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| Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print | | Durham in Durham County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic) |
Bennett Place
The End of War
— Carolinas Campaign —
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By Bill Coughlin, August 18, 2006 | |
| | | 1. Bennet Place - The End of the War | | |
Inscription.
(Preface, upper left) :
The Carolinas Campaign began on February 1, 1865, when Union Gen. William T. Sherman led his army north from Savannah, Georgia, after the “March to the Sea.” Sherman’s objective was to join Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in Virginia to crush Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. Scattered Confederate forces consolidated in North Carolina, the Confederacy’s logistical lifeline, where Sherman defeated Gen. Joseph E. Johnston’s last-ditch attack at Bentonville. After Sherman was reinforced at Goldsboro late March, Johnston saw the futility of further resistance and surrendered on April 26, essentially ending the Civil War.
On April 17, 1865, Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston and Union Gen. William T. Sherman met under a flag of truce midway between their lines on Hillsborough Road, seven miles west of Durham Station, to discuss surrender terms. Johnston suggested that they use this nearby farmhouse—the home of James and Nancy Bennett—for privacy.
Inside the Bennett house, Sherman informed Johnson of President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Uncertain of the consequences of this murder, the generals began negotiations, with Sherman offering terms similar to those that Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had given Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, | | | | 
By Bill Coughlin, August 18, 2006 | |
| | | 2. Bennet Place - Civil War Trails Marker | | |
on April 9. Johnston countered with a plan for “a permanent peace,” including political terms. At their second meeting on April 18, Sherman submitted a “basis for agreement”: disbanding remaining Confederate armies, recognizing existing state governments, establishing federal courts, restoring political and civil right to former Confederates, and general amnesty. Confederate President Jefferson Davis approves the agreement, but U.S. Secretary of War Edwin C. Stanton rejected it summarily. U.S. general-in-chief Grant ordered Sherman to meet again with Johnston and offer him the Appomattox terms.
On April 26, Sherman and Johnston met here for the last time, and Johnston accepted the terms, surrendering the armies under his command including those in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida—some 89,270 Confederates. It was the largest surrender of troops in the war.
Erected by Civil War Trails.
Marker series. This marker is included in the North Carolina Civil War Trails marker series.
Location. 36° 1.767′ N, 78° 58.439′ W. Marker is in Durham, North Carolina, in Durham County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Bennett Memorial Road and Near Road. Click for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4409 Bennett Memorial Road, Durham NC 27705, United States of America. | | | | 
By Bill Coughlin, August 11, 2012 | |
| | | 3. Civil War Trails Markers | | Two Civil War Trails markers are found at this location. The Bennett Place marker is seen here on the right. | | |
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. North Carolina (here, next to this marker); The Original Chimney of the Bennett House (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Bennett Place (within shouting distance of this marker); Unity (within shouting distance of this marker); Meeting of the Generals (within shouting distance of this marker); Rotary Bandstand (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named North Carolina (approx. 3 miles away); Duke Homestead (approx. 3 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Durham.
Also see . . .
1. Civil War Traveler. North Carolina Civil War Trails. (Submitted on March 28, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey.)
2. Bennet Place State Historic Site. (Submitted on March 29, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey.)
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By Bill Coughlin, August 18, 2006 | |
| | | 4. Bennett House | | In this house, on April 26, 1965, Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, surrendered to Union Gen. William T. Sherman, effectively ending the Civil War. | | |
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By Bill Coughlin, August 18, 2006 | |
| | | 5. Inside Bennett House | | This is where Gen Joseph E. Johnston surrendered his troops to Gen. William T. Sherman. | | |
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By Bill Coughlin, August 11, 2012 | |
| | | 6. Confederate Soldiers Drill near Bennett House | | |
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Credits. This page originally submitted on November 18, 2007, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,401 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 16, 2007, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey. 3. submitted on August 11, 2012, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey. 4. submitted on November 19, 2007, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey. 5. submitted on July 27, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey. 6. submitted on August 13, 2012, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
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