Room23: End of the US Civil War

Hi all,

Had a couple of days off so went shopping in Lynchburg yesterday and saw a movie and today, I visited the enormously significant historical site at Appomattox Court House.

When I say we've had a few days off it is a bit of an exaggeration! We practiced from 2.30 on Friday until 6.00, had Saturday off and practiced tonight. Weights training started at 6pm, regular practice begun at 6.30 and practice ended at 9.15pm .... on a Sunday night!!! Three of the girls were asked to come at 4pm for extra practice.

For those who don't know, this week marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War. Incidentally, the war ended 4 years to the day, from the day it started in April 1865. It began in April 1861 and I want to say the first shots were fired on the 12th and ended on the 12th. The civil war had more fatal casualties than every war the USA has fought since, combined!!!!! I believe that is a phenomenal statistic. 630,000 men died in the civil war, which like many wars, achieved nothing! It is amazingly the same everywhere, things don't really get sorted out until two leaders sit down and talk things out right at the end!

Whilst at Appomattox Court House, I entered the court house it's self to find that it is a museum and tourist information centre. It is in fact the case that the war didn't end in the Court House, but in the parlour of a local businessman's house by the name of Wilmer McLean! There is a famous painting depicting the surrender where Generals Grant and Lee sat at the one small table, each signing their individual documents, however it is in fact the case that they sat at different tables in the room and signed completely different documents. I took photos however the real furniture is in the Smithsonian in Washington.

Grant and Lee had been communicating for many days by letter and the terms of the surrender were worked out in those letters however the final documents were signed in that 90min meeting on that day. Interestingly, they never signed the same document. If I remember correctly, Grant signed a letter of intent and Lee signed the declaration of surrender. During the 90mins they talked about a previous meeting where they met each other during the Mexican wars for about 25 mins, then Lee reminded Grant of their purpose which they sat to discuss. On looking through the documents, Lee eyed an error and was loaned a pencil to correct the error. The pencil sits in the museum in the court house. Once the terms were agreed, Grants secretary, known for his neat hand writing, wrote out the final copy of the two documents for signing. There ending the war. Some southern generals took a little longer to surrender, however that signing marked the end of the war as we know it.

Due to this week marking the anniversary of the beginning and end of the war, I was lucky enough to witness some civil war actors giving demonstrations of what it was like to be a soldier in those days (this re-enactment stuff is actually a very serious hobby). I got to see military manoeuvres and drill, weapon loading and firing, the dress and accoutrements of the soldiers and a bayonet charge towards the crowd. I was determined not to move as I was pretty sure they weren't going to run us through, but then I considered that they really had bayonets on the end of their rifles and I didn't know any of them, so I did begin to feel a little apprehensive. But as there was a wooden fence between us, I felt a little safer. They also, whilst charging, put on a demonstration of the famous 'Rebel Yell', which is not a creation of Billy Idol nor name after a burbon. It is in fact the tribal scream the rebel soldiers would scream whilst charging union soldiers. Apparently we know about it because someone taped a surviving rebel soldier in 1930 and was therefore a record of it forever.

I did buy a book, I believe is very good, about April 1865 which was a tremendous month in US history and included the assignation of Abraham Lincoln and the end of the civil war. The war didn't end because of the assassination however Lincoln was killed due to the down fall of the south. By the way if you want to read a great book about the civil war but based around Gettysburg, it is called the Killer Angels. It is a historical novel. Coincidently, I saw a movie last night called The Conspirator. It is about the trial of Mary Sarrat after the assassination of Lincoln, who was charged with conspiring in his murder and the attempted murder of the Vice President and Secretary if State. People often forget Lincoln was not the only target, the initial plan being to kidnap them in order to ransom the release of southern soldiers. Perhaps seeing the movie wasn't that coincidental.

May i just say one thing about these battle re-enactors. I wonder about why people choose to be re-enactors of the south. I can understand the heritage of it all, about lost relatives and where you are from, however as the war was about slavery, could it be said that these men remain somewhat racist? Hmmm I didn't get a chance to ask and maybe should have sought clarification....however there were no Union soldiers around to defend me.

After the surrender, there was an armistice where the southern army then went about handing in their rifles to the Union soldiers right there in Appomattox. Once handed in, a printing press was started which worked through the night to print thousands of pieces of paper known as parole slips. Southern soldiers were issued with them stating they were paroled as prisoners of war to return to their homes and could live undisturbed there. I have a slip with me which I watched the Ranger print off right before my eyes on the same old press used on that night.

Now there are probably many lessons to be learned from the civil war, however: brothers and friends fought on opposite sides of this war. Officers of both sides went to West Point Military Academy together and learned the same military tactics in the same classrooms. At the end of the war, the USA had a major wound to heal before it could move on and be united.

The point I want to make is this: It is said that when the southern soldiers handed in their weapons, they did so with humility, whilst the Union soldiers were humble in victory.

I think we can all learn something from this. If you win, surely the satisfaction is self evident and does not need to be rubbed into the faces of the opposition. Celebrate but not at the expense of the loser. Conversely, if you lose, do so with humility because as this example has clearly shown, losing does not constitute the end of the world, but can and should spark the beginning of a learning experience. For the USA, the lesson learned was the end of slavery.

Perhaps you could learn something valuable the next time you come off second best.

D

Enjoy the pictures :-)

This is the McLean House where surrender was signed.