The McLean House
In this house belonging to Wilmer and Virginia McLean in the village of Appomattox Court House, generals Grant and Lee signed the terms of surrender on the afternoon of April 9, 1865, Palm Sunday. This directly affected the 28,231 soldiers belonging to Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, who were allowed “to return to their homes not to be disturbed by United States authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in force where they may reside.”
There was no photographer present to record this historic event. This photograph by Timothy O'Sullivan was taken shortly afterward.
Library of Congress