TAHG Day 3

For those that love to laugh at random jokes, politics, and history, travel with a group of teachers.  My ribs hurt so bad it's hard to lie down at night.  Oh, my!

Hollywood Cemetery was designed in the garden cemetery style.  The grave plots are beautifully appointed along the James River in Richmond.  Art History majors would love the cemetery because nearly every grave is covered in symbols of all sorts…olive wreaths, triple links, Mason symbols, IHS Greek letters, crosses, and markers designed to replicate the look of tree trunks.

My favorite story is of a Newfoundland dog statue placed to watch over the grave of a little two-year-old boy. 

John Tyler and James Monroe are buried in Hollywood, along with Jefferson Davis.

John Tyler

James Monroe

Jefferson Davis

An exiled Romanov prince and his American wife

James River

The end of the Civil War occurred in the little town of Appomattox Court at the McLean family home.  We visited this afternoon; it’s now a NPS site, and acres and acres of green rolling hills.  Two actors portrayed Dr. William Christian and NYC reporter and abolitionist John Dennett.   Mr. Dennett, being a man of words, thrilled us with the tale of the surrender.  Grant’s troops had Lee and his men surrounded on all sides except north.  Lee couldn’t escape north-they’d simply be stuck by the James River.  On April 9, 1865, Lee walked over to the McLean home to surrender.  I learned through Mr. Dennett how the Union refused to rub the loss into the faces of the Confederate soldiers.  They were granted pardon and a pass that offered them free passage and rations for the journey home.  The Union, while desiring to lynch Jefferson Davis, respected General Lee’s leadership abilities.  Lincoln warned the nation to have a hard war and a soft peace, and the Union Army abided.  Amazing stories.

The local tavern where we listened to Mr. Dennett.

Reporter/Lawyer John Dennett

Listening to the stories

These hills are where the Confederate Army was camped.  All Lee and his men could see were the smoke tendrils from the Union Troops.

The McLean House: The Treaty was signed in the room on the bottom left.