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Adapted from McLean House (Appomattox, Virginia), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for audio. This HearLore entry is also licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

— Ch. 1 · Origins And Civil War Displacement —

McLean House (Appomattox, Virginia).

~5 min read · Ch. 1 of 6
Charles Raine built the McLean House in 1848 near Appomattox, Virginia. Wilmer McLean purchased this farmhouse from Eliza D. Raine's estate in 1863. The property had previously operated as a tavern before becoming his home. On the 21st of July 1861, the First Battle of Bull Run erupted on McLean's farm about two miles north of the house. This engagement marked one of the first major battles of the American Civil War. McLean was a retired major in the Virginia militia who felt too old to enlist at the outbreak of hostilities. He decided to move away from the fighting to seek peace for his family. The McLeans relocated to the village of Clover Hill, which later became known as Appomattox Court House after it served as the county seat. Many people mistakenly believe the surrender documents were signed inside an actual courthouse building because of the village name. The real courthouse sat approximately three miles from where trains arrived at Appomattox Station.

The Surrender Conference Of 1865

On Palm Sunday the 9th of April 1865, General Robert E Lee surrendered to Lieutenant General Ulysses S Grant inside McLean's parlor. Union soldiers and Confederate officers gathered around tables that would become famous symbols of the war's end. The terms required officers to give individual paroles not taking up arms against the United States government until properly exchanged. Company commanders had to sign similar paroles for their men while private horses remained with their owners. Some Union soldiers purchased furniture from McLean's home immediately after the surrender ceremony. Other pieces were stolen during the chaotic aftermath of the battle. The table and chairs used by Lee and Grant now reside within collections at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. Additional items from the negotiation room can be found in the Chicago History Museum. McLean sold pictures of his house following the Civil War but failed financially despite making a small fortune running sugar through the Union blockade. He was also a slave owner, and slave quarters still stand next to the main structure today.

Postwar Financial Ruin And Ownership Transfers

Wilmer McLean made considerable money smuggling sugar during the conflict, yet his wealth existed entirely in Confederate currency. That paper became worthless when the Confederacy collapsed near the end of the war. By 1867, the McLeans left Appomattox Court House for Mrs. McLean's estate in Prince William County, Virginia. The banking house of Harrison, Goddin, and Apperson obtained a judgment against Wilmer McLean due to loan defaults on the property. A public auction took place on the 29th of November 1869, selling the building known as the Surrender House. John L. Pascoe purchased the property that same day. Records show Pascoe then rented it to the Ragland family of Richmond, Virginia. Nathaniel H. Ragland bought the property for $1,250 in 1872 after renting it from Pascoe. Following Nathaniel's death in 1888, his widow Martha sold the property in 1891 for $10,000 to Captain Myron Dunlap of Niagara Falls, New York.

Failed Relocation Scheme To Washington Dc

Captain Myron Dunlap and other investors devised plans to capitalize on the historical significance of the property. One scheme involved moving the disassembled house to Washington, D.C., to become a permanent Civil War museum display. They hired architects to create detailed measurements including elevations for the structure. Contractors prepared materials specifications lists before work began on the project. The house was taken apart piece by piece and packed for shipping to the nation's capital. Investors ran out of money while legal problems emerged during the process. This ambitious relocation plan never reached completion despite significant preparation efforts. The house became just heaping piles of boards and bricks sitting exposed to vandals and weather for fifty years. Collectors and environmental factors damaged what remained of the original structure over time. No entrance fees were ever collected because the museum never opened its doors to visitors.

National Park Service Reconstruction Efforts

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park was created by Congress on the 10th of April 1940. It included approximately 2,680 acres at the village once known as Clover Hill. Meticulous reconstruction archaeological work began at the site in 1941 among overgrown brushes and honeysuckle. Project leaders collected historical data so architectural plans could be drawn up for rebuilding. Salvageable original materials included some five thousand bricks from the old structure. Work came to an abrupt stop on the 7th of December 1941, with the bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces. Bids for the McLean House reconstruction reopened on the 25th of November 1947 after World War II began. Eighty-four years after the historic surrender, the house opened to the public on the 9th of April 1949. A crowd of approximately twenty thousand people gathered for a speech given by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman. Major General Ulysses S Grant III and Robert E Lee IV cut a ribbon during the dedication ceremony on the 16th of April 1950.

Preservation Status And Modern Legacy

The McLean House added to the National Register of Historic Places on the 15th of October 1966. It also appeared in the National Park Service's database of Official Structures in 1989. The building preserves distinctive characteristics embodying construction styles typical in Piedmont Virginia during the mid-nineteenth century. It represents both a county government seat and a typical farming community from that era. Elizabeth Bacon Custer's will dated the 18th of November 1926 mentioned two flags of truce used during the surrender. One flag was made from a white towel while another came from a white handkerchief. Her will stated these items plus a table were located at the Memorial Hall of the War Department Building in Washington, D.C. A McLean house marker stands at the front gate with an inscription describing its historical significance. The property remains within Appomattox Court House National Historical Park today as a public historical site.

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Brick buildings and structures in VirginiaHistoric district contributing properties in Virginia1848 establishments in VirginiaAppomattox Court House National Historical ParkHouses completed in 1848Houses in Appomattox County, VirginiaSlave cabins and quarters in the United States

Common questions

Who built the McLean House in Appomattox, Virginia?

Charles Raine built the McLean House in 1848 near Appomattox, Virginia. Wilmer McLean purchased this farmhouse from Eliza D. Raine's estate in 1863.

When did General Robert E Lee surrender to Lieutenant General Ulysses S Grant inside the McLean House?

On Palm Sunday the 9th of April 1865, General Robert E Lee surrendered to Lieutenant General Ulysses S Grant inside McLean's parlor. Union soldiers and Confederate officers gathered around tables that would become famous symbols of the war's end.

Where is the table used by Lee and Grant during the surrender at the McLean House now located?

The table and chairs used by Lee and Grant now reside within collections at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. Additional items from the negotiation room can be found in the Chicago History Museum.

What happened to the McLean House after investors tried to move it to Washington, D.C?

Investors ran out of money while legal problems emerged during the process so the house became just heaping piles of boards and bricks sitting exposed to vandals and weather for fifty years. No entrance fees were ever collected because the museum never opened its doors to visitors.

Who purchased the McLean House on the 29th of November 1869 following the public auction?

John L. Pascoe purchased the property that same day. Records show Pascoe then rented it to the Ragland family of Richmond, Virginia before Nathaniel H. Ragland bought the property for $1,250 in 1872.

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