“General, this is deeply humiliating; but I console myself with the thought that the whole country will rejoice at this day’s business.”
~ A Confederate during the Civil War surrender ceremony, 12 April 1865.
I admit to being somewhat red-faced to learn – as a West Point graduate and after all these years – that Appomattox Court House is the name of the village where Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Ulysses S. Grant on 9 April 1865.
The village, not the building where the ceremony took place.
The correct terminology for the 1865 event is that Lee surrendered to Grant in the parlor of a private residence, the home of Wilmer and Virginia McLean, in the village of Appomattox Court House. The town of Appomattox grew up just 3 miles away when Appomattox Court House was razed by fire in 1892. The distinction is significant. The first 5 photographs in in my photo gallery were taken at Appomattox, the remainder at Appomattox Court House and its vicinity.
A month shy of 43 years after graduation I finally walked that historic ground.
As I was putting the gallery of photographs together Darryl Worley’s “Shiloh” came through my JBL Boombox speaker. I stopped what I was doing for a moment and listened to the words. If you know about the slaughter-like military tactics of that time, if you know of the mass amputations for the smallest wounds, if you’re aware that casualties for single battles numbered in the tens of thousands, you also become aware of the responsibilities that weighed on the shoulders of the commanders. You become acutely aware of the responsibilities that weighed on the shoulders of the of the commanders that met in the McLean House that day.
From the buildings to the artifacts, here is some of what I saw during my visit to Appomattox and Appomattox Court House. Click on the individual photographs to see their captions.
~ Dempsey 🌵
Chalk Dust 
Dempsey, interesting fact is that Wilmer McLean moved his family to Appomattox Court House late in 1861. He did it to get away from the war. First Battle of Manassas was partially fought on what was his property, and he wanted to get away from DC and the road to Richmond. He failed. The old saying goes, “the Civil War started in Wilmer McLean’s front yard and ended in his front parlor”. Other than that, he did not participate in the “Late Unpleasantness”. Good write up and photos. I don’t believe in ghosts. But, still, somehow, that place is haunted.
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The Parks department mentioned that a cannonball actually blew into his house at the war’s start.
Thanks for visiting, Clay, and thanks for the kind comments.
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Dempsey, in your future travels I would suggest a visit to the Civil War Medical Museum in Frederick, MD. (If it is still there). The displays and information about the advancement of Medical Science made during the Civil War were truly awesome.
Dan
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Thanks, Dan. I’ll put it on my list.
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