149 Years Ago Today

[CMWinkler]

149 years ago today my namesake, together with the rest of the Army of Northern Virginia surrendered and were paroled.

General Lee's last order to them was:

Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia, 10th April 1865.

General Order
No. 9

After four years of arduous service marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources.

I need not tell the survivors of so many hard fought battles, who have remained steadfast to the last, that I have consented to the result from no distrust of them.

But feeling that valour and devotion could accomplish nothing that could compensate for the loss that must have attended the continuance of the contest, I have determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those whose past services have endeared them to their countrymen.

By the terms of the agreement, officers and men can return to their homes and remain until exchanged. You will take with you the satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty faithfully performed, and I earnestly pray that a merciful God will extend to you his blessing and protection.

With an unceasing admiration of your constancy and devotion to your Country, and a grateful remembrance of your kind and generous consideration for myself, I bid you an affectionate farewell.

— R. E. Lee, General, General Order No. 9

 

[CMWinkler]

 

[BlueGrayBlood]

View attachment 34104

Amazing capacity to express feelings, admiration and devotion in a final order.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

A 3 x removed 1st cousin : One of 28 left of the 63rd. One of 7 of Company D

 

[T Bone]

In Sgt. Major Lewellyn A. Shaver's book, " A History of the 60th Alabama Regiment", he expounds on their surrender that day with Lee's Army at Appomattox; " On reaching the suburbs of the village, and while the men were in a state of exultation over their morning's success, a horseman bearing a white flag rode rapidly through the line towards the enemy. This singular phenomenon created much surprise. A dozen guns were leveled upon the bearer of the white flag, but the men were ordered to desist. An explanation of the mysterious occurrence was soon received in the announcement that Gen. Lee had surrendered." chap.6 p.105-106

 

[unionblue]

I am reminded of a saying I once heard about Lee's surrender at Appomattox, while being mindful of the feelings of those brave Confederate soldiers who had fought so long, and so hard for what they believed.

"Lee's surrender was not about the death of the Confederacy. It was the rebirth of the United States."

 

[Delhi Rangers]

The last of my ancestors in the ANV never made it to Appomattox. He was wounded and captured in the trenches of Petersburg during the federal breakthrough. Six of them joined the 15th Georgia in 1861 and all of them were either killed, wounded or taken as POW's. What a sad day it must of been for those remaining veterans of the ANV. I have been to Appomattox at least four times and every time I visit the small cemetery that is the final resting place for a few Confederate soldiers. Some of those soldiers were from Alabama and were killed a day or two before the surrender. So sad that those boys were so far from home and never made it back.

 

[unionblue]

The last of my ancestors in the ANV never made it to Appomattox. He was wounded and captured in the trenches of Petersburg during the federal breakthrough. Six of them joined the 15th Georgia in 1861 and all of them were either killed, wounded or taken as POW's. What a sad day it must of been for those remaining veterans of the ANV. I have been to Appomattox at least four times and every time I visit the small cemetery that is the final resting place for a few Confederate soldiers. Some of those soldiers were from Alabama and were killed a day or two before the surrender. So sad that those boys were so far from home and never made it back.

Delhi Rangers,

I have had the same feeling many times when I have visited Confederate graves in Ohio, either at Camp Chase or at Johnston's Island on Lake Erie.

These boys, so far from home, so removed from loved ones and family, how lonely and hard it must have been for them. And, being who they were, I know deep down, they tried, tried so hard to live through all the hardships and sickness, the loneliness, so they could finally go home.

I felt such an overpowering surge of sympathy for them as I looked over their headstones when I visited these places. Some of the dates were heartbreaking, as they were so close to the war ending and going home.

Strangers in a strange land.

One can only hope they have peace as they rest here in that, to them, strange land, waiting for the day they can finally rejoin their loved ones.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

 

[CMWinkler]

Delhi Rangers,

I have had the same feeling many times when I have visited Confederate graves in Ohio, either at Camp Chase or at Johnston's Island on Lake Erie.

These boys, so far from home, so removed from loved ones and family, how lonely and hard it must have been for them. And, being who they were, I know deep down, they tried, tried so hard to live through all the hardships and sickness, the loneliness, so they could finally go home.

I felt such an overpowering surge of sympathy for them as I looked over their headstones when I visited these places. Some of the dates were heartbreaking, as they were so close to the war ending and going home.

Strangers in a strange land.

One can only hope they have peace as they rest here in that, to them, strange land, waiting for the day they can finally rejoin their loved ones.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

Amen, Union, amen.

 

[Nothingfaced]

To sum up April 10, 1865, in one word? Tragedy.