Having just watched a Netflix DVD on US Grant, I am puzzled by his rank and that of Robert E. Lee.  Everything I can read about Grant says he was promoted to Lt. General, the first person since Washington to hold it.  Nothing about being promoted to Full General.  Yet the DVD clearly shows four stars on his shoulderin his latter days of the Civil War.

On the other hand, Robert E. Lee is continually referred to on the Web as 'General.'  However, photos I can find of him show only three stars, which in the old corps was Lt. General.  On the other hand, I did find one reference that Lee was indeed promoted to full (four-star) general at some point. 

So perhaps Grant was given some temporary (brevet?) promotion to four stars at Appomatox, so that he was of equal rank to the man surrendering to him.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Randy Cabell

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