Appomattox Court House

Our journey to Appomattox Court House began over two years ago, when we took our family on a "Civil War Battlefields" adventure on the East Coast and we were watching reenactments at the 150th anniversary commemoration at Gettysburg.  At that time, we thought "Hey, wouldn't it be cool to be at Appomattox Court House in April, 2015 to commemorate the Sesquicentennial anniversary of the end of the Civil War?"

It was just wishful thinking at the time, but as fate would have it, we find ourselves temporarily residing in the right place at the right time, just a few short hours away from this historic place in its Sesquicentennial year, so how could we not attend? 

Walking into the village

Appomattox Court House village is where the Civil War ended in April 1865.  The iconic image of this momentous event is that of Robert E. Lee, the General of the Army of Northern Virginia, surrendering to Ulysses S. Grant, the General of the Union Army, and then tipping his hat and riding away on his white horse, Traveler.  

The Appomattox Court House

Ironically, the surrender took place at the home of Wilmer McLean, the man who had a cannon ball fall into his soup pot down his chimney at the battle of First Manassas at the first major battle of the Civil War.  After the surrender, he rightfully claimed that the war started in his back yard and ended in his front parlor!  McLean had moved to Appomattox Court House village to get away from the war.  Sometimes you can't escape your fate!

General Robert E. Lee, with the McLean House in the background (where the surrender terms were negotiated)

The surrender at Appomattox Court House was the culmination of events that started days before, when the Confederate defensive line from Richmond to Petersburg collapsed.  Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his cabinet evacuated to Danville (the "Danville Train" of the song), and Robert E. Lee attempted to link his half-starved army of between 20,000 and 30,000 with General Johnston's army located in North Carolina.  But Phil Sheridan's cavalry and General Grant's foot soldiers kept him from making the turn to the South or getting resupplied by train and eventually cornered Lee at the Village of Appomattox Court House on April 8-9, 1865.

Picture of the village of Appomattox Court House from the road below

The surrender actually took place over several days.  After the terms were concluded on April 9th, the Confederate forces marched into the village by divisions and stacked their arms and military equipment and received paroles to return home.

Confederate troops marching in to surrender their arms

Confederate artillery being moved

Confederate soldiers stacking arms in front of the courthouse

The National Park Service commemorated the surrender events in real time.  We we weren't able to get down there until the 11th, which meant we missed seeing General Robert E. Lee ride up on his white horse, Traveler, to meet with General Ulysses S. Grant and work out the terms of surrender.  We did get a picture of "General Lee" on horseback, though!

General Robert E. Lee

It was a beautiful day, filled with various reenactments of the stacking of arms and surrender of artillery and commemorations and informational lectures by NPS Rangers.  Our teenage history buffs gave it a two thumbs up!  

Below are a few more photos with scenes from the day.  

Clover Hill Tavern, where they printed and issued paroles

Union Troops taking the field

Firing demonstration by Union Troops

The parlor of the McLean House, where the terms of surrender were negotiated.

Da boys and the General 

On the porch of a house owned by a lawyer during the Civil War and by a free African American family shortly after the war (1867).  They are buried in a small plot behind the house.

Confederate troop encampment near Peers House

Confederate artillery fired from here on Union troops
the morning of April 9th in the last battle.

Peers House constructed c.1855.

Another structure in the process of being restored

Confederate boys resting in the shade

Brass field artillery

Union Officers outside the Clover Hill Tavern