June 17 – Appomattox

Our next stop on the Civil War trail was Appomattox. By the 1830s it was a busy stop on the stagecoach route between Richmond and Lynchburg. There was a tavern, a general store, some law offices, and a few houses. It was the county seat so there was a courthouse and jail. The development of the railway line 2 miles to the south was however causing the decline of the town. In February 1865 the command of the Union forces had been given to Ulysses Grant. He met with Lincoln frequently thereafter and was determined to conquer the confederate forces. During the beginning of the April 1865 Grant and the US army were pursuing Robert Lee and the Northern Virginia Confederate army west. Grant was able to cut off rail supply lines to Lee so his army was starving and exhausted. Grant spent seven days in battle as Lee retreated from Richmond and Petersburg towards Lynchburg. By April 8, 1865 Grant sent a message to Lee to ask for his surrender. On April 9th, Lee and Grant met in a private house in Appomattox to work out terms of surrender. The war was over for these two armies. The confederates were given parole slips with permission to return home. Over the following months troops fighting in other armies to the south would also surrender.

Within a short time the small town of Appomattox had been deserted with business moving to the railway station. Houses decayed and fell down. Most of the buildings have been rebuilt. The old stage road has been preserved. One can stand in the middle of town and get a good feeling for how it may have been living in the town. I could almost imagine the sound and excitement surrounding the arrival of the stagecoach. There were few people there and wonderful informative rangers. We spent the whole morning exploring.

We returned to our wonderful campground and lake to pick up the camper. The boys had another swim while I plotted our course to Norfolk to pick up mom. It was wonderful to see the Atlantic Ocean. Quite momentous really – the boys and I have now driven the full width of the continent of North America. We got to the airport one hour late – we are not too good at being on time for anything.