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Ely Samuel Parker ( 1828 - August 31, 1895), Hasanoanda, was an Iroquois of the Seneca tribe born at Indian Falls, New York (then part of the Tonawanda Reservation). During the Civil War, he wrote the final draft of the Confederate surrender terms at Appomattox.

Parker began his career in public service by working as a translator to the Seneca chiefs in their dealings with government agencies. In 1852 he was made sachem of the Seneca, Donehogawa, Keeper of the Western Door.

Later, Parker read law in Ellicotville, NY, only to be denied admittance to the bar due to his race. He then studied engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York and worked as a civil engineer until the Civil War.

During Civil War, Parker was first told by Secretary of War, William H. SewardWilliam Henry Seward ( May 16, 1801 October 10, 1872) was United States Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. He attended Union College, studying law, and graduated in 1820, with high honors. He then stopped his law practice to beco that he could not join the army since the Civil War was a "white man's war." Parker was, however, admitted into the military after his friend Ulysses S. GrantUlysses S. Grant Order 18th President Term of Office March 4, 1869 March 4, 1877 Followed Andrew Johnson Succeeded by Rutherford B. Hayes Date of Birth April 27, 1822 Place of Birth Point Pleasant, Ohio Date of Death July 23, 1885 Place of Death Mount McG intervened. He was commissioned a captain in 1863 and rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel. Parker became the adjutantIn the military, an adjutant is a regimental staff officer, who assists the colonel, or commanding officer of a garrison or regiment, in the details of regimental and garrison duty. In United States Army squadrons, the adjutant is often the officer-in-cha to his friend Ulysses S. Grant, and wrote the final drafts for the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse in April 1865. During the surrender, Confederate general Robert E. LeeFor the author of Inherit the Wind and other works, see Robert Edwin Lee. Robert Edward Lee ( January 19, 1807 October 12, 1870) was a commanding general of the Confederate forces during the American Civil War. Like Hannibal and Rommel, his victories agai mistook Parker for a black man, but apologized saying "I am glad to see one real American here."

After Civil War, Parker was head of the Federal Commission on Indian Affairs from 1869 to 1871. Leaving government service, he involved himself in the stock market, but eventually lost the fortune he accumulated. He lived his last years in poverty. His body was exhumed and moved to Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, New YorkSee Buffalo for other places with this name. Buffalo is an American city located in western New York. With about 300,000 residents, it is the state's second largest city, after New York City, and is the county seat of Erie County 6. In the early 20th cent, to lie with other notables of Western New YorkNew York is a state in the northeastern United States whose U. postal abbreviation is NY . It is sometimes called New York State when there is need to distinguish it from New York City. History See: History of New York New York was one of the thirteen col.