Original Piece of Wood from Appomattox Court House, Site of Civil War Surrender

Description

APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE
.  Original piece of wood, measuring 10 by 2.5 by 1.25 inches, from the house of Wilmer McLean at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, site of the surrender of Robert E. Lee to Ulysses S. Grant, taken the very day the capitulation took place on April 9, 1865.
ORIGINAL PIECE OF WOOD FROM THE MCLEAN HOUSE AT APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE, SITE OF THE SURRENDER OF ROBERT E. LEE TO ULYSSES S. GRANT
Accompanied with a separate letter of authenticity and handwritten note of provenance on the wood signed by William T. Sherman’s aide-de-camp George Ward Nichols: “Head Quts. of the M.D.C., April 9, 65, Maj. Estes A.A.G. to Gen’l Kilpatrick Hd. Qrs., Ask Davis to please bring me a good sized relic of the place where the capitulation was signed.  If Davis has already gone please get me a piece of the wood of the house or table and send it by first opportunity.  Geo. Ward Nichols, Bvt. Maj. & A.A.D.C.” and “Wood of the house at Appomattox Crt. Hse., April 9, 65, Geo. Ward Nichols, Relic of Capitulation, Bvt. Maj. Geo. Nichols A.A.D.C.”  Likely taken from the siding of the table, a wall, or a door where the signing took place, according to Nichols’ letter.
TAKEN THE VERY DAY THE CAPITULATION TOOK PLACE ON APRIL 9, 1865 AND ACCOMPANIED WITH A LETTER OF AUTHENTICITY AND HANDWRITTEN NOTE OF PROVENANCE SIGNED BY WILLIAM T. SHERMAN’S AIDE-DE-CAMP
Having abandoned the Confederate capital of Richmond, fought for nearly 10 months at the Siege of Petersburg, his retreat to the Army of Tennessee under General Joseph E. Johnston cut off, and his men deserted and starving, General Robert E. Lee finally surrendered his troops to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, effectively ending the American Civil War.  A historically significant relic from the surrender at Appomattox requested by General William T. Sherman’s aide-de-camp, who would shortly thereafter witness General Johnston’s surrender to Sherman at Bennett Place, North Carolina on April 26, 1865.