The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-03-21
Preserving Appomattox Relics.

project of unusual interest that was
undertaken by the war department
some months ago, involving the mark
ing of the important spots at and
around the old Appomatox court
house, connected with the surrender
of Lee to Grant in 1865. During the
early summer it was suggested to Sec
retary Lamont by Kirkley, one of the
members of the board havingin charge
the publication Of the records of the
rebellion, that it was now time to mark
these spots if it was ever to be done,
as the landmarks are fast being oblit-
Grated by the passage Of years. The
secretary saw the Importance Of this,
and Immediately gave orders to have
the idea carried out. Since then
Major Davis, the head of the board,
has been working hard, and has at
last succeeded in having all the points
of interest at Appomatox marked in a
permanent manner.
This is done by means Of cast-iron
tablets that are fastened to iron posts
five feet long. They are sunk into the
ground sufficient depth to secure
stability and bear the tablets, which
are about three feet long by two high,
in slanting position, on level with
the eye. The letters are two and a
quarter inches high, and stand out in
good relief SO that they can be read
| some distance off. A contrast. in black
and white paint gives them great legi-
bility.
The tablets start at the station
where the new court house, is now
located. They are merely signboards
with arrows pointing in the direction
of the old court house, which stood
about three miles from the railroad.
The road that connects it with the
station is the old Lynchburg turnpike,
and runs in generally northern direc-
| tion from the station, The troops Of
each side were encamped on both sides
of the road. The preliminary tablets
merely direct the visitor to the court
house.
About half way to the site Of the
surrender is the first marking tablet,
announcing: Son this spot were es-
tablished the headquarters Of Lieutens
ant-General Ulysses S. Grant, U. s.,
A., on the afternoon Of April 9, 1865.
The next in order along the road is
the most interesting, reading thus:
"This tablet marks the site of the
house owned and occupied by Wilmer
Mclean, in which General U. s..
Grant, and General Robert E. Lee, G..
S. A., met and agreed-upon the terms
Of surrender of the Army Of Northern
Virginia, on the afternoon Of Sunday,
April 1, 1861 =,
A. few rods further up the road the
visitor comes upon the site Of the old
court house, the story of which is told
in the third tablet thus: "Here stood
Appomatox court house; built 1842;; ).
burned 1892 The ruins of the old
building are still to be seen.
On the morning following the meet
ing between the generals in the Nc
Lean house, both of them started out
from their headquarters and rode on
horseback down the side Of the road,
which was very muddy, for the pur-
pose of a further interview They
met about half way at spot, little
north of the court house, on the west
side of the road. Here is erected a
tablet to this effect: Son this spot
Lieutenant-General Ulysses s. Grant,
u. ssEA., and General Robert 3. Lee,
G.: S.sA., met on the morning Of April
10, 1866"
Then the lines of both sides are
marked. The line of Union outposts
on the morning Of Sunday, April 8,
crossed the road just beyond the meet
ing place, and that Of the Confederate
outposts is noted about 200 yards fur
ther on.
The surrender was consummated by
the Confederate troops marching down
toward the south from their encamp-
ment up the road, and passing in front.
of line formed by the first division
Of the fifth corps Of the Union army.
As the road had been terribly cut up
by the wheels Of the artillery, and was
sea of mud, the troops were drawn
up on the east side of the road, in the
field, facing west, so that the left flank
was to the south. The Confederates
fled through. the space between the
line and the road and stacked arms
there. At point just in front Of
Mr.. Peers's house, and almost across
the road from the meeting place Of the
two generals, is tablet, as follows:
stNear this point was established the
left flank of the first division Of the
fifth corps, Army Of the Potomac, on
the morning of April II, 1865, to re-
ceiYe the surrender of the arms Of the