Steadfast to the Last Part 2

Our blistered and calloused feet carried us across the winding roads through Prince Edward County, Virginia. With each passing step, Sailor’s Creek was further behind us and our destination, Appomattox Court House, grew closer. Despite the fatigue and pain we were enduring, the fact that we were just 47 miles and three days out from accomplishing something that had not been done in 150 years renewed our strength.

We marched through Farmville and Cumberland Church, the site of a Confederate rearguard action on April 7, 1865, shortly after the debacle at Sailor’s Creek the previous day. It was here that the Army of Northern Virginia fought its last battle as a cohesive and united fighting force (and won its last victory). I had no way of knowing that six years later, I would belong to a preservation society that would be instrumental in preserving this battlefield for the years to come.

It was easy to get lost in my thoughts, especially after we turned off the modern highway and marched several miles along the Old Richmond Highway, the original tract that Lee’s Army took as it headed west. The road was primitive, primarily gravel, with ruts in the dirt. It was easy to imagine the ruts having been caused by wagon and artillery trains passing by, which only added to the overall ambiance. I imagined myself in the ranks in those final waning days of the Army of Northern Virginia, an Army that had so often come so close to achieving victory, now an army in a race against time, fighting for its very survival- in a quite literal sense. I imagine what it must have been like for those seasoned graybacks 150 years earlier.

Finally, we established camp at our final bivouac just outside Appomattox Court House at Chestnut Grove Baptist Church. The next day, we would march the last 13 miles of our trek and participate in the surrender ceremony at the National Park. The congregation was kind enough to turn out in force and prepare us a feast fit for kings, including barbecue with all the fixings, dessert, and cold refreshments. They sat and listened to our tales from the march and shared with us family stories, including one from 1865- as the Army of Northern Virginia marched towards Appomattox, the congregation of Chestnut Grove turned out and gave the passing soldiers what little food, bandages, and supplies they could muster. Now, generations later, the descendants of that congregation were doing the same to give some comfort to their Southern sons. It made for a completely unique and surreal historical parallel.

We are truly grateful for all the kindness and hospitality shown to us by the congregation of Chestnut Grove Baptist Church. Their kindness knew no bounds.

Outside Chestnut Grove Baptist Church. From left to right: Private Shannon Joyce, Private Ryan Minter, Ensign Gary M. Whitla, Private Eugene Cook, First Sergeant Dallas Edwards. Not pictured: Private Bryan Beard.

We camped out at the church and awoke the next day, refreshed from a good night’s sleep and a solid meal, and faced westward. We proceeded on to Vera, where Confederate General James Longstreet maintained a defensive posture while the Army, by this time essentially surrounded, attempted to break out to the west. Impressions and remnants of the trenches still remain to this day.

Appomattox Court House was just down the road.

We were overcome by emotion when, upon the horizon, a sign appeared: “Appomattox Court House National Historical Park- 3 miles.” It was at this point that our fatigue and pain seemed to suddenly dissipate, and a surge of pride and vigor swept over us. We hoisted above us a Confederate battle flag and resumed our march.

We marched down the road and saw the buildings of the Village from the roadside and the aroma of campfire smoke permeated the air. We neared the site, and could see men in gray milling about the grounds. We ascended a hill that seemed more like a mountain than a hill, and soon beheld the Confederate camp. We quietly, but proudly, marched in, halted, stacked arms, and finally-rested.

The site of the Confederate Camp, outside Appomattox Court House, Virginia.

Suddenly, an applause erupted from the camp and the sound of the infamous “Rebel Yell” pierced the air. Unbeknownst to us, word had spread of our endeavor, and the entire Confederate camp knew about it by the time we arrived. We were surrounded by handshakes, hugs, and slaps on the back, until finally, an orderly approached, informing us that General Lee wanted to meet and congratulate us personally.

We followed the orderly and walked a short way before we were introduced to a white-bearded man in an immaculate dress uniform: General Robert E. Lee. Now, granted, we all knew him to be Mr. Thomas Jessee, one of the premier Robert E. Lee living historians in the reenacting community. But at that moment, on those grounds, after what we had been through- he really was Marse Robert to us. He congratulated us on our achievement, told us what an honor it was to meet us, and presented us each with commemorative Confederate Challenge Coins for the 150th Anniversary. We also got to meet General Ulysses S. Grant, portrayed by Mr. Curt Fields, who embodies U.S. Grant like non-other. He echoed “Marse Robert’s” praise and likewise presented us with Federal Challenge Coins for the anniversary.

Being greeted by General Lee.. From left to right: First Sergeant Dallas Edwards, Private Eugene Cook, Private Shannon Joyce, General Robert E. Lee (Thomas Jessee), Ensign Gary M. Whitla, Private Ryan Minter, Private Bryan Beard

We rested under the shade of the trees until it was time to form up for the surrender ceremony. We fell in and our battalion staged just outside the village. As we waited, General Lee’s Special Order Number 9 was recited to our battalion. Directly after the order was read, our Colorbearer (Mr. Josh Lindamood, future APPS President) stepped forward, and our unit NCOs and officers began to cut the flag into ribbons and distributed it to the troops; we would not surrender our colors, but would surrender an empty flag staff instead- just like so many Johnny units so long ago. Our eyes welled up with tears as we were transported back to April 10, 1865- it was no longer a reenactment, and for those of us who had just recreated the epic retreat from the trenches of Petersburg and Five Forks and were now being surrendered, it was likely the closest we will ever get to being “transported” back in time.

I still have my flag remnant in my office.

Finally, we marched into the village. Federal troops lined both sides of the road, arms at the shoulder. We marched in proudly- defeated, but not conquered- faced to the front, and stacked arms, laying our accoutrements at the base of our rifle stacks. We stood there, in just our worn, dirty uniforms, staring across at the victory. Nobody said a word. Finally, we faced to the right and marched away. We had been surrendered.

Then came the processing of the newly defeated army- issuing of paroles, printed that day, and feeding our army with captured rations. I receive my parole and signed it, tucked it into my pocket, and went and stood in line for my ration distribution- a biscuit, a little cheese, and a piece of salted ham. We shared coffee and told stories, and more and more asked about our journey. Admittedly, it was flattering that so many people took interest in our endeavor.

Receiving our rations. Historically, the Federal Army provided several thousand pounds of rations to Confederate troops following the Army of Northern Virginia’s surrender. In actually, the rations were primarily those captured by the Federal Army from Confederate Commissary wagons in the last week or so of the war.

In time, the event came to a close. We changed into our modern clothes, replaced our bandages, popped a few more pain pills, and prepared for the drives home.

While hundreds departed the park that Sunday, for six of us, the departure was a little harder to muster. We had just spent over a week together, marching on major highways and back country roads, enduring the weather and elements, pain and fatigue, and immersing ourselves into rich history in ways never before done. We had accomplished what we had set out to do- and not a man failed to fulfill his duty- and not a man let down his brother. We come together as friends and left as something more, with an experience that none other to date, to my knowledge, has experienced or recreated (although there are some of us who are planning another march in 2025….we will see).

Confederate Commemorative Challenge Coin

I got in my car and departed the park. As I departed, I looked down at the picture of us with General Lee, taken just the day before. We wore proud and defiant expressions, standing tall although our legs felt like they were going to give out. From that point forward, the passion for the Appomattox Campaign would burn within us, our connection to our past more so than ever before, and we would carry with us, in the words of Marse Robert, the “satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty faithfully performed.”