We headed out early for the final day of our Richmond weekend. Our only stop for the day was Appomattox Court House where Lee finally surrendered to Grant's Union forces. At the visitor center (located in the court house itself) we met our guide, Bert Dunkerly, who took us on a tour of the village. Many of the original buildings still stand and others are reconstructed. Unfortunately for us it had finally decided to feel like November and the wind was really cold. It didn't dampen our enthusiasm though.
Bert took us from one end of the village, where the battle was fought on April 9, to the other end, where Grant and Lee met a second time and also where the parade began in the surrender ceremony. In between we saw the McLean house where the surrender terms were drawn up and signed and the tavern where over 28,000 paroles were printed for the Confederate soldiers. When our tour was done we were let loose to explore the buildings and exhibits on our own. It was really awesome to be able to stand in the same room as Grant and Lee had stood. After lunch and a treat at Dairy Queen we boarded back into the van for the long ride back to Gettysburg.
The war may have ended for Generals Grant and Lee at Appomattox, but our journey is not over yet. After our break for Thanksgiving, we go to the nation's capital...Washington DC!
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