terms that were agreed with Sherman and Johnston later in a little farmhouse outside of Durham, NC.

The original terms agreed upon between Sherman and Johnston were deemed too liberal by Lincoln. Grant had to visit Sherman and insist the terms be no more liberal than those given Lee. So, Sherman had to visit Johnston again...hat-in-hand.

[HenpeckedCon]

Ha ha, you win the post of the day!

[mikrofon]

In the same stash, they found this "authentic" daguerrotype of Lincoln at Gettysburg:

[RFEngineer]

“I’ve seen it—I even was allowed to make a copy for my files (below). Call me a skeptic if you like, but I’m a little bit suspicious. I just can’t put my finger on it, though. . . .”

Then one wonders if the surrender was even valid......