Question for any Civil War Buffs out there

I have done several Civil war threads and I am always amazed at the wealth of detailed knowledge some of you have, very impressive. Hoping we could discuss a few details.

I have a few wonders that I'm hoping a few of you will take a moment and answer. I visited Appomattox last fall. I was thrilled to be there but was a little disappointed to find out the house where the surrender took place was a re-build and not the original house.

Here's my questions:

As we know Grant and Lee were writing to each other back and forth before they met at Appomattox. From what I gather Grant wrote Lee first and said "The results of the last week must convince you of the hopelessness of further resistance". Then several communications back and forth before they met.

Question: Obviously Lee and Grant didn't place these letters/notes in the US mail but sent some type of envoy's back and forth. Exactly how did these exchanges work? This war was incredibly bloody and they all just left the horrors of Petersburg. I can't imagine Union soldiers just gingerly riding into a Confederate camp untouched and saying "we got some mail for you". Was there some type of system set up for safe communications, if so how?

Question: Was Lee surrendering for the entire south and did he have the authority to do so? Or was Lee merely surrendering the Army of Northern Virginia?

Question: I sometimes get the feeling that Grant saw Lee as a great general to be revered. During the meeting Grant asked Lee if he remembered him earlier in their military careers. Lee didn't recall the meeting in the Mexican war. Is this accurate? Did Grant greatly admire Lee?

Thanks....OM

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Question for any Civil War Buffs out there