General Lee Leaving the McLean House

White Flint Bill

Sergeant
Joined
Oct 9, 2017
Location
Southern Virginia
General Lee emerging from the McLean House after his meeting with General Grant is a highlight of the annual reenactment events at Appomattox. I'm finally getting around to sharing some photos from this year's event.

040.jpg

041.jpg


042.jpg

043.jpg


044.jpg

045.jpg

046.jpg


047.jpg

048.jpg


069.jpg


"It was close to 4 o’clock by now, and all that protocol required had been performed. After nearly three hours in the McLean parlor—half of one spent waiting and the rest in what could scarcely be called negotiation, since his adversary had freely given all he asked and more than he had hoped for: including immunity, down the years, from prosecution on any charge whatever in connection with the war—Lee was free to go. He rose, shook hands with Grant again, bowed to the others, and passed from the room, followed by Marshall. Out on the porch, several blue-clad officers came to attention and saluted as he emerged. He put on his hat to return their salute, then crossed to the head of the steps leading down to the yard. There he draw on his gauntlets, distractedly striking the fist of one hand three times into the palm of the other as he looked out across the valley to where the men of his army were waiting to learn that they had been surrendered. “Orderly! Orderly!” he called hoarsely, not seeing Tucker close by with Traveller, whose bit had been slipped to let him graze. “Here, General, here,” Tucker replied, and Lee came down the steps to stand by the horse’s head while he was being bridled. A cavalry major, watching from the porch, noted that “as the orderly was buckling the throat latch, the general reached up and drew the forelock out from under the brow band, parted and smoothed it, and then gently patted the gray charger’s forehead in an absent-minded way, as one who loves horses, but whose thoughts are far away, might all unwittingly do.” Mounted, Lee waited for Marshall and Tucker, then started at a walk across the yard. Grant had come out of the house and down the steps by then, also on his way to the gate where his own horse was tethered. Stopping, he removed his hat in salute, as did the staff men with him. Lee raised his own hat briefly in return, and passed out through the gate and up the road. Presently, northward beyond the dwindled, tree-lined Appomattox, listeners on the porch heard cheers, and then a poignant silence."
Shelby Foote
.
 
Is the actual signing of terms in the McClean House parlor part of the reenactment? Wonder how they would carry that out with a large group of spectators present.
 
General Lee emerging from the McLean House after his meeting with General Grant is a highlight of the annual reenactment events at Appomattox. I'm finally getting around to sharing some photos from this year's event.

View attachment 191083
View attachment 191084

View attachment 191085
View attachment 191086

View attachment 191087
View attachment 191088
View attachment 191089

View attachment 191090
View attachment 191091

View attachment 191092

"It was close to 4 o’clock by now, and all that protocol required had been performed. After nearly three hours in the McLean parlor—half of one spent waiting and the rest in what could scarcely be called negotiation, since his adversary had freely given all he asked and more than he had hoped for: including immunity, down the years, from prosecution on any charge whatever in connection with the war—Lee was free to go. He rose, shook hands with Grant again, bowed to the others, and passed from the room, followed by Marshall. Out on the porch, several blue-clad officers came to attention and saluted as he emerged. He put on his hat to return their salute, then crossed to the head of the steps leading down to the yard. There he draw on his gauntlets, distractedly striking the fist of one hand three times into the palm of the other as he looked out across the valley to where the men of his army were waiting to learn that they had been surrendered. “Orderly! Orderly!” he called hoarsely, not seeing Tucker close by with Traveller, whose bit had been slipped to let him graze. “Here, General, here,” Tucker replied, and Lee came down the steps to stand by the horse’s head while he was being bridled. A cavalry major, watching from the porch, noted that “as the orderly was buckling the throat latch, the general reached up and drew the forelock out from under the brow band, parted and smoothed it, and then gently patted the gray charger’s forehead in an absent-minded way, as one who loves horses, but whose thoughts are far away, might all unwittingly do.” Mounted, Lee waited for Marshall and Tucker, then started at a walk across the yard. Grant had come out of the house and down the steps by then, also on his way to the gate where his own horse was tethered. Stopping, he removed his hat in salute, as did the staff men with him. Lee raised his own hat briefly in return, and passed out through the gate and up the road. Presently, northward beyond the dwindled, tree-lined Appomattox, listeners on the porch heard cheers, and then a poignant silence."
Shelby Foote
.

Earlier this year, this same gentleman portraying General Grant conducted a program (in uniform) for our Roundtable. He's very convincing and very knowledgeable about Grant. In July he will return with a General Lee impersonator (probably the same in your photos) to do a program about Appomattox.
 
General Lee emerging from the McLean House after his meeting with General Grant is a highlight of the annual reenactment events at Appomattox. I'm finally getting around to sharing some photos from this year's event.

View attachment 191083
View attachment 191084

View attachment 191085
View attachment 191086

View attachment 191087
View attachment 191088
View attachment 191089

View attachment 191090
View attachment 191091

View attachment 191092

"It was close to 4 o’clock by now, and all that protocol required had been performed. After nearly three hours in the McLean parlor—half of one spent waiting and the rest in what could scarcely be called negotiation, since his adversary had freely given all he asked and more than he had hoped for: including immunity, down the years, from prosecution on any charge whatever in connection with the war—Lee was free to go. He rose, shook hands with Grant again, bowed to the others, and passed from the room, followed by Marshall. Out on the porch, several blue-clad officers came to attention and saluted as he emerged. He put on his hat to return their salute, then crossed to the head of the steps leading down to the yard. There he draw on his gauntlets, distractedly striking the fist of one hand three times into the palm of the other as he looked out across the valley to where the men of his army were waiting to learn that they had been surrendered. “Orderly! Orderly!” he called hoarsely, not seeing Tucker close by with Traveller, whose bit had been slipped to let him graze. “Here, General, here,” Tucker replied, and Lee came down the steps to stand by the horse’s head while he was being bridled. A cavalry major, watching from the porch, noted that “as the orderly was buckling the throat latch, the general reached up and drew the forelock out from under the brow band, parted and smoothed it, and then gently patted the gray charger’s forehead in an absent-minded way, as one who loves horses, but whose thoughts are far away, might all unwittingly do.” Mounted, Lee waited for Marshall and Tucker, then started at a walk across the yard. Grant had come out of the house and down the steps by then, also on his way to the gate where his own horse was tethered. Stopping, he removed his hat in salute, as did the staff men with him. Lee raised his own hat briefly in return, and passed out through the gate and up the road. Presently, northward beyond the dwindled, tree-lined Appomattox, listeners on the porch heard cheers, and then a poignant silence."
Shelby Foote
.
Great pictures. Thank you!
 
Nice photos! I love the fact that he is mounted..I wonder if it is his horse?? In reading the narrative..slippin the bit so the horse could graze caught my attention..yeah, pretty much we don’t let the horses graze unless they’re in halter..because if you give a horse an inch he’ll take a mile..and mouthfuls of trees when you are on trail!
 
Earlier this year, this same gentleman portraying General Grant conducted a program (in uniform) for our Roundtable. He's very convincing and very knowledgeable about Grant. In July he will return with a General Lee impersonator (probably the same in your photos) to do a program about Appomattox.

I've been to this event the last two years and found both men to be convincing, friendly and easily approachable.
 
Nice photos! I love the fact that he is mounted..I wonder if it is his horse?? In reading the narrative..slippin the bit so the horse could graze caught my attention..yeah, pretty much we don’t let the horses graze unless they’re in halter..because if you give a horse an inch he’ll take a mile..and mouthfuls of trees when you are on trail!

The Traveler look-alike is not owned by the General Lee impersonator, but is loaned for the event by his owners.
 
Lee’s poise always impressed me. With surrender terms more favorable than he could have hoped. He simply had to push the envelope and request more. That says it all about the mans character. I’d dare say, he was the original cool!
 
Back
Top