Citronelle Historical Preservation Society

Preserving and protecting the unique historical, architectural, and cultural character of Citronelle, Alabama

SURRENDER OAK FESTIVAL

Citronelle, Alabama plays host to the Surrender Oak Festival each year on the first Saturday in May. The last surrender of the Confederate Army, east of the Mississippi River, occurred in Citronelle on May 4, 1865.

The closing scenes of that awful bloody drama, the Civil War, were witnessed in this vicinity. Lee and Johnson had surrendered; Mobile had been occupied by Union forces after the Battle of Mobile Bay, and but one organized body of Confederates that could be called an army, remained in the field. This last army of close to 9,000 Confederate soldiers was surrendered on the 4th of May, 1865 by its Commander, General Richard (Dick) Taylor, to the U.S. Army General, E.R.S. Canby under a large white oak tree in Citronelle.

The original “Surrender Oak” was blown down in the hurricane of 1906. From it was made numerous walking canes, gavels, and other items as souvenirs; most of which have long since disappeared, with the exception of several which were sent to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC and the few we have on display at the Citronelle Depot Museum.

A memorial marker was placed at this spot by the Historical Mobile Preservation Society on May 4, 1965 to commemorate 100 years. The City of Citronelle planted a young live oak tree in the approximate location of the Surrender Oak during the 2012 Surrender Oak Festival.

The Surrender Oak Festival is always held on the first Saturday in May of each year.

For more information, please contact the City of Citronelle - (251) 866-7973.

The Last Confederate Surrender

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SURRENDER OAK FESTIVAL PHOTOS

PAST FESTIVALS

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Historical Marker at Camp Pushmataha marking the location of the last surrender (east of the Mississippi) which brought an official close the War Between the States.

Surrender Reenactment

Camp Pushmataha - Surrender Reenactment

Surrender Reenactment

2012 Surrender Oak Festival: Tree Planting Ceremony - Gordon Vernon, (right) President of the Citronelle Historical Preservation Society assists former Citronelle Mayor Rannel Presnell in planting a symbolic Surrender Oak Tree at Camp Pushmataha at the site of the original Surrender Oak under which Confederate forces surrendered to Union forces on May 4, 1965. The original Surrender Oak was blown down during the Hurricane of 1906. From it were made many souvenirs; some of which were sent to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D. C.

2012 Surrender Oak Festiva: Tree Planting Ceremony - Citronelle Mayor Loretta Presnell and Citronelle Historical Preservation Society President Gordon Vernon shovel dirt on the newly planted tree.

2012 Surrender Oak Festival: Tree Planting Ceremony - Former Mayor Rannel Presnell and Citronelle Historical Preservation Society Member Alma Johnson shovel dirt on the newly planted Surrender Oak Tree.

2012 Surrender Oak Festival: Tree Planting Ceremony

The 2012 Surrender Oak Festival was dedicated to Glenn L. Vernon, a founding member of the Citronelle Historical Preservation Society, who passed away on April 29, 2012. Festival attendees and Society Members were given the opportunity to write a note to Glenn. The notes were tied to balloons and released by his son Gordon Vernon, the current President of the Society, at 1:30 PM after a moment of silence and a few words from the Society's oldest member and only surviving founding member. NOTE: Mrs. Alma passed in February 23, 2020.

2012 Surrender Oak Festival: Double Decker Bus Tour of Citronelle