Appomattox, Virginia

On our way out of Chesterfield, Virginia we stopped at Appomattox.  After retreating from Petersburg and Richmond, Lee found himself outside Appomattox Court House.  Grant had sent word to Lee asking for his surrender but Lee thought he could make it to the railroad to get supplies.  Grant cut off this route and Lee had no choice.  He sent his aide, Lt. Col. Charles Marshall to find an appropriate place to meet with Grant.  It was Palm Sunday and the Court House was closed.  He finally approached Wilmer McLean and was told that they could use his parlor. 

In the terms of surrender, Grant only asked that the confederates pledge not to take up arms against the United States.  Officers were allowed to keep their side arms and any confederate soldier who owned a horse was allowed to take it home with him.  These generous terms began the process of reunification.  Signs along the road before you get to Appomattox claim it as the ‘place where the country reunited’.

        

Printing presses where set up in the Clover Hill Tavern.  Printers worked in relays to print 30,000 blank parole forms.  These parole passes were given to all the soldiers, so they could return to their homes and not be stopped as a deserter.

This person was in period dress.  He was a local doctor who lived in Appomattox at the time. He spoke about the town before the war. It was a farming community. Most had slaves and grew mainly tobacco.   There were no battles ever fought in the area until the end.  At one time during the war the Union Army was getting close so the townspeople went out and burned the bridges across the river!  These people dressed in period dress are always fun to listen to. 

 

It was a good day and well worth the time.