Tradition has it that Lee and Grant never met again after Palm Sunday 1865, but tradition is in error. They met again on the afternoon of April 10, 1865, and on this occasion not only their staffs but a large number of officers from both armies were present. The work was, of course, finished; this was merely the pleasant afterlude.

In the conversation they held while on horseback, Lee mentioned that it was well that all had been settled. A guerrilla war would have taken a long time, he said, mentioning the vast extent of territory that the Union would have to conquer. Grant said little to that because he did not have to. The awesome strength of the Union had already been presented for all the world to see. After that second meeting, they never saw one other again.