Ode to Appomattox

A simple village
With simple lives as you may know
Here in Virginia we've lived since my great grandfather was a boy
And now they've come the blue and gray to battle one last time
Here on the peaceful roads of Appomattox
Here on the fields of Appomattox

The blades of grass here
Are as green as in the north
The trees bloom in spring
As they do for you
So when you march here
Remember that our children play like yours
Here on the roads of Appomattox
Here on the fields of Appomattox

We didn't vote for Lincoln
Not a one in this county
We sent our boys to war
To defend our homes and quiet life
We have lawyers, shops and sheriffs
The county clerk lives  down the road
Just down this road in Appomattox
Just by the fields of Appomattox

Send them home in peace
Let us live now as we did
Before these men decided we should hate
And go to war

Send them back to where they came from
From the farms and cities near and far
Send them far from these roads of Appomattox

You fought on this road
You fought over this road
Lee was surrounded on this road
This old road brought em here
And this old road will take them on the first leg of their journey home
This old road of Appomattox
This old road of Appomattox

To cheer or to cry

The final terms of the surrender between two generals

The final battle

County Court House now the visitors center

The morning of April 9, 1865 the fog settled into the fields of Appomattox Court House. The 100 residents  had been waiting for the railroad boon to come their way, but the rolling landscape did not make for the best place to lay track, so it had been run south of them. Their claim on the economy was simply as the county seat. Mr. Peers, the county clerk lived to the east, the Clover Hill tavern lay to to the north and the Mclean House to the west of the Central Courthouse.

It was a simple village that had not seen any of the war come to their front yards for the 4 devastating years. But the previous night, they could hear the cannon and gunfire 3 miles away as the armies fought at Appomattox Station.  Another part of Lee's army was also now stationed to the east of their town. His desperate aim: to break through the Union cavalry to join up with Johnston in North Carolina.

And so, what was to be the final real battle of this war, the battle of Appomattox Court House, began around 7:30 am.

On the ridge to the west was Custer's cavalry, the the east Lee's artillery and infantry.  Lee's men were charged to attack with all their might which drove back the horses for a time. What Lee did not know was that Grant's army had now arrived after marching without stopping from all directions, surrounding any escape route. The 70,000 men of the Army of the Potomac, the Army of the Shenandoah, and now from the south the great Army of the James were about to stage their final blow to the 22,000 men of the Army of Northern Virginia.

Back and forth they fought and on this day 150 years later, the fog settled in again after a ferocious early morning  thunderstorm that left the old stagecoach road muddy. But to the 100 or so of us who arrived to watch, did not mind the mud or the fog knowing this added to our witnessing of history.

The reenactment lasted two and a half hours until the final and inevitable end.

A rider arrives with the truce flag

The Truce flags appear-Lee's surrender

After 3 hours of watching pieces of the final battle reenactment on April 9, I moved to an opening in the picket fence wondering, if we would be able to see the truce flags from this vantage point.

Not only did we see this momentous event, but were also privileged to watch as both army re-enactors left the fields. I wasn't sure whether to cheer or cry. A little bit of both ended the morning.

April 8 Battle of Appomattox Station

The City of Appomattox houses the newly formed Appomattox Station Battlefield, only recently identified as the location of the battle on the evening of April 8 that pitted Confederate artillery and calvary against Union infantry and cavalry. [artillery are the cannons, infantry the ground troops, calvary the men on horses]. It is significant that there are no Confederate infantry who are back in Appomattox Court House, the center of the final action and eventual surrender.

About 200 or so people converged on this small parcel of land to see the evening's reenactment. Around me were  among others 1) a family that had grown up in Appomattox and with a point of a finger, showed me their house just past the boundary of the field 2) a man in a vest and period hat with a very good camera and his wife (from Memphis?). In other words, southerners, friendly, talkative and a lot of fun. This is significant because I run into the photographer later who helps me out with some picture taking.

This is the first calvary battle I've seen and I am impressed by the way that the horses are handled and become part of the visual display as in the final moments, both calvary forces fight with swords while on their horses.

Introduction to Southern hospitality for real

Evening of April 7

Riding into Appomattox at 5 pm it seems like one of those sleepy towns that grew up around some random stores with no thought to any plan. I did find the 'historic district' a one block group of stores with a visitors center that is closed. But Virginia hospitality is evident as the very friendly woman outside the center introduces me to her grandson and, oh yes, to the events in town.

Thus emboldened, I drive to the park itself which is open for set up of the concert stage. I felt like I'd hit pay dirt again because The 50 person choir that was made up of several local churches rehearsed spirituals and rousing songs. I planned to leave town before the Friday concert, so this was my own private concert.

Afterwards as I walked back to my car, I got to compliment one of the singers. "Where are you staying" she asked. "In Lynchburg". 'Oh that's so far away, why don't you stay at my house"

Seriously, that is how the conversation went. She knew absolutely nothing about me and with the most gracious blessed open heart, offered me her home. I didn't take her up on it for that night because I wanted to check in to the hotel and do some writing. But...

The story will continue.