Civil War

Civil War chivalry at Appomattox

Civil War chivalry at Appomattox

Mary McCleary

The "Annals of America" contains a stirring account of the momentous encounter between Generals Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant at the village of Appomattox Court House. The author of the document was Brigadier General Horace Porter, Grant's aide-de-camp. Porter vividly describes the historic meeting of April 9, 1865, at which Grant and Lee discussed the terms of surrender. A little known detail of the event transformed the tenor of the occasion, and helped reconcile the warring officers and nation.

The locale chosen for the meeting was the home of Wilmer McLean, who had the finest residence in Appomattox Court House. Porter noted the features of the house in minute detail, from the seven steps of the porch to the conical-shaped inkstand to the number and location of the doors and windows. Clearly, the historic event had left its imprint on his memory.

Opera: A primer for the primaries
presidential election

Opera: A primer for the primaries

Mary McCleary

What could be more melodramatic than the presidential primaries? Opera, of course! So, I've created a primer for the soon-to-be opera enthusiasts among our readers. Do you want some history before the fun of listening to our presidential candidates in their title roles? Why, yes you do! But only so you can enjoy this splendid art form all the more.

Opera combines drama and singing in a theatrical setting with a substantial orchestral component. The fusion of music and drama can be traced back to the Middle Ages in Europe, and even earlier in ancient Greece and non-Western nations such as China, where opera began in the 3rd century A.D.

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