Robert Lincoln and the military

[loetar44]

We all know that Abraham Lincoln asked Gen. Grant, not as President but as a friend, for a favor, namely to find a place for his son Robert on his immediate staff in City Point (a relatively safe spot), after Robert kept pressing his desire for military service and his mother (and father) finally agreed Bur, what do we know about Robert’s military service, which lasted only 4 months? As far as I know he was commissioned as an assistant adjutant with the rank of captain in Grant’s staff on February 11, 1865. Was this an existing or a new created rank? In Grant’s memoires it is said that Robert arrived on February 21 at City Point. Why was this 10 days later? Is there anybody who knows on what steamer Robert arrived at City Point? Robert was never involved in any actual combat, but did see on several occasions the atrocities of the war on the battlefield. Did ever said something about this experience? He was present at Appomattox when Lee surrendered on April 9. Was that generally known in 1865? He returned to Washington on April 13. Also General Grant arrived from City Point in Washington on that date, accompanied by some members of his staff. Was Robert among them? I suspect Robert did not report again to Grant after the murder of his father. He resigned his commission on June 12, 1865.