Historical Ground

We returned to the park today, as we had planned. This time the weather was warm and sunny. Along the way we stopped at some roadside markers.

We took a short hike to view the North Carolina Monument. Part of the inscription is as follows:

This stone is erected by the authority of the General Assembly of North Carolina in grateful and perpetual memory of the valor, endurance and patriotism of her sons who followed with unshaken fidelity the fortunes of the Confederacy to this closing scene faithful to the end.

This side of the monument lists the fallen: those who died in battle, of their wounds off the battlefield, or of disease.

1861-5
Troops furnished 127,000
Killed in Battle 14,522
Died from wounds 5,151
Died from disease 20,502 


Our next stop was at the Confederate Cemetery, where some of those killed in the final hours of the war are buried. One Union man is at the end of the row.

We went on to tour the historical village, which includes many original structures. Some, including the McLean House where the surrender was signed, have been reconstructed.

Courthouse, which now houses the Visitor Center, with the Tavern to the right.

McLean House, where Grant and Lee met to sign the surrender

Part of the Lynchburg Richmond Stage Road, where Confederate troops stacked their arms in a surrender ceremony.

Walking here, on this ground where momentous historical events occurred, has caused us to ponder and reflect on their meaning and consequences. History is always told from some viewpoint, and many are reflected here. We hope that the message of this site is reconciliation and union.

After dinner we hiked some of the trails across the highway, starting at Lee's final headquarters site. We walked along the Appomattox River, a rather small stream, and along a nature trail maintained by the American Society of Foresters. We saw the Sweeney Prizery--and learned another new word. A "prizery" was a tobacco packing house. "Prizing" is estimating the worth or value of something, though the Wikipedia article suggests that prizing tobacco meant pressing it into hogsheads.

We are glad to know that all of our friends and relatives on the east coast are safe, though some suffered damage. Shirley reported lots of trees down, and Terri and Blake lost part of their backyard fence. Many people are still without power. We've been very lucky. One man in Chesterfield County, where we were camped, was killed by a falling tree, and several tornedoes touched down there.