April 9

April 9 every year draws me to Virginia.

April 1-12 rolls around and I wind up in a home in Appomattox Court House, VA (a small town east of Lynchburg).

On April 1, after a ten month standoff, the Union forces gained a couple of strategic victories forcing Lee’s Confederate Army to abandon their trenches in Petersburg.  Lee failed to find supplies on his flight to Lynchburg and the Union cavalry achieved a couple more victories destroying supply trains and capturing over 7,000 Confederates.  Lee’s army was seriously depleted.  On April 8, Grant sent Lee a note urging him to surrender and marched his army hard to join the cavalry already engaging Lee.

On April 9, Lee’s cavalry pushed against the Union and found they were a much greater number than first thought and Lee came to the realization he was done.  The meeting for the surrender of Lee’s army was set for later that day at the home of Wilmer McLean.

Lee arrived first dressed in his best, clean and polished.  Grant arrived muddy and tattered.  Lee was composed yet deeply pained to do what was necessary (he had commented about dying a thousand deaths rather than surrender to Grant).  Grant was emotionally touched and a couple of aides had to speak for him.

I have stood in the parlor in that house in Appomattox deeply touched myself.  Even as I write this I cry – what a terrible war, what a hallowed moment, and what a failure on both sides to fix our flaws.  Oh, may God mend our every flaw!

As Lee rode away, the Union army began cheering but Grant demanded they stop.  The next day Lee gave a farewell address to his army and on April 12 the Confederates marched by the Union army turning in their long guns (they were allowed to keep swords and side arms) and receiving provisions for their trek home.

Yes, every year April 9 rolls around and every year I find myself standing in a small brick house in Virginia.