What can be said with confidence is that Lee, at some point, noticed Parker.

He may or may not have initially assumed from Parker’s dark complexion that he was African American.

Parker himself, in later reminiscences, described an exchange with Lee, but the precise words are not documented contemporaneously in a way that allows historians to verify them as exact quotation.

What is not in doubt is the broad outline: Parker was there, he was recognized as a member of Grant’s staff, he prepared the formal surrender document, and the historical significance of that fact was understood by those present even if it was not widely publicized at the time.

Grant, in a 1868 letter, referred to Parker as “the finest soldier I have ever seen.” Whether that was meant as a specific response to Parker’s conduct at Appomattox or as a more general assessment is not entirely clear.