It’s been nearly 159 years since Gen. Robert E. Lee formally surrendered to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in Appomattox, Virginia. The date was April 9, in the aftermath of the fateful Battle of Appomattox Court House, instigating what would come to be known as the endgame of the American Civil War. Because word traveled much slower back in those days, let it be known that Civil War fighting did not immediately cease everywhere else in the nation, and several other battles were even fought following this formal surrender. Furthermore, the events that unfolded here were about more than just an end to the Civil War; they helped garner national recognition for both Appomattox Court House and by extension, all of Appomattox County.
Had it not been for its Civil War fame, Appomattox in Virginia would have most likely remained in historical obscurity. It’s a shame, though, given how there is so much more to the story, starting with its very founding two decades before that now-famous battle. There are also a lot of follow-up details after the war that most folks never get to learn about. That’s why for this Flashback Friday, I’m recounting both well-known and often overlooked milestones throughout Appomattox County history.
Precolonial Times
In the early days, long before New World colonization, the area now comprising Appomattox County was inhabited by various Native American tribes that made up part of the Powhatan Nation. One group was the “Appamatuck”—an earlier derivative of the “Appomattox” name.
They lived along the eastern part of the James River close to what is now the City of Hopewell. An eastward-flowing tributary from Flood’s Mountain eventually came to be known as “the Appomattox River” after them. The Appamatuck/Appomattox People were even referenced on a 1612 map by Captain John Smith.
The Establishment Appomattox County
By 1815, more and more folks began settling in the surrounding area, and the village of Clover Hill was established along the Richmond‐Lynchburg Stagecoach Road. The community’s very first public building was Clover Hill Tavern. Constructed in 1819, it operated as a popular lodging and meal stop for passersby.
The village’s ongoing community growth and expanding residency numbers called for additional legal services to be added, including that of a courthouse. Therefore, in 1845, it was eventually agreed upon by the state legislature to establish a new county around the existing village. The new county was formed through acquisitions of various land tracts from four preexisting counties—Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte, and Prince Edward, and its decided name of “Appomattox” came from the aforementioned Appomattox River (derived from the Appamatuck). The original village of Clover Hill was designated the County Seat and was renamed “Appomattox Court House” for the newly constructed courthouse that was built across from Clover Hill Tavern.
The Battle of Appomattox Court House
For the most part, things remained largely quiet and quaint throughout Appomattox County for the next two decades. That was until April 9, 1865—Palm Sunday—no less, when the American Civil War arrived on the scene. It was on that day when the now-famous (and infamous) Battle of Appomattox Court House took place. As it happened, Gen. Robert E. Lee retreated from Richmond following the Richmond–Petersburg campaign, which spanned more than nine months. He intended to head west with hopes of joining Confederate forces in North Carolina, but the plan was foiled by Union forces under Gen. Philip Sheridan, who pursued them to Appomattox Court House. Assuming the Union cavalry fronting him and his men were lightly armed, Lee attempted one last attack. What he failed to realize was that the Union cavalry was backed by two corps of federal infantry. With no other options, Lee was forced to surrender to the Union Army of the Potomac under Commanding Gen. Ulysses S. Grant.
Lee’s Surrender
It was that very afternoon on April 9 when Lee signed the official surrender documents in the parlor of Wilmer McLean’s home. Ironically enough, McLean—a grocer originally from Manassas whose former home was the site of the First Battle of Bull Run—moved to Appomattox to escape Civil War crossfire!
The surrender was followed by a ceremony of parade and stacking of arms on April 12. This also resulted in the disbandment of the Army of Northern Virginia and the parole of nearly 28,000 remaining officers and men. Soon after, other surrenders followed throughout the South, even including the surrender of the CSS Shenandoah in November of that year. But it wasn’t until August 20, 1866, that President Andrew Johnson delivered an official proclamation declaring “that the said insurrection is at an end and that peace, order, tranquility, and civil authority now exist in and throughout the whole of the United States of America.”
Beyond the Civil War
Despite the return of quieter times, postwar living in Appomattox wasn’t without other trials. In February of 1892, for instance, a massive fire destroyed the original courthouse building. This led the County to hold a special election just two months later in which they decided to transfer the County Seat to the railroad at Appomattox Depot, two miles southwest.
It wasn’t until 1930 that the United States War Department erected a monument on location at Old Appomattox Court House. Three years later the War Department’s holdings were transferred to the National Park Service. The site was significantly expanded in 1935 and by 1940 the new historic site spanned 970 acres. Later on, following World War II delays, the restored McLean House was able to reopen to the public in 1949. The project saw continued growth in the restoration of many other original buildings and structures throughout Appomattox Court House.
By 1954 the newly restored historic site comprising Old Appomattox Court House received a new name and new life as Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. It was added to the list of the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966.
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park Today
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park stands out today as a major tourist destination and must-visit heritage hotspot for history buffs. Comprising nearly 1,700 acres, visitors today can enjoy a driving tour of the grounds as well as several on-foot hiking paths. Along the way, you will find interpretive signage, an artillery park full of cannons and other wartime artifacts, the location for Lee’s headquarters, and much more among the restored original structures that dot the grounds and those that have been rebuilt with impressive replication.
Visiting the site is an enjoyable experience any time you decide to come out. There are also various events and seasonal happenings that occur on the grounds regularly.
From its earliest foundational history to its Civil War fame and beyond, Appomattox remains the site of a multifaceted odyssey forever in the marking. Discover it all for yourself with your own planned visit to Appomattox Court House National Historical Park!
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park is located at 111 National Park Drive, Appomattox, Virginia 24522. Visit the official website for all other information and details.