Wilmer McLean

[My Good Babushka]

Wilmer McLean said the Civil War started in his front yard and ended in his front parlor. The Virginia grocer was living in Manassas in 1861 when the first Battle of Bull Run began and dropped a cannonball into his fireplace. He moved to Appomattox and, four years later, Lee surrendered to Grant in his parlor. Spectators carried off most of his furniture and other possessions as souvenirs.

[Tobin S.]

1. Poor Wilmer. Can't win for losing.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. I give Wilmer credit though, once he starts something he sees it to the end.

[Special Prosciuto]

3. McLean's furniture was taken by the Union officers who were at the surrender.

Last edited Mon Dec 29, 2014, 03:43 PM - Edit history (1)

General Sheridan took Grant's signing table and later gave it to Mrs. Custer, for one example.

[Avalux]

4. Fascinating. My family fled their Gettysburg farm, leaving food on the table.

When they returned there was nothing much left of their belonging, the orchards had been destroyed, and there were dead horses everywhere. Catherine Trostle filed a claim with the US government but received nothing for the damage. My family couldn't recover from the loss and eventually sold the farm to the US Government for 4.5k and relocated further north.

The below photographs show the dead Union army horses, deliberately slaughtered by the Confederate army.


Trostle House


Trostle Barn

Detailed history here:

http://thomaslegion.net/battleofgettysburgthetrostlefarmandplumrun.html

[Special Prosciuto]

6. The shell hole in the Trostle barn is still there today

but you probably know that *)

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[My Good Babushka]

5. I like it when more knowledge gets added to these trivia posts!

It's like a big, sticky, rolling ball of knowledge. And we're all going to get it stuck on the bottom of our shoes.

[geardaddy]

7. That's cool, but didn't the war start at Ft. Sumter?

[My Good Babushka]

8. It started at Ft. Sumter

but Bull Run is recorded as the first major battle.
I would consider any time anyone was shooting at me to be a pretty major battle, but I don't write history books.

[geardaddy]

10. Thanks.

I understand

[rug]

9. Tsutomu Yamaguchi had worse luck.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jan/06/hiroshima-nagasaki-survivor-dies

Still made it to 93.