150TH ANNIVERSARY
The Surrender at Appomattox
(The Long Road Home...)
Appomattox, VA
April 10 - 12, 2015
Ten years after our last visit, the First Long Island returned to Appomattox to close out the last battle of the 150th Anniversaries and to participate in a most historic reenactment of the surrender of Lee's Army at Appomattox Courthouse. While we had sunny, clear weather for the weekend the preceeding week of rain made the hilly acreage hosting the reenactment a quagmire of red Virginia mud. The 67th NY formed the second company of Colonel Young's Second Brigade of the U.S. Volunteers. On Saturday we wound up fighting not one but two battles due to some 'miscommunication' however the true finale for the weekend was on Sunday. The U.S.V.'s were granted the privilege of representing the Union at one of three surrender ceremonies held on Sunday. We boarded buses for the two mile drive to Appomattox Court House, formed up, marched down the road into town, lined up either side of the road as the Confederate armies marched in from the other direction, stacked their arms, furled their flags, dropped their accoutrements and marched off to our brass band playing 'Auld Lang Syne'. It was a moving moment even for the bluest of Yankees. None of us regretted the 10 to 12 hour trip to and from as this was unforgettable moment that save for our youngest of members will never experience again.
Special thanks to Elizabeth Luchsinger for the still photography and to Aniella Badamo for filming Saturday's afternoon battle and the surrender ceremonies on Sunday.
