Civil War Celebration

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the ending of the Civil War. The war lasted four years before Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee officially surrendered April 9, 1865 in Appomattox, Virginia.

In honor of the sesquicentennial anniversary, the Appomattox Court House National Historic Park will be hosting a number of events from Wednesday, April 8 through Sunday, April 12. All events in the park will be free and open to the public, according to the park’s website.

• April 8 – A three-phase interpretive program will focus on the Battle of Appomattox Station. The program will occur in real time with each phase occurring approximately when and where the phases of the actual battle occurred. The three phases will be at 3:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

• April 9 – Park Historian Patrick Schroeder will discuss the Battle of Appomattox Court House, including stories of the soldiers who died there and how the battle played into Lee’s decision to surrender. Re-enactors will also participate in a real-time firing demonstration at 7:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

• April 10 – A program called the Surrender Meeting at 1 p.m. will examine the famous meeting between Lee and Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant.

• April 11 – The event Why Appomattox / The Campaign at 1 p.m. will look at both Lee and Grant’s campaigns in the area, as well as why the surrender took place there.
• April 12 – Dr. David Blight of Yale University will hold a session at 2 p.m. examining the aftermath and legacy of the surrender at Appomattox.

For information on more park events celebrating the anniversary of the Appomattox surrender, visit the sesquicentennial anniversary page on the park’s website at nps.gov/apco/150th-anniversary-of-appomattox-court-house.htm.

BROWND is a copy editor.