A Civil War inkstand that was first presented for signing the surrender at Appomattox Court House has descended in the same family for more than 150 years, and will be offered for auction along with an accompanying 1868 letter documenting the inkstand.

 Contributed

Well-known images show the historical event on April 9, 1865, when Confederate General Robert E. Lee met in the parlor of a Virginia home with Union General Ulysses S. Grant to surrender his Army of Northern Virginia and agree to terms ending the Civil War.

In those images, the two generals are seated at a table as they prepare to sign the surrender. The inkstand that was first presented for signing the South’s surrender contained ink that was too thick, and is mentioned in first-hand accounts of the day written by Lt. Col. Charles Marshall of Lee’s staff and Lt. Col. Horace Porter of Grant’s staff. According to the accounts, Marshall then brought out his own small inkstand, which was then used.

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