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Grant gave Lee surprisingly generous terms. If the men would hand in their weapons, and sign the pledge never to take up arms against the United States again, they could go home in peace, and there would be no hangings, jailings, or other persecution.
Most Union forces were welcomed home with festivities and parades. The South had little to celebrate and some returning soldiers returned to their homes and farms to find them in ruins. Some of these turned to outlaw ways likes the James and Youngers. Others headed West to begin new lives.
It gave high credibility to U.S. Grant, who had saved the Army of the Cumberland from starvation and surrender, and paved the way for Grant's appointment as General-in-Chief.
General Joshua Chamberlain commanded the 1st Division of 5th Corp of the Army of Potomac which gave the Honour of The Arms formally accepting the surrender of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, on Apr.12, 1865.
The meeting of the two commanders at Appomattox was a historic moment, as both of them felt strongly at the time. It seemed to bring out the noble side in both of these vastly different men - Grant, the rough, simple Westerner who dressed like a tramp, and Lee, the representative Southern aristocrat, in his splendid dress uniform and sword. Grant surprised Lee by offering generous terms. If the men would hand in their weapons and sign the pledge never to take up arms against the USA, they would be allowed to go home and not be persecuted - no jailings, no hangings. In return Lee prevented his officers from taking to the hills and carrying on guerrilla warfare, as many of them were threatening to do. Probably only Lee carried enough authority to get this order respected.