The "Bells Toll To End The War!" Story

Painting of General Lee surrendering to General Grant.

It was an ordinary day.  But, 150 years ago on this date it was anything but ordinary.  For, you see,  April 9th, 1865 was the afternoon that General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General-in-Chief Ulysses S. Grant.  It wasn't until noon of April 10th that businesses in Lancaster, Pennsylvania had closed, flags and bunting were hung and the streets came alive with the good news.  Later that Monday, Thaddeus Stevens gave a speech to a large crowd in Lancaster's main courtroom.  This was followed by an "inspired" singing of the Star-Spangled Banner.  Later that night a large bonfire filled the street in front of the courthouse.  

Lancaster County Courthouse Bell that will toll today.
It rang 150 years ago to celebrate the end of the Civil War.

Well, today, Thursday April 9th, 2015, Bells Across The Land, a program sponsored by the National Park Service, will begin with bells throughout the city and county being rung at 3:15 PM for four minutes; one minute for each year of the war.  This is allegedly the time they were rung in 1865.  The Lancaster County courthouse bell is one that will commemorate the signing 150 years ago.  It is the same 162 year old bell that chimed 150 years ago.  I'm anxious to visit our downtown area and participate in the celebrations.  My guess is that there will be no bonfire in the street though.  

The bell tower of St. John's Episcopal.

But, wait!  The chiming of the bells in Lancaster began far earlier than 3:15 PM.  They were rung in the church steeple of St. John's Episcopal Church at the corner of Chestnut and Mulberry Streets shortly after 2:00 AM.  Seems that a Mr. John Ferrier, who was the sexton of St. John's, was a member of the Union Army.  While he was away fighting in the war his wife took over his chores around the church.  Very early on the morning of April 10th Mrs. Ferrier became upset because one of her children was ill.  She and her child were sitting on the porch of her home next to the church.  A railroad employee happened by and told her that she didn't have long to wait for her husband to come home, since Robert E. Lee had just surrendered his army to U.S. Grant.  

St. John's bell that was rung in 1865.

Mrs. Ferrier was so happy that she gathered up one of her daughters and hurried up to the bell tower where she and daughter, Ellie waved an American flag, waved a white handkerchief and rang the church bell.  Neighbors ran into the streets to see what was happening and after hearing the news began to celebrate.  By 6:00 AM every bell in Lancaster was ringing.  Even though I am a member of nearby St. James Episcopal, I still take pride in the fact that St. John's Church was the first to ring their bell to celebrate the ending of the Civil War.  My hope for tomorrow is that they will wait until the specified time of 3:15 PM to take up the ringing.  I have a tough time getting up in the middle of the night after taking my Tylenol PM.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.