The day was Palm Sunday, April 19, 1865. General Robert E. Lee, Commander of the Confederate Army, mounted his horse, Traveler, and road to Appomattox, Virginia, to surrender his sword to General Ulysses S. Grant, Commander of the Union Army. Lee expected to be humiliated, shackled, herded like a cow to a Union prison, tried, and executed as a traitor. There in that tiny living room, Lee surrendered unconditionally to Grant and offered him his sword. Grant refused it and allowed Lee to leave in dignity and honor. As Lee mounted Traveler and road back to his troops, Grant took off his hat and saluted his vanquished foe.
That occasion left a deep and lasting impression on Lee. As long as he lived, Lee refused to allow anyone to speak ill of Grant in his presence.
He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
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