On Labor day we drove
up to Appomattox, Virginia to see where General Robert E. Lee surrendered to
General Ulysses S. Grant to begin the ending of the Civil War. (Did you know the war didn't official end when this surrender happened? I didn't. There were other southern armies that still had to stop fighting and surrender. The Civil War offically ended right outside of Raleigh, in our great state of NC.) Jason and I enjoyed
it much more then the kids did. But it got us out of the house on a
rainy day together as a family.
One of the last battlefields of the Civil War. It still feels solemn to me. I loved the open spaces. Being able to visit really made the Civil War more understandable to me. There is still a lot I need to learn.
This is a replica of the McLean family home where General Lee surrendered to Grant. The original house is gone but they have the exact plans and were able to rebuild it. All the other buildings are original. We were a little disappointed to see that it needed some paint and roof work. It is much more spacious then other houses of the period I have seen. It has beautiful textiles, carpets and curtains, etc.
Jason filled me in on the McLeans. I can't remember the father's first name. But they originally lived in Manassas, VA where the very first battle of the Civil War was fought. During the Battle of Bull Run their house had a cannon ball shot through the dining room. So the McLeans moved to a more rural, safer quieter town and the war again came right to their doorstep, surrender treaty signed in their living room.
I think that is super interesting.
Luke being a soldier. This is where the very last cannon shots were fired from Union troops.
Sophie was the only one brave enough to sit next to the grouchy interpreter. He was not much help. Good thing Jason has read a lot about the Civil War and could teach us.
This cemetery was created in the early 1900's by a local women's group. It has 18 graves of Confederate soldiers and one Union soldier added later. I was disturbed by the confederate flag flying on these graves. This is federal land, a federal park. We had passed lots of windows and stores with it flying, but I was surprised to see it on government land. Apparently I am not the only one. The Union soldier's grave was decorated with lots of flowers and flags and other trinkets. His was the only one. Grace went and picked a clover flower to put on it. Noah kept asking me what country the other soldiers came from. He knows what our flag looks like and the flag on most of the graves was not familiar to him.
I think there is much to be proud of in the South. I have no issue with Southerns being proud of the good here, but the Confederate flag has come to mean much more then "I love the South". It represents bigotry and violence and hatred. I had to wonder who was responsible to putting up these very new flags, and what was their purpose? There is also a big marble monument honoring the soldiers from the South. I know it was created more then 100 years ago, but it still makes me uncomfortable. Next to it was an enormous old oak tree. It was a much more fitting monument to the lives lost in the war to me. Stately and strong.
Favorite think I learned in Appomattox: When the Confederate soldiers marched to surrender their weapons the road was lined with Union Soldiers. Lead by a strong and honorable leader, they stood and saluted the Confederate soldiers as they passed. Personal accounts talk of open tears on both sides. I wish we still had that kind of civility and respect for those who differ from us politically in this country today.
Just to be real. This is the very end of our day. Luke was mad because I wasn't letting him take the picture. Sophie was bored.
Any guesses what kind of bush this is? I have never seen one before. I think it is really cool in a Dr. Suess way.
