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Wilmer McLean's Virginia farm was caught up in the First Battle of Bull Run in 1861, early in the American Civil War. He moved his family about 190 km away, and in 1865 General Robert E. Lee surrendered in McLean's new front parlour at Appomattox.

History

History

The story behind the card

In July 1861 McLean's farm near Manassas lay on the front line: Confederate General P. G. T. Beauregard used his house as a headquarters, and a Union shell crashed into its kitchen. McLean, a wholesale grocer, moved in 1863 to the quiet village of Appomattox Court House. On 9 April 1865 an aide to Lee, looking for a place for the meeting, chose McLean's house, and Lee surrendered his army to Ulysses S. Grant in the parlour, a step that effectively ended the war. Union officers then carried off the furniture as souvenirs, some leaving money behind. McLean is often quoted as saying that the war began in his front yard and ended in his front parlour.

Türkçe oku
Wilmer McLean'in Virginia'daki çiftliği, Amerikan İç Savaşı'nın başında, 1861'de Birinci Bull Run Muharebesi'nin ortasında kaldı. McLean ailesini yaklaşık 190 km uzağa taşıdı; 1865'te General Robert E. Lee, onun Appomattox'taki yeni evinin salonunda teslim oldu.

Temmuz 1861'de McLean'in Manassas yakınındaki çiftliği cephenin tam üstündeydi: Konfederasyon generali P. G. T. Beauregard evini karargâh olarak kullanıyordu ve Birlik ordusunun attığı bir top mermisi evin mutfağına düştü. Toptan bakkaliye işiyle uğraşan McLean, 1863'te sakin bir köy olan Appomattox Court House'a taşındı. 9 Nisan 1865'te Lee'nin yaverlerinden biri görüşme için yer ararken McLean'in evini seçti ve Lee, ordusuyla birlikte Ulysses S. Grant'e bu evin salonunda teslim oldu. Bu teslimiyet savaşı fiilen bitirdi. Ardından Birlik subayları eşyaları hatıra diye alıp götürdü; bazıları yerine para bıraktı. McLean'in, savaşın ön bahçesinde başlayıp ön salonunda bittiğini söylediği sık sık aktarılır.

Sources and further reading

Background reading: Wilmer McLean
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