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

"It is a terrible thing to be killed on the last day of the war."

— Appomattox Court House National Historical Park —

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, December 20, 2025

1. "It is a terrible thing to be killed on the last day of the war." Marker

Inscription.

"It is a terrible thing to be killed on the last day of the war.". . On the morning of April 9th, 1865, a young aide-de-camp was seriously wounded and left for dead. When Federal infantry arrived to block the retreat route of Lee's army and with surrender looming, General Fitzhugh Lee determined to escape with the cavalry to join General Johnston in North Carolina. As they turned, a bullet struck "Charlie" Minnigerode in the back knocking him off his horse in front of Pogue's Artillery. With bullets flying, Chief Surgeon A.C. Randolph examined Minnigerode, pronounced the wound mortal, and pinned a note to his coat: "This is Captain Minnigerode of Gen. Fitz Lee's staff. Take care of the body and inform his father Rev. Dr. Minnigerode of Richmond.", Lying on the ground, Minnigerode wrote a final note to his Mother telling her of his death, and of the death of the cause for which he had fought. "I am dying but I have fallen where I expected to fall. Our cause is defeated but I do not live to see the end of it." (Letter exhibited at Park museum), Later that day, Minnigerode was treated at the 24th Corps Flying Hospital by Dr. Norris Carter, a Surgeon in the 100th New York Infantry, and afterwards moved to a hospital at Farmville (30 miles east). From Farmville he wrote his parents to inform them of his second wounding - the first being by saber in the Gettysburg Campaign: "I was painfully wounded no Sunday. The ball entering below my shoulder on the right and lodging in the ribs on the left side, producing paralysis of the lower extremities, the wound is very painful, but the Drs. do not consider it necessarily mortal.... I am well cared for." In 1883, patient and surgeon had an impromptu reunion in New York City., Charlie was the son of former William and Mary professor and Rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Reverend Charles Minnigerode Sr. The previous Sunday, his father was interrupted by the sexton of the church bearing a note for President Davis from General Lee stating that Petersburg would fall and Richmond must be evacuated. Three years earlier (1862), 16-year-old Charlie had joined the army against his parents' wishes., Fitz Lee reported, , "He fell at my side... He was left at last writhing in great pain to the mercy of the victors upon the field... The rapidly advancing lines of the enemy prevented his removal, and as we turned away the wet eyes and sorrowing hearts silently told that he was no longer in our midst.", (captions) , First Lieutenant Charles Minnigerode Jr., Reverend Charles Minnigerode Sr., Minnigerode in the blood stained uniform he wore at Appomattox. The .58 caliber bullet removed by Dr. Carter was carried by Minnigerode in his pocket the rest of his life. (Courtesy of the Museum of the Confederacy), Major General Fitzhugh Lee

On the morning of April 9th, 1865, a young aide-de-camp was seriously wounded and left for dead. When Federal infantry arrived to block the retreat route of Lee's army and with surrender looming, General Fitzhugh Lee determined to escape with the cavalry to join General Johnston in North Carolina. As they turned, a bullet struck "Charlie" Minnigerode in the back knocking him off his horse in front of Pogue's Artillery. With bullets flying, Chief Surgeon A.C. Randolph examined Minnigerode, pronounced the wound mortal, and pinned a note to his coat: "This is Captain Minnigerode of Gen. Fitz Lee's staff. Take care of the body and inform his father Rev. Dr. Minnigerode of Richmond."

Lying on the ground, Minnigerode wrote a final note to his Mother telling her of his death, and of the death of the cause for which he had fought. "I am dying but I have fallen where I expected to fall. Our cause is defeated but I do not live to see the end of it." (Letter exhibited at Park museum)

Later that day, Minnigerode was treated at the 24th Corps Flying Hospital by Dr. Norris Carter, a Surgeon in the 100th New York Infantry, and afterwards

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moved to a hospital at Farmville (30 miles east). From Farmville he wrote his parents to inform them of his second wounding - the first being by saber in the Gettysburg Campaign: "I was painfully wounded no Sunday. The ball entering below my shoulder on the right & lodging in the ribs on the left side, producing paralysis of the lower extremities, the wound is very painful, but the Drs. do not consider it necessarily mortal.... I am well cared for." In 1883, patient and surgeon had an impromptu reunion in New York City.

Charlie was the son of former William and Mary professor and Rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Reverend Charles Minnigerode Sr. The previous Sunday, his father was interrupted by the sexton of the church bearing a note for President Davis from General Lee stating that Petersburg would fall and Richmond must be evacuated. Three years earlier (1862), 16-year-old Charlie had joined the army against his parents' wishes.

Fitz Lee reported,
"He fell at my side... He was left at last writhing in great pain to the mercy of the victors upon the field... The rapidly advancing lines of the enemy prevented his removal,
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, December 20, 2025

2. Lt. Minnigerode's "Death" Note
Displayed in the 2nd Floor Gallery of the NPS Visitor Center (in the reconstructed Courthouse at the center of the historical village area of the park)
and as we turned away the wet eyes and sorrowing hearts silently told that he was no longer in our midst."

(captions)
First Lieutenant Charles Minnigerode Jr.

Reverend Charles Minnigerode Sr.

Minnigerode in the blood stained uniform he wore at Appomattox. The .58 caliber bullet removed by Dr. Carter was carried by Minnigerode in his pocket the rest of his life. (Courtesy of the Museum of the Confederacy)

Major General Fitzhugh Lee

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

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is April 9, 1865.

Location. 37° 22.482′ N, 78° 48.433′ W. Marker is in Appomattox, Virginia, in Appomattox County. It is on Old Courthouse Road (Virginia Route 24) 0.1 miles west of Gordon Drive, on the right when traveling east. Marker is within Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, on the Grant's Approach Trail accessible on foot from the North Carolina Monument Wayside. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Appomattox VA 24522, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

XXVI Corps Flying Hospital image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, December 20, 2025

3. XXVI Corps Flying Hospital

The field hospital where Lt. Minnigerode was treated by Federals was centered on the Coleman House, the ruins of which are the stone chimney rubble at distant center in this photograph. The surrounding yard would have been used for hospital purposes as well as the house itself. This area is accessible via the Coleman House trail since 2025.

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 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. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lee's Last Attack (here, next to this marker); The North Carolina Monument (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named North Carolina Monument (about 500 feet away); Raine Cemetery and Monument (about 600 feet away); North Carolina (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Strategic Delay (approx. ¼ mile away); Raine Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Appomattox Court House Confederate Cemetery (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Appomattox.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Education in 1800's Rural Virginia (was about 500 feet away but has been replaced with

Lt. Minnigerode's Bullet image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, December 13, 2025

4. Lt. Minnigerode's Bullet

The bullet that wounded Minnigerode on 9 April 1865 is displayed at the American Civil War Museum Appomattox (formerly known as the Museum of the Confederacy - Appomattox), a mile and a half west of the National Historical Park on VA-24.

another marker now near it).

Regarding "It is a terrible thing to be killed on the last day of the war.". Of note, Lt. Minnigerode's father, Rev. Minnigerode, is often credited as having brought the Christmas Tree tradition to the United States, while living in Williamsburg at the St. George Tucker house in the 1840s.

Also see . . . Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. National Park Service (Submitted on January 22, 2026.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 21, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 129 times since then. Last updated on January 23, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 21, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.