Friday, October 19, 2012

He Really Was There


Truth be told, as a high school student, I could not boast that the highlight of my academic day was the subject of history. There might have been an infinitesimal edge to my preference for European history over American history, but all told, neither rated much above the bottom of the stack for my class preferences. The Civil War, in my mind, was a hazy blur of dates, innumerable unrecognizable names and titles, and military minutiae beyond my grasp.

History fared not one bit worse in my college years—nor one whit better.

And here I am now, trying to fathom the names of battles, dates of campaigns, and geographic descriptions of a region of the country I’ve rarely visited—all for the sake of uncovering any trace of ancestor involvement.

It took my husband—the war history enthusiast—to point out the obvious to me. Here I’ve been posting links to listings of military companies, being sure to scour the long readout of names for that one that makes all the difference—the name of my great-great-grandfather, Thomas Taliaferro Broyles. I’ve found records of his enlistment close to the beginning of the conflict. I’ve found listings including his name toward the end of the hostilities.

And yet, I didn’t get it. It didn’t dawn on me exactly what to be present at Appomattox actually meant. The statement, “Paroles signed by Col. A. C. Haskell, 7th S. C. Cav.” didn’t translate in my mind into what had actually taken place under the guise of those words. I just didn’t get it.

“He was there,” my husband incredulously explained to me, not sure why I couldn’t comprehend, “He was there!

“So he was there when they had to admit they lost?” I can be dense about such things, but perhaps it’s because I really hate losing.

My husband assured me it was a big deal—a really, really big deal. Those in attendance actually made arrangements to buyor swipe—furniture from the site of the actual formalities, I’ve read, because of the historical significance of the day.

While my Thomas T. Broyles wasn’t at the actual meeting between Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee at Wilmer McLean’s front parlor on April 9, 1865, according to records, he was present at the surrender at the Battle of Appomattox Court House. For this, he and his comrades were spared the disgrace of imprisonment or prosecution for treason. Allowed to keep their horses, their side-arms and their personal baggage—though surrendering their government-issued arms—the men were provided with food rations with which to begin their journey homeward.

While in my mind, this would not be seen as a notable time for those who were defeated, I guess I can admit that this was, no matter which side a man fought on, a moment of great, historic import.

No matter how my ancestor might have felt that day, knowing that I can trace my roots back to someone who stood in that very location at that precise time is an eye-opener to me. If nothing else, it does bring me to the point where I can see history—especially military history—in a much different light than before.


Above right: Lithograph, 1867, "The Room in the McLean House, at Appomattox C. H., in which Gen. Lee Surrendered to Gen. Grant." Print commissioned by Wilmer McLean; at Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D. C.; courtesy Wikipedia, which includes a listing of identification of each subject present; in the public domain.

16 comments:

  1. In the long line of "dusty" human events - the Surrender at Appomattox is a defining moment in US history. Imagine one of your ancestors being in the B-29 that dropped the first atomic bomb... or being on top of Mount Suribachi when those six men raised the flag on Iwo Jima?

    The Village of Appomattox is now a US National Historic Park, and has been preserved much like it was "back then". I've walked the gravel lanes and atood in that parlor and marveled at the swirl of outpouring human emotion that took place..,far beyond the "thrill of victory and the agony of defeat" were the thoughts of "the long war is finally, at long last, nearly over" and thoughts of what would become of the "bonded brother-hood" each man had for others in his units - that allowed him to survive the many years of gristly horror, long periods of boredom, deprivation, and separation from family and home.

    The feeling I felt most of all was the even more overarching feeling of uncertainty, "what will become of us now? and what will tomorrow bring?" In less than one weeks time, President Abraham Lincoln would be assassinated in Ford Theater.

    April 6, 1865 is now "not just a date" for you. :) It's personal. He Was There!

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    1. It must, indeed, be quite a moving experience to actually stand in that same place and contemplate all that occurred there. You stated it so eloquently, Iggy.

      I have seen, in reading a few Lincoln biographies, a sense of that uncertainty you mention: "What will become of us now?" While that is an entirely separate story, I've seen how different things could have been, had that ensuing week not brought the tragedy it did.

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  2. I visited Appomattox this summer and tried to imagine 60,000 soldiers encamped there. They must have been stepping on each other. A couple things surprised me: first, that Lee got the big beautiful desk with the marble top while Grant worked from a little wooden desk that was about the size of a tv tray; second the printing press - it had to have worked overtime printing those parole passes so that your Thomas Broyles and my William Jollett could travel home safely without fear of being arrested for desertion by anyone who had not gotten the news yet.

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    1. I always have to remind myself that news didn't travel in quite the same manner back then as it does now. All the contingencies that had to be attended to!

      My husband and I continued our history discussion this morning, and the furniture arrangement was one of the topics. So much of how that meeting was orchestrated was owing to the previous strategy and policy discussions between Grant and President Lincoln. The President certainly set the tone for what was to come after surrender. So many non-verbal messages were conveyed through that meeting and afterward, with an eye to rebuilding the future. A wise approach on the part of a strategic leader--if only he was able to carry it out for more than the few days left him.

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  3. Jacqi, Good point. I have always loved history, but how much more meaningful it all would have been had I known in school what I do now about my ancestor's involvement. Sometimes I wish I could go back and do it over.(smile)
    As an adult, reading in detail about events they were involved in has made something else clear to me, high school hits the high points and moves on, we really received no in depth understanding of most of it, unless like me you did lots of outside reading. Sad

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    1. Ellie, your comment touches on another love of my life, something I've not mentioned in this blog because I want to focus on genealogy here. However, since you brought it up, I totally agree with your assessment of high school education. While perhaps that is by design, or by default, or maybe not everyone is equipped at that age to study anything in depth, for those who wish to delve into the matter--any matter--more deeply, it does end up being something the student must initiate.

      That's why I've been such an advocate (here in my local area) for homeschooling. That's the route my own family has taken--from K through 12--and the results have been incomparable. I've found that, if I take care to avoid history textbooks like the plague, history actually can be a fascinating study!

      If only I had discovered that fact some time before I turned 30!!!

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    1. I know...chills and shivers now to just think about it...now that I see the significance.

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  5. Wow! How cool is this?! And you know what else is cool? That he lived to see the end of the conflict and wasn't one of the many casualties!

    And as far as history in school goes? Wouldn't it be great if they taught history in a more intersting way? Like having someone dress up as an historic figure and come talk to the kids? Ya, I think that would be an attention getter.

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    1. You are so right about making it through the conflict alive and whole, Jana! Good point!

      I'd love it if history could take on some new life for kids. I know one woman made it her mission to write history textbooks that were alive instead of sleep-inducing. That's a start. Living history that is acted out and demonstrated is sure to grab attention, too.

      As a homeschooling parent, I always felt strongly that teaching history through the introduction of family history research was one way to allow students to see history through the eyes of those they knew in their own family--their grandparents, great grandparents, and the stories these relatives could tell. That's why I like books that teach young students about genealogy, like Jennifer Holik's Branching Out series of books.

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  6. The past comments reminded me of another west coast blogger - and her interesting family stories.

    You will enjoy her writing - this post -

    http://thedustwillwait.blogspot.com/2006/10/400-year-long-post-for-benjammin_09.html

    ...and perhaps this one too:

    http://thedustwillwait.blogspot.com/2007/01/world-war-i-veteran.html

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    1. Yes, Iggy, I did enjoy reading those. Especially the first link. Thanks for sending those. Definitely worth a follow!

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  7. Jacqi, I felt just as you did about history in school. Not until I discovered (and wrote some) family history did all those "outside" events take on meaning for me -- and then I gradually began to realize that historical context deeply affects family history and had really, really affected ours (Slaveholding, Civil War, Depression, WW II ). This blew my mind. It took me nearly a lifetime to realize the import of all this.

    And as you explain so well -- the big events in history always involve somebody's ancestors. Maybe even ours. Theoretically, genealogy and history totally overlap. Who knew!?! Thank you for a post that directly addresses this mysterious truth.

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    1. Mariann, we are an entwined part of all the events swirling around us in this world. What happens to us now is part of what is happening to everyone else. Why would it be any different for our ancestors? And yet, the way we are taught history robs us of that sensibility. Some of us have chosen to mount that tedious obstacle of learning now the history we should have learned so long ago. For people like me, it is not always an easy task. But I'm glad I'm learning to do it--and from the sounds of your comments, so are you.

      Glad you stopped by--and thank you for your comment. Well put.

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  8. I was lucky to have some very interesting history teachers. Not all - but enough to keep me interested most of the time. Even so - it was about things long ago and far away. Putting our ancestors into the story brings history to life and makes it personal - and for me - sometimes political as well.

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    1. Yes, Kathy, having a personal connection through family history makes these events come to life for students! You were indeed fortunate to have the history teachers you did. Mine were good teachers, too, but somehow the subject seemed so remote. It's only when we can come to the realization that what happened then impacts what's going on in our lives now that the subject of history takes on life.

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