Object Details
- associated person
- Lee, Robert E.
- Grant, Ulysses S.
- Description
- By late 1864 the war was coming to an end. In December Gen. William T. Sherman completed his destructive march to the sea. Richmond, the Confederate capital, fell early in April, and on April 9, Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. Over the course of the war, some 623,000 Northern and Southern soldiers died.
- This towel was used as a flag of truce by Confederate troops during Gen. Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, on April 9, 1865. It was preserved by Gen. George A. Custer, who was present at the surrender.
- Bequest of Elizabeth B. Custer, 1936
- Credit Line
- Elizabeth B. Custer
- associated date
- 1865-04-09
- ID Number
- PL.039765
- catalog number
- 39765
- accession number
- 124419
- Object Name
- towel
- Physical Description
- linen (overall material)
- white (overall color)
- Measurements
- overall: 18 in x 18 1/2 in; 45.72 cm x 46.99 cm
- mounted: 18 in x 9 1/2 in; 45.72 cm x 24.13 cm
- fringe: 2 1/2 in; 6.35 cm
- associated place
- United States: Virginia, Appomattox
- Related Publication
- Rubenstein, Harry R.. Abraham Lincoln: An Extraordinary Life
- See more items in
- Political History: Political History, General History Collection
- Government, Politics, and Reform
- Military
- Selections from the Abraham Lincoln Collection
- Exhibition
- American Presidency
- Exhibition Location
- National Museum of American History
- National Museum of American History
- associated
- Civil War
- related event
- Surrender by General Lee
- Civil War
- Record ID
- nmah_515980
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a3-461a-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
