Apropos of nothing,
here's something even War Between
the States (aka Civil War) buffs prolly don't know. At
least this one didn't.
The initial engagements on July 18, 1861, in what would become the
First Battle of Bull Run, fought on July 21, took place on Wilmer
McLean's farm in Manassas, VA.
Brigadier General P.G.T. Beauregard, CSA, later reminisced:
"A comical effect of this artillery
fight was the destruction of the dinner of myself and staff by a
Federal shell that fell into the fire-place of my headquarters at the
McLean House."
Wilmer McClean, an erstwhile major of the Virginia militia, was
too old at 47 to muster for this kerfluffle. Instead, McClean
worked as a sugar broker for the CSA. Because of his proximity
to the Union army, and perhaps a second battle of Bull Run that ruined
his tomato patch, Wilmer moved his family about 120 miles south to
Appomattox County, Virginia.
(I see light bulbs
flickering).
Yup.
"On April 9, 1865, the war came back to
Wilmer McLean when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to
Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant in the parlor of McLean's house
near Appomattox Court House, effectively ending the Civil War."
Later, McLean is supposed to have said "The war began in my front yard and ended
in my front parlor"
Sadly, this CSA patriot ended his days in infamy, working for ... for *why
God why?* the Internal Revenue Service. See more fun details at Wikipedia,
from whence I took this story.
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