On April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the Civil War.

I may disagree with Burns and PBS on many, many topics, but Burns and PBS hit it out of the park with this one five minute scene. I think Senator Symington's comments are dead on.

Thank you, that was well worth the time.

One of the amazing things you can do when visiting Appomattox Courthouse is to stand in the actual room where the document was signed with all the original furnishings just as they were on the fateful day.

If you are ever even remotely close it is well worth the drive there.

2 of my ancestors were there, 5th Florida and 60th Georgia Infantry. Long walk home.

The document was signed in the home of Wilmer McLean. He moved to Appomattox four years earlier after his previous home was involved in the first major battle of the Civil War at Bull Run.

Thanks for posting that. Powerful emotions. It seems for whatever other faults he may have had, Grant was a fair, kind leader at heart.

The war is over; the rebels are our countrymen again.

I visited ten years ago, the Saturday before the 150th anniversary. Quite moving, but a simple little village. The weather reportedly that day was pretty much like we experienced on the visit. IIRC, along with the rations, sick and injured troops were offered treatment by Union surgeons.

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, the hero of Little Round Top, was given the honor of accepting the surrender of Lee's troops.
He describes it himself:

quote:

Instructions had been given; and when the head of each division column comes opposite our group, our bugle sounds the signal and instantly our whole line from right to left, regiment by regiment in succession, gives the soldier's salutation, from the "order arms" to the old "carry"—the marching salute. Gordon at the head of the column, riding with heavy spirit and downcast face, catches the sound of shifting arms, looks up, and, taking the meaning, wheels superbly…with profound salutation as he drops the point of his sword to the boot toe; then facing to his own command, gives word for his successive brigades to pass us with the same position of the manual, honor answering honor.

It was a profoundly respectful ceremony toward the defeated Virginians.

quote:

Originally posted by fischtown7:
2 of my ancestors were there, 5th Florida and 60th Georgia Infantry. Long walk home.

My 3rd great grandfather was there. He was in NY regiment. As you say, a long walk home.

We are fortunate to have a number of photos of him during and after the war.

My 4th great-grandfather's infantry regiment, 1st Louisiana Volunteers (Nelligan's), surrendered there. At that time they had 1 officer and 18 men.

quote:

Originally posted by Tejas421:
My 4th great-grandfather's infantry regiment, 1st Louisiana Volunteers (Nelligan's), surrendered there. At that time they had 1 officer and 18 men.

I remember reading that almost all of the Southern brigades were numerically down to company and squad levels.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, the hero of Little Round Top, was given the honor of accepting the surrender of Lee's troops.

I have this print but have never framed it in the last wormy chestnut frame of some 20 plus Civil War prints.

H. E. Howard published numerous books on the Civil War on the different VA regiments:

https://openlibrary.org/publishers/H.E._Howard_Inc.

https://civilwarcavalry.com/?p=670

https://bainesbooks.com/varegsrs/

Others have also done a series for other states:

https://civilwartalk.com/threa...ories-series.133424/

OBITUARY
Harold Edward Howard
December 10, 1945 – March 11, 2018
IN THE CARE OF
Whitten Timberlake Chapel
Harold E. Howard, 72, died peacefully on Sunday, March 11, 2018, at his home in Appomattox, VA.

Harold was the son of the late John Pleasant Howard and Katie Harper Bowles and was also preceded in death by two brothers, Alfred Howard and Charles Howard.

He was Virginia born, which he took great pride in, and the youngest of five brothers. He was a graduate of E.C. Glass High School where he was a standout for both the football and track teams. A true patriot, Harold volunteered for service in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era, where he served honorably with the 82nd Airborne as an NCO. Harold received a Bachelor's degree in history and Master's degree in guidance and counseling from Lynchburg College. He was a great social studies teacher, football coach, track / field coach, and powerlifter at Brookville High School during the time of Jim Whorley, Eddie Martin, John Vasvary, and Principal Paul Brewer, all of whom he greatly admired.

Actions speak louder than words and Harold accomplished what he set out to do. In 1971, he became part of the interpretive program at Appomattox Historical Park portraying an ex confederate soldier. His presentations at the park were so moving and powerful that he was featured on television and asked to present to numerous groups around the country including colleges, Civil War Round Tables, and the United States Marines. In 1980, he cofounded the Lynchburg Civil War Round Table, which continues to meet monthly. As president of H.E. Howard Inc. from 1980-2002, he published the Virginia Regimental History Series and the Virginia Battles and Leaders Series, which are comprised of over 200 volumes that constitute a permanent and incomparable contribution to the history of Virginia's participation in the American Civil War. In 2003, Harold was recognized by the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate with Joint resolution No. 817 for his extraordinary efforts publishing this invaluable history and honoring the Virginia Soldier.

Harold was on the sidelines for every football game and sporting event that his sons participated in, always holding a cold drink for his boys. In addition to supporting his sons in their activities, he wanted to show them the world. Through many trips, he took them to all 50 states and 16 different countries.

He was a Master Gardener and enjoyed sharing his beautiful work on his property with many. He moved to Appomattox in 1995 and loved his community. He made numerous close friends, helped with the Appomattox football program, and became a fixture at his gym where he was a formidable power lifter even in his later years.

Harold is survived by two sons, John E. Howard and wife Adrienne of Forest and James L. Howard of Richmond. He is also survived by two brothers, James Howard and wife Lila of Goode, John Howard and wife Margaret of Petersburg and two grandchildren, Campbell and Jed.

A celebration of Harold’s life will be held at the Brookville Ruritan located at 311 Beverly Hills Circle, Lynchburg, VA 24502 on Sunday March 25th from 3:00 – 5:00. The family invites all those touched by Harold’s life to come and share in his memory.

Harold was a good father, brother, publisher, historian, educator and friend to many. We will always carry the great accomplishments and good memories of Harold in our hearts.

https://www.dignitymemorial.co...arold-howard-7787470

I was there for the 150th,
a few friends did a march, from Dinwiddie to Appomattox. in period correct gear,

I used my shop van and trailer as there support vehicle,

they were beat when the arrived, having marched that far in period correct gear (including shoes etc) and staying the night at each place the retreating army did,


funn fact, there is a guy in Verona Va that owns the property that was used to camp one night, he was able to find many spots were the camp fires were, and placed solar lights there, so at night they all lit up,


the turn out then was amazing, for both North and South

We use to go to the North-South Skirmish Association near Winchester, VA in the late 60's.

http://www.n-ssa.org/

During the rifle matches, it was kind of smokey.

Cannon ball matches were something else with cannon balls skipping across the field due to the low angle and no/sufficient back stop.

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:
One of the amazing things you can do when visiting Appomattox Courthouse is to stand in the actual room where the document was signed with all the original furnishings just as they were on the fateful day.

If you are ever even remotely close it is well worth the drive there.

I've been there, to Appomattox twice now. The second time I learned that the McLean house now is not the original house, the original house was actually disassembled in the 1890s, at one point was supposed to be transported to Chicago for a Worlds Fair. Souvenir hunters took bricks from the foundation even. Back in the late 40's the house we then "rebuilt." So while it's much like the original, and even has some of the original furnishings, it's not the actual house where Lee and Grant met.

https://www.nps.gov/apco/mclean-house.htm

Really bummed me out to learn all that.