Appomattox in Appomattox County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Charles Sweeney Cabin

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —

The Charles Sweeney Cabin Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike McKeown, April 25, 2025

1. The Charles Sweeney Cabin Marker

Inscription.

The Charles Sweeney Cabin. Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. , The Charles Sweeney Cabin Charles Sweeney, his wife Mattie Bryant Sweeney and their family lived in this ca. 1830 frame home. Born-into the musical Sweeney clan in November 1837, Charles joined Company H of the 2nd Virginia Calvary regiment in March of 1862. After returning to service from wounds received in the Battle of Second Manassas, Charles transferred to Shoemaker's Battery of Stuart's Horse Artillery in June 1863. He received his parole at Appomattox Court House on April 12, 1865, and returned to his home where he farmed and carried the mail from Appomattox Station to the surrounding community. He died in 1909 and is buried in the cemetery nearby., On the morning of April 9,.1865, General R. E. Lee was observed here in the Sweeney orchard: "… seated for a long time, with crossed arms and bowed head, immovable as stone, on a broken rail, under an old apple tree, whose scanty foliage and feeble bloom were in keeping with the general dilapidation of the homestead in the rear … the birthplace of Sween[e]y, the famous banjo player.", The Sweeney Cabin was said to have been visited by Confederate Cavalry Commander Major General Fitzhugh Lee during his time at Appomattox Court House. Family tradition tells of preparing food for Lee and staff., The background painting was done in 1866 by George Frankenstein and shows the area around the homes of the Sweeney families, including the birthplace of Joel Walker Sweeney, banjo popularizer, his brothers Richard Alexander and Sampson Decatur Sweeney and sisters Elizabeth and Missouri. The homes of Robert Miller and Charles H. Sweeney can also been seen., Sam and Bob Miller Sweeney served in the Confederate Cavalry as -musicians, Sam on banjo and Bob on fiddle at Stuart headquarters., (captions) , Charles Sweeney 2nd Virginia Cavalry Company H., Appomattox Court House . John Sweeney . J. N. Williams . Robert Miller Sweeney . Charles Sweeney, Mrs. Charles Sweeney, Appomattox, Va., Postcard circa 1910 showing post war addition (lean to on right)

The Charles Sweeney Cabin Charles Sweeney, his wife Mattie Bryant Sweeney and their family lived in this ca. 1830 frame home. Born-into the musical Sweeney clan in November 1837, Charles joined Company H of the 2nd Virginia Calvary regiment in March of 1862. After returning to service from wounds received in the Battle of Second Manassas, Charles transferred to Shoemaker's Battery of Stuart's Horse Artillery in June 1863. He received his parole at Appomattox Court House on April 12, 1865, and returned to his home where he farmed and carried the mail from Appomattox Station to the surrounding community. He died in 1909 and is buried in the cemetery nearby.

On the morning of April 9,.1865, General R. E. Lee was observed here in the Sweeney orchard: "… seated for a long time, with crossed arms and bowed head, immovable as stone, on a broken rail, under an old apple tree, whose scanty foliage and feeble bloom were in keeping with the general dilapidation of the homestead in the rear … the birthplace of Sween[e]y, the famous banjo player."

The Sweeney Cabin was said to have been visited by Confederate Cavalry Commander Major General Fitzhugh Lee during his time at Appomattox Court House. Family tradition tells of preparing food for Lee and staff.

The background painting was done in 1866 by George

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Frankenstein and shows the area around the homes of the Sweeney families, including the birthplace of Joel Walker Sweeney, banjo popularizer, his brothers Richard Alexander and Sampson Decatur Sweeney and sisters Elizabeth and Missouri. The homes of Robert Miller and Charles H. Sweeney can also been seen.

Sam and Bob Miller Sweeney served in the Confederate Cavalry as -musicians, Sam on banjo and Bob on fiddle at Stuart headquarters.

(captions)
Charles Sweeney 2nd Virginia Cavalry Company H.

Appomattox Court House • John Sweeney • J. N. Williams • Robert Miller Sweeney • Charles Sweeney

Mrs. Charles Sweeney, Appomattox, Va.

Postcard circa 1910 showing post war addition (lean to on right)

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is April 9, 1865.

Location. 37° 23.147′ N, 78° 47.357′ W. Marker is in Appomattox, Virginia, in Appomattox County. It can be reached from the intersection of Old Courthouse Road (Virginia Route 24) and Joel Sweeney Lane, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 158 Joel Sweeney Ln, Appomattox VA 24522, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont

and in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers.

Photographed by Mike McKeown, April 25, 2025

2. The Charles Sweeney Cabin Marker

marker at distance

At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lee's Apple Tree (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Artillery Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Surrender of the Artillery (approx. 0.2 miles away); After the Surrender (approx. 0.2 miles away); African American Banjoists (approx. 0.2 miles away); Popularizer of the Banjo (approx. 0.2 miles away); Appomattox River (approx. ¼ mile away); Conner House Site (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Appomattox.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Appomattox River (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . The Sweeneys and the Banjo. Appomattox Court House National Historical Park (Submitted on May 7, 2025.)

Photographed by Mike McKeown, April 25, 2025

3. The Charles Sweeney Cabin Marker

Cabin

Credits. This page was last revised on December 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 5, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 320 times since then and 121 times this year. Last updated on December 20, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 5, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.