Lincoln · written by Tony Kushner · 2012

After Lee's surrender at Appomattox, Grant and Union officers remove their hats in a gesture of respect.

Scene 96 of 102 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act three

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:59 into a 2:06 film

The story so farBefore scene 96

In the final winter of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln risks a fragile coalition and the chance of an early peace to force an amendment abolishing slavery through a divided House of Representatives.

Scenes 1–7
The reelected president balances military command, popular affection and a household wounded by grief.
Scenes 8–13
Lincoln needs a durable constitutional abolition measure and commits to passing it before the term ends.
Scenes 14–16
Radical allies and discreet patronage operatives join the campaign as the amendment enters House debate.
Scenes 17–84
Lincoln bargains, delays peace commissioners, confronts family costs and defends the vote against postponement.
Scenes 85–90
The House passes the amendment and the victory enters the private lives of Lincoln and Stevens.
Just before
Scene 93
Artillery consumes a southern river city in fire.
Scene 94
Lincoln rides across the battlefield outside Petersburg, seeing Union and Confederate corpses at close range.
Scene 95
Lincoln asks Grant for mercy toward the defeated South; Grant tells him he must lead the nation out of war.
Scene 96
This scene

96EXT. THE MCLEAN HOUSE, APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE, VIRGINIA - AFTERNOON

OFFICERS OF THE CONFEDERATE AND

UNION ARMY stand around in the

afternoon sun. Everyone's solemn,

even stunned by what's just

happened. No one is speaking.

TITLE: APPOMATTOX COURTHOUSE, VIRGINIA

APRIL 9, 1865

ROBERT E. LEE comes down the steps of the McLean house, as a CONFEDERATE OFFICER brings his horse to him. His face is blank. Lee mounts his waiting horse.

Lee should leave, having just surrendered to Grant inside; but he's immobile. Some of the officers of both sides look at Lee, some can't bear it. Lee tries out various expressions: pride, defiance, blankness.

Grant stomps onto the porch of the house, followed by his staff. Among them is Robert Lincoln.

Grant, lost in thought, stops, taken aback, realizing that Lee's still there, astride his horse. Everyone looks at the two men who look awkwardly at one another.

Then Grant removes his famous slouch hat. Everyone freezes for a moment, and then one by one, the officers of the Union Army remove their hats.

Lee is visibly moved by this gesture of respect. He raises his hat, briefly, only an inch from his head. Then, pulling slightly on his horse's reins, he rides away.