General Robert E. Lee delivered a heartbreaking final address to his troops in 1865
One day after surrendering at Appomattox, General Robert E. Lee issued General Order No. 9, a poignant farewell that formally ended his command and signaled the closing chapter of the American Civil War.
On April 10, 1865, General Robert E. Lee sat in his tent and drafted a final address to the Army of Northern Virginia. Known as General Order No. 9, the message praised his soldiers' 'unsurpassed courage and fortitude' while explaining that continued sacrifice was useless against the North's overwhelming resources.
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