"But then again The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor showed that tenacity and shear will, sometimes overcomes numbers."
Keith,
I can agree with what you are saying here, but, I think that by the time Lee and Grant met at Appomatix the hand writing as far as Richmond was concerned was "written on the wall" so to speak. I think the reason that they met at that particular place was the the head of the Federal forces was located just slightly past Appomatix Courthouse and there fore Grant was nearby and so was Lee. I remember reading somewhere a letter from Davis to someone, who I can't remember, but his big complaint was about the number of men who had deserted the army. That is not to cast dispersoins on the men, it is the fact that their family was starving and they left the army to go provide for their loved ones which is exactly what they should have done. I think Lee would have had much to consider at that point in time and I think he did the wise thing. I just can't see him making the statement that is attributed to him.
FC