Two generals and two presidents

Friday was history day.  We drove about 100 miles from just over the border in Virginia and decided to stop at Appomattox Court House, the little village where General Lee surrendered to General Grant.  The first thing we learned is the Courthouse ( one word) is a physical building where legal transactions take place.  Court House (two words) is a town.  In New Jersey there is a town called Cape May Court House.  In Virginia there is a town called Appomattox Court House, though there is a courthouse there.

This is the courthouse.

Lee and Grant were both in the area on that day.  Below is the road from  Richmond to Lynchburg that goes through the town. The Confederate soldiers came in from the south and the Union soldiers from the north.  There were several battles around the town.
                                                                   

Lee felt the war was coming to an end.  He dressed that day in a completely new uniform and told his aides that he thought that by the end of the day he would be a prisoner of the Union army.
There is much to the story, but readers will have to learn that on their own!  I will just say that through some negotiation, the two generals decided to meet in the village, for the surrender. They needed a place that would be acceptable.  The aides saw a house and asked the owner if they could meet in his parlor.

Lee arrived first in his new, clean uniform, sash and scabbard.  Grant arrived next in a field dirty uniform and muddy boots.  Many years previously, Lee had reprimanded Grant, who was a student at West Point, on his unkempt appearance.                                    
                                                                             

Up the steps and into the parlor.

Grant's surrender proposals were generous, giving full pardon to all the soldiers and to Lee.  President Lincoln wanted them treated with respect and wanting healing not vengeance.

The town is purely a government historical site.  The guides here, and at other Civil War historical sites that we have visited, are amazing.  More than knowledgeable, they have a passion for the subject.                                                                

                                     














Some buildings, both original and reconstructed, remain in the town.


Our next stop on history day was Monticello.  This is not a United States historical site.

                                                                                                                                   











The building is on the top of the mountain, a particular view that Jefferson chose, from land that was left to him by his father.  The house is very interesting in that you see Jefferson's inventions, clever use of space and architectural skill.

No pictures can be taken inside the building.  A thunderstorm cut our outdoor time so we didn't see the gardens.
Interesting use of language by the guides.  No use of the word
" slave."  The words used were " enslaved people."  In mentioning Sally Hemmings, several time we heard, or read, ...... many historians feel that,  years after his wife's death, Jefferson may have been the father of Hemming's children.
The house was sold after Jefferson's death, to help cover his huge debts.  It fell into disrepair until purchased by a group that set up the foundation that runs it today.