Early morning this morning! We packed up and checked out of the hotel and headed for Shenandoah NP and the Big Meadow hoping for a great sunrise and lots of deer. Ended up with clouds with a tiny bit of pink, lots of cold, a brisk breeze, but some very cooperative deer....not many, but it only takes one. After an hour or so and a warm breakfast across the road, we headed south and stopped by Appomattox Courthouse. We've been driving past the sign for years and decided this was the time! It was wonderful. It's a renovation/recreation of part of the village where Lee surrendered to Grant in April 9, 1865. There was one actor representing a sentry of the time that gave a 30 minute presentation on what happened during those last days. Very well done! The McLean House (with the second floor balcony) was where the actual surrender took place. Grant asked only 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. The generous terms began the process of reunification. Since this surrender was only for the Army of Northern Virginia and there were soldiers returning home as far away as Texas and traveling through areas that were still fighting, they printed up Paroles that would act as passes for the returning soldiers. Printing presses (in sitting room) were set up in the Clover Hill Tavern (other building) and printers worked in relays to print 30,000 blank forms. By April 11th, the paroles were ready for distribution. The war didn't really end until Joseph E. Johnston's army in North Carolina surrendered on April 26th, Richard Taylor's army in Alabama on May 4 and Edmund Kirby Smith's army in Texas on June 2. The Confederacy ceased to exist at that time.
After wandering for several hours we headed home....in the rain. It was a wonderful long weekend, despite the weather!
Early morning this morning! We packed up and checked out of the hotel and headed for Shenandoah NP and the Big Meadow hoping for a great sunrise and lots of deer. Ended up with clouds with a tiny bit of pink, lots of cold, a brisk breeze, but some very cooperative deer....not many, but it only takes one. After an hour or so and a warm breakfast across the road, we headed south and stopped by Appomattox Courthouse. We've been driving past the sign for years and decided this was the time! It was wonderful. It's a renovation/recreation of part of the village where Lee surrendered to Grant in April 9, 1865. There was one actor representing a sentry of the time that gave a 30 minute presentation on what happened during those last days. Very well done! The McLean House (with the second floor balcony) was where the actual surrender took place. Grant asked only 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. The generous terms began the process of reunification. Since this surrender was only for the Army of Northern Virginia and there were soldiers returning home as far away as Texas and traveling through areas that were still fighting, they printed up Paroles that would act as passes for the returning soldiers. Printing presses (in sitting room) were set up in the Clover Hill Tavern (other building) and printers worked in relays to print 30,000 blank forms. By April 11th, the paroles were ready for distribution. The war didn't really end until Joseph E. Johnston's army in North Carolina surrendered on April 26th, Richard Taylor's army in Alabama on May 4 and Edmund Kirby Smith's army in Texas on June 2. The Confederacy ceased to exist at that time.
After wandering for several hours we headed home....in the rain. It was a wonderful long weekend, despite the weather!
