Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia

As we headed east toward Appomattox, we saw the last of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance. Maybe next time we are in this area, it will be in a warmer season when all is green and we can drive up into the mountains more easily.

The beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

We arrived in Appomattox yesterday. It was cold and sunny with snow in the forecast.


Considering that, the first thing we did was head to Granny Bee's cafe, a small no-frills eatery in downtown Appomattox for lunch.


We stopped here last year and it was definitely on our list of MUST RETURN. Lunch was fried chicken, two sides (for me Southern sides of corn pudding and stewed tomatoes) and SIX of the best homemade hot yeast rolls ever! Oh, by the way, the price was $4.95! (Cheeseburgers were only $2.30.) Amazing. And amazingly good!

After a satisfying pat on our tummies, we headed off to the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park while the sun was still shining.

Appomattox National Historical Park

After a two-hour battle here on April 9, 1865, General Lee came to grips with the impossibility of the South winning the Civil War. As a result, it was here at Appomattox Court House where Grant and Lee signed the surrender papers, ending a very sad and tumultuous time in US history.

Just to clarify, Appomattox Court House was the name of the village, it does not refer to only the court house.

Several buildings still stand in the original village though most have been restored and all are in good condition.

Original Courthouse on Left, Saloon behind it.

The actual signing of the surrender papers occurred in the parlor of the Wilmer McLean family's house. Wilmer McLean had volunteered his home when another suitable location for such a historical event could not be found on Palm Sunday in this tiny town.

McLean House and Well House, Front View.

McLean House, Kitchen Building and Slave House, Rear View.

McLean's parlor where surrender was signed.

Artist's picture of the parlor signing in the court house museum.

Ninety minutes later the negotiations were complete, and the soldiers left the home, but not before several of them, recognizing the magnitude of this event, took items from the house as souvenirs, including the youngest daughter's rag doll.

Actual doll that was stolen from the parlor but eventually returned for the museum.

I am sure Mrs. McLean (pregnant with her 6th child and no doubt hormonal) had a rather pointed discussion with Mr. McLean after that meeting, strongly encouraging him to not ever volunteer for such things again...or at least that’s what I would have done!

Master Bedroom

Bedroom shared by four daughters.

Bedroom of the son. (The neatest boy's bedroom I've ever seen!)

Warming Kitchen

Dining Room

Inside the Cook House.

Slave House

Inside Slave House.

Terms of the surrender were considered to be very generous on the part of General Grant.


The Confederate soldiers had to pledge not to take up arms against the North again and to lay down their rifles. They were allowed to keep their side arms. They were were not kept as prisoners of war, but given “Parole” papers proving they were not deserters. They were also allowed to keep their horses (that they had originally brought with them) in order to help them start farming when they got back home.

Presses on which the nearly 9,000 Paroles were printed within 48 hours.

Some of the Paroles given to the Confederate Soldiers proving they weren't deserters.

It was a very sad day for the Confederate troops, but the Union soldiers treated them with great honor as the entire process took place. It hadn’t been all that long ago that they had been neighbors, brothers, and all part of the same nation.


Now, with the events of that day, the healing of our fractured country could begin.

Nearby is a small Confederate Cemetery, mostly graves are of Unknowns, including one of an Unknown Union Soldier.

Confederate Cemetery Marker

Thankfully, we did this all yesterday when the weather was good. Today we are pretty much holed up in the RV watching the snow and/or sleet fall. Right now there are a two or three inches on the ground with possibly about three more inches coming the rest of today and tonight.

Our son is threatening to ban our visits since every time we come, they get big snow storms, something pretty unusual in this part of the country.

However, tomorrow morning we will drive, (weather permitting) an hour to another RV park and put the motorhome in storage for three weeks. Then we will drive 45 minutes into Richmond where the World’s Most Wonderful Grandkids, anxiously awaiting our arrival.

By the way, Grandma and Grandpa D are anxious, too.