Appomattox Court House

NATIONAL HISTORICAL P R Appomattox Court House

NATIONAL HISTORICAL

PARK ~k,:.·. ";;""~~=~~: Here General Lee surrendered the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia to General Grant. This brought the Civil War to an end On Palm Sunday, April 9, r865, Gen. Robert The retreating Confederates were to rendez- E. Lee surrendered the most renowned and vous at Amelia Courthouse, northwest of successful of all Confederate armies to Gen. Petersburg. There they expected to receive Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, supplies coming by rail from Danville. The Va. This assured the end of the 4-year Civil supply train, however, had gone on into Rich- War between the North and the South. The mond, and the weary, downhearted troops subsequent reunification of the country was lost a day in foraging. Many soldiers left the a profound historic event. It has had an en- ranks at this time and went home. They felt during effect on the internal development and the war was about over. And their families domestic life of our country. Equally great needed them. has been its effect of our country's place in Grant pressed the pursuit hard. One of his world affairs and, accordingly, upon the des- columns followed the path of the Confed- tiny of other nations. For with the States erate Army. Another swung left and south reunited under one government, the United and cut Lee's line of retreat at Jetersville, 7 States of America grew to world power and miles west of Amelia. This effectively blocked leadership. the Confederate route to the railroad junction at Burkeville. Lee turned right and headed Prelude to Appomattox north toward Farmville. On the way, 6,000 For many long, dreary months from the Confederate soldiers fell prisoners to Union late summer of r864 to the spring of 1865, forces at Sayler's Creek on April 6. From Grant's Union Army of the Potomac besieged Farmville, the remnant of Lee's army again Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia turned west, wearily trudging ahead through at Petersburg, Va. Finally, a Union victory the red mud of the rain-soaked roads. Close at Five Forks near Petersburg on April I, behind, pressing in from the sides, and striv- 1865, compelled Lee to evacuate the besieged ing to get in front, came the straining Union town if he were to save his army. On the cavalry and infantry, sensing that their long labors and many hardships were near an end. night of April 2 the Confederate veterans This time they intended to close in for the marched out of Petersburg, headed west. Lee kill. And every day, desertions left the Con- hoped to unite his force with General John- federate force smaller in comparison to its ston's in North Carolina. His route of escape pursuers. was to the west by way of Danville. There Appomattox Station on the Southside Rail- hewould turn south. road was now Lee's immediate goal. There, supplies from Danville awaited his ex- the field of battle. While an informal truce hausted and ragged men. He had to get to brought quiet along the battleline, General these supplies if he were to continue on. The Lee sought to arrange a meeting to discuss the desperate Confederates seemed on the verge terms under which he might surrender his of success on April 8 when they halted for the army. The alternative seemed to be more night just east of Appomattox Court House. futile bloodshed and the destruction in battle But as darkness settled, they read their doom of his diminished forces. in the night skies. To the west they saw the A messenger finally found Grant and his flash of artillery and to the south the flicker staff some miles away on a road. Grant turned of campfires. Again, and for the last time, his famous big black horse "Cincinnati" to- they were cut off. ward the village. Already his representative, That night in a council of war, Lee and his Lt. Co!. Orville E. Babcock, had joined Co!. generals decided they would try to break Charles Marshall, Lee's aide, and the great through in the morning if the enemy in front Confederate general himself in a house which of them were cavalry. If daylight disclosed Colonel Marshall thought suitable for the strong enemy infantry forces blocking the meeting. There they waited for the Union Lynchburg road in their front, then they felt commander. that all plans most likely would fail. The About 1:30 p. m., Grant reached the edge morrow would tel!. of Appomattox Court House. He paused to ask a group of Union officers assembled there The Surrender if Lee were present. One of them replied, "Yes, in that brick house," pointing to a red- Just after first light on Palm Sunday, April brick structure in a locust grove. Grant 9, Lee started his attack across the fields at the western edge of the village. The Confed- walked his horse to the house and dismounted. erate soldiery brushed aside a thin line of He wore the uniform of a common soldier, Union cavalry. Beyond, they came upon a which had tacked on it the soiled shoulder more formidable foe-strong formations of straps of a lieutenant general. His boots and blue-coated infantry. There was their answer! uniform were mud-spattered. As usual, he The Union turning column had by forced wore no sword-it was only an encumbrance marches won the race to Appomattox Station. and he had no use for it. Grant climbed the From there it had turned east to support the steps of the McLean House. Two years ear- Union cavalry and meet the oncoming Con- lier, Wilmer McLean had left Manassas to federates. In the skirmishing that followed, escape the war; now the war was to end in the Union infantry advanced to the outskirts his parlor. of Appomattox Court House by 10 a. m. Inside, Lee rose to meet the man whose General Lee now faced his last decision on armies he had fended off for nearly a year.

Courthouse building, April 1865. Courtesy . ; Signal Corps, U. S. Army.

...• ~', ~:"".,i"'j"'<: Clover Hill Tavern, April 1865. Courtesy McLean House, 1865. Courtesy Signal Corps, Library of Congress. U. S. Army.

Memories of those desperate, bloody battles ing respectfully with bared heads. Manassas, that followed the meeting engagement in the Chancellors ville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness- Wilderness on May 5 the preceding year must all had but led to this. Sergeant Tucker have raced through his mind as he faced the brought up "Traveller," the big iron-gray northern general. Lee was dressed in an im- horse. Rousing himself suddenly, Lee swung maculate uniform. His sword was buckled into the saddle, raised his hat, and rode out to his side. Standing there poised and out- of the village. Back across the Appomattox wardly calm, Lee left an imperishable picture River he went to tell his soldiers that he had of a gentleman-soldier. surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia. Grant had his own grandeur, too, as the Paroles were printed and other necessary ensuing moments were to bring out. The arrangements made to receive the surrender of two men sat in McLean's parlor, talking of the Confederate Army. Three days after the the Mexican War and old army days. Grant's meeting in McLean's house, Lee's veterans staff officers who had entered with him re- marched for the last time as a unit of the mained at a respectful distance, lining the walls Confederate Army. On April 12 the men in of the room. After a time, Lee turned the gray filed across the shallow ford at the Ap- conversation to the business at hand. Grant pomattox River and up the steep hill past lines with quiet humility offered surrender terms of blue-clad infantry. At the eastern edge of generous in every way. Officers could keep the village they laid down their arms. There their sidearms and horses. Men in the rank were 28,231 Confederates paroled at Appo- and file who owned horses or mules could mattox Court House. Approximately 80,000 keep them, Grant said, "to work their little Union soldiers watched silently the stacking farms." of arms or stood guard in the vicinity of the "This will have the best possible effect upon little country village. Elsewhere, other Con- the men," replied Lee. "It will be very grati- federate forces were yet to surrender; but it fying and will do much toward conciliating was all over. our people." Back in McLean's yard, Union soldiers The terms of surrender were drafted in final picked violets and daffodils to send to their form and Lee and Grant signed them. The sweethearts in the north where the flowers business was completed by 4 p. m. bloom later than in Virginia. For the first Afterward, waiting for an orderly to bring time in years these veterans could have ease of his horse, Lee stood on the porch gazing east- mind about the morrow. There would be no ward. He seemed lost in reverie and uncon- more battles for them. They would soon go scious of the yard full of Union officers stand- home to their firesides and longed-for families. Village of Appomattox Court House, 1954.

The Village Civil War. The monument, established on April 10, 1940, became a historical park in The village of Appomattox Court House, 1954. It comprises approximately 968 acres of also formerly known as Clover Hill, developed Federal lands, including the old village of Ap- aroundthe Clover Hill Tavern. This tavern pomattox Court House. was built in 1819 as a stop on the Richmond- Lynchburg Stage Road. When Appomattox Location County was established in 1845, Clover Hill became the county seat. By the time of the Appomattox Court House is 3 miles north- Civil War, the town consisted of the tavern east of Appomattox, Va., on State Route 24. and two brick annexes, the courthouse, law offices, blacksmith shops, stores, and several About Your Visit residences. The McLean House was built in The park office and museum are open daily r848 by Charles Raine. Wilmer McLean pur- from 8:30 a. m. to 5 p. m. Park personnel chased it in 1863. will gladly discuss any aspect of the park de- In 1892, fire destroyed the courthouse, and velopment of special interest to you. There the county seat soon moved to the nearby are markers at points of interest, which we growing town of Appomattox. The follow- suggest you visit by following the route on the ing year, the McLean House was dismantled map at the back of this folder. Those who for reerection in Washington, D. C., as a war plan to visit in a group may receive special museum. The project never came to fruition. service if advance arrangements are made Gradually, the wood and brick stored at the with the superintendent. site of the house disintegrated or disappeared. An illustrated 16-page booklet is available The present McLean House is a faithful re- at the park or from the Superintendent of construction on the original site. Eventually, Documents, Washington 25, D. c., for IS it is hoped the village can be brought to re- cents a copy. semble its 1865 appearance. Administration The Park Appomattox Court House National Histori- An act of Congress, approved August 13, cal Park is administered by the National Park 1935, authorized the establishment of Ap- Service of the United States Department of the pomattox Court House National Historical Interior. A superintendent, whose address Monument to commemorate the end of the is Appomattox, Va., is in immediate charge.

The National Park System, of which this area is a unit, is dedicated to conserving the scenic, scientific, and historic heritage of the United States [or the benefit and inspiration of its people. APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK ~ VIRGINIA " ~ MEEKS ~ t i2 :~;I:~S~~O~~XD BURIA~ ~~OUND L __ ~t ~ "11 l!: 8 !...O.:!:J TAVERN KITCHEN t ••. ' AND REST. .o~ .,. " PLUNKETT.MEEKS GUEST HOUSE ROOMS •. e :3 0 Z .. "'w... STABLE [IJ O"J sl4 ' "'w.~ rn TAVERN ••• o~~\P :=i E5' if ••• ~ Gl!EST HOUSE "¢JTART OFTOUR ~ ,.- Z tTl •• "0 "'w. .1- •••• ..1P" r-- , CLOVER HILL TAVERN >-i 0 ~1:1"1»~. ~ •••• .-.. -...... '---- HEADQUARTERS ...••••• ~" MUSEUM D - Vl Vli:l PEERS o >-1:3 ::!. HOUSE ~ > ;:;.~ I""' >-I 1:1" • tTl '" • MAIN STREET ~~Vlgl;' OLD STAGE ROAD (ABANDONED) :: ;!' -::;:::::-e-: -- ~ Me LEAN WELL eO KEllY HOUSE t"r1 • > i:l ;:; I ::-I •• ~ I ;a =>!:l ~ > Historic road ~ ~ PRINCE EDWARD ~ ~ ~ 0 ~ ~ O:.... __ .::10~O==~2:;;;00:...._...;;;300SCALE IN FEET ~ II I COURT HOUSE ROW '" - I< "11 ;"0 ~ i., ~ ~ ~ ~. 0 ~ oh II LANE :l! $ll >-I i:l :3 BOCOCK·ISBELL z~. ::c ~ ~ HOUSE ~;. tr1 0 6 en.. ~ .? >< ~!? Z 0': fi~' ..., r:r rT1 ~ t'l'1 ~ -e u;'" ~ ~..... \.-4 ~~~C.t Q) 0 t"' ':::::::~ ~~~t o ~ ~ TOWN OF -L t.Lee surrendered to Grant I . APPOMAD "-<~" z.tee ewenec Grant's call to , """"'JL Sllrrenderconference "'"",- I ~O ~""Jy J 801.?'~~ 3.Lee mace his farewell address ~~~

NOV.1954 NHM·APP·7002