News of the surrender traveled slowly. Although scattered resistance continued for several weeks—there were six battles that took place after Appomattox , with the final skirmish of the Civil War occurring on May 12 and 13 at the Battle of Palmito Ranch near Brownsville, Texas—for all practical purposes, the Civil War had come to an end.
But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present. In May , Confederate forces clashed with the advancing Union Army in the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, which lasted for the better part of two weeks and included some of the bloodiest fighting of the Civil War.
After an indecisive battle in the dense Virginia woods Grant in the spring of It pitted Confederate General Robert E. The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, took place from April 6 to April 7, , and was one of the major early engagements of the American Civil War The battle began when the Confederate Army launched a surprise attack on Union forces The battles of Cold Harbor were two American Civil War engagements that took place about 10 miles northeast of Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate capital.
Lee marched his Army of Northern Virginia into Pennsylvania in late The victories forced the Fought in Two of the county's dozen stores were in the small village. Meeks Store, the largest, doubled as post office. Francis Meeks' son Lafayette served in the Confederate army, died of typhoid, and was buried here.
The village and county prospered in the s. The war would change all this. After the surrender ceremony the troops went away and the war ended, but Appomattox Court House had been changed.
In many ways the village was worse off. No large battle had taken place here; neither side rushed in to erect monuments as they did on many other battlefields of the war. Locally the village became a backwater as Appomattox Station, just to the west, prospered because of its position on the railroad. In the late s Union veterans formed the Appomattox Land Company. They hoped to develop the area by selling lots and building houses, but their plans never really left the drawing board.
In the courthouse burned and the county seat was moved to Appomattox, formerly Appomattox Station. And in early a Niagara Falls, N. But the piles of bricks and lumber were never moved. Exposed to the elements, they eventually disappeared. The little village was either going up in smoke or crumbling into dust. In , Congress passed a bill that provided for building a monument at the site of the old courthouse.
The monument was never built, but the idea of memorializing the event stayed alive. In the National Park Service suggested that the entire village be restored. The idea was received enthusiastically. Legislation creating the park as a national historical monument was signed in , and work began on acquiring land and researching the records.
Today the village looks much as it did in April Outside the village are a few spots associated with the events of the surrender. Lee's headquarters site is northeast of the village. It is a two-minute walk from a small parking lot on Va. Grant's headquarters site is in the opposite direction from the village.
Nearby, a monument erected by the state of North Carolina marks the farthest advance of its troops that April day. West of the village a small Confederate cemetery holds the graves of one Northern soldier and 18 Southern soldiers killed on April 8 and 9. A hiking trail and the highway connect all of these locations. Start at the visitor center, where museum exhibits, video programs, seasonal talks, map orientations, and restrooms are available. All the sites are within easy walking distance but require travel on gravel and grass surfaces.
Most buildings are over years old and require steps for entry. Wheelchairs are available at the visitor center. The official National Park Service handbook, covering many aspects of Lee's retreat, the surrender, and the history of the village, is available along with other publications at the park bookstore. Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Lt. Ulysses S. Grant in the parlor of this house.
Lee's aide Lt. Charles Marshall chose this site. The house, built in , survived under several owners until , when speculators dismantled it in a failed money-making scheme. In the s, using the speculators' plans and specifications, and archeological evidence, the National Park Service rebuilt the house on its original foundation. Meeks Store Constructed in , at the time of the surrender it was used as a general store and post office, both operated by Francis Meeks.
Woodson Law Office John Woodson bought this office in and practiced law here until his death eight years later. It is a typical lawyer's office of that period. McLean Outside Kitchen, reconstructed. Originally constructed in , and reconstructed in The south room of the building's first floor is interpreted as a kitchen, the north space as a weaving room, the second floor as a residence.
McLean Slave Quarters, originally constructed in , was reconstructed in , and is the only building presented as slave quarters in the park. The building houses a representative exhibit of the printing of thousands of parole passes for the surrendered Confederate soldiers. Clover Hill Tavern Kitchen and Guest House, restored The two-story tavern kitchen was built in and was restored in and Tradition holds that the second floor rooms were used as extra housing for tavern guests; the first floor provided food.
Plunkett-Meeks Store Storage Building, ca. Plunkett-Meeks store stable, ca. Kelley House, ca. The house was first built by carpenter Lorenzo Kelley in His mother Elizabeth "Widow Kelley" and grandmother Priscilla Staples lived there with the five Kelley sons who served in the Confederate Army two died, one deserted and two participated in the Stacking of Arms Ceremony.
John Robinson who was born enslaved in became a black shoemaker, and around lived in the house with his wife. They raised 18 children in that small house. Robinson purchased the house and land between and , and his family still held the property when the park was established in the s. The Robinson family graveyard lies in the southwest corner of the lot.
The exterior was restored in , and it is in fair condition. Woodson Law Office, ca. The office was restored in and and is in fair condition.
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