“Headquarters cavalry, April 8, 1865—­9:40 p.m.

“Lieutenant-general U. S. Grant. 
“Commanding Armies U. S.

“General:  Since writing the accompanying despatch, General Custer reports that his command has captured in all thirty-five pieces of artillery, one thousand prisoners—­including one general officer—­and from one hundred and fifty to two hundred wagons.

“P.  H. Sheridan, Major-General.”

In attempting to conduct the lieutenant-general and staff back by a short route, Newhall lost his bearings for a time, inclining in toward the enemy’s lines too far, but regained the proper direction without serious loss of time.  General Grant arrived about 1 o’clock in the afternoon, Ord and I, dismounted, meeting him at the edge of the town, or crossroads, for it was little more.  He remaining mounted, spoke first to me, saying simply,

“How are you, Sheridan?” I assured him with thanks that I was “first-rate,” when, pointing toward the village, he asked, “Is General Lee up there?” and I replied:  “There is his army down in that valley, and he himself is over in that house (designating McLean’s house) waiting to surrender to you.”  The General then said, “Come, let us go over,” this last remark being addressed to both Ord and me.  We two then mounted and joined him, while our staff-officers followed, intermingling with those of the general-in-chief as the cavalcade took its way to McLean’s house near by, and where General Lee had arrived some time before, in consequence of a message from General Grant consenting to the interview asked for by Lee through Meade’s front that morning—­the consent having been carried by Colonel Babcock.

When I entered McLean’s house General Lee was standing, as was also his military secretary, Colonel Marshall, his only staff-officer present.  General Lee was dressed in a new uniform and wore a handsome sword.  His tall, commanding form thus set off contrasted strongly with the short figure of General Grant, clothed as he was in a soiled suit, without sword or other insignia of his position except a pair of dingy shoulder-straps.  After being presented, Ord and I, and nearly all of General Grant’s staff, withdrew to await the agreement as to terms, and in a little while Colonel Babcock came to the door and said, “The surrender had been made; you can come in again.”

When we re-entered General Grant was writing; and General Lee, having in his hand two despatches, which I that morning requested might be returned, as I had no copies of them, addressed me with the remark:  “I am sorry.  It is probable that my cavalry at that point of the line did not fully understand the agreement.”  These despatches had been sent in the forenoon, after the fighting had been stopped, notifying General Lee that some of his cavalry in front of Crook was violating the suspension of hostilities by withdrawing.  About 3 o’clock in the