May 3, 2009

Appomattox Court House National Historic Park

McLean House, the surrender site at Appomattox
On our recent trip to Colonial Williamsburg, we stopped at Appomattox Court House National Historic Park. Located in middle Virginia, this is a hallowed Civil War site.

Generals Grant and Lee
On April 9, 1865, Robert E. Lee, commanding general of the Army of Northern Virginia, surrendered his men to Ulysses S. Grant, general-in-chief of all U.S. forces. Though several Confederate armies remained in the field, Lee’s surrender signaled the end of the Southern States’ attempt create a separate nation. Three days later, Lee’s men marched before the Union Army, laid down their flags, stacked their weapons, and then began their journeys home.

When Generals Grant and Lee sat down in the parlor of the McLean home, Grant asked only that the Confederates pledge not to take up arms against the U.S. Conferderate officers were allowed to keep their side arms and any solider who owned a horse was allowed to take it home as well. The surrender terms were used as a model for the other surrenders that would soon follow. When Lee mentioned that his men had been without rations for several days, Grant arranged for 25,000 rations to be sent to the hungry men. The characters of Lee and Grant were of such a high order that the surrender has been called “The Gentlemen’s Agreement”.

It was an overcast day when we visited, and the dark clouds added to the somberness of the old village. We could feel the history and spirits around us as we walked the grounds and toured the restored buildings. If you have any interest in Civil War history, this site should undoubtedly be on your list of places to visit.

Please click on the link below to view a slideshow of some of my photographs. Enjoy!

10 comments:

  1. Hi Donna
    This is one of our favorite visits. It is right up there with Gettysburg for Luscious and I. There is an air about it, don't you think?
    You were SO CLOSE to us! We are only about an hour away from there!
    Always blessed
    Blondie

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  2. Loved all of your photos Donna. I LOVE history especially American history so I know I would love to visit here. Thanks for taking us along.

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  3. I really enjoy visiting historical places, there's just something about them and it sounds like you went on the perfect day to get a feel for its past...thanks for sharing!

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  4. A really interesting piece of history. Nice photos too.

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  5. I hope we can take Zach to visit there some day. He's fascinated with Civil War history.

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  6. I really enjoyed the slide~show, Donna. The Jones law office reminds me so much of my grandmother's house built in l893.

    Thanks for sharing your trip with us, the photo's are awesome as usual. :)

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  7. In our family the War Between the States was talked about as if it had happened the week before...

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  8. Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos- you do a great job! Appamattox is near my parents' home yet I have not been there in years. You have whet my appetite!

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  9. Gettysburg is the same...quiet and serene! Spiritual...hughugs

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  10. Donna,

    Your blog is awesome ! So glad I strolled on over !

    I love history, antiques and anything pertaining to it !

    Your photos are beautiful and thank you for the tour ! One of my ancestor's fought in the Civil War in Mannassis. He was hurt early in the war and ended up being the cook for his regiment.

    Come on over to my blog and sign up for my giveaway !

    Hugs,
    Linda

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Marty, here! Donna loves comments, and I faithfully pass them on to her. Thank you so much for visiting!