Bennett Place facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bennett Place State Historic Site
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 4409 Bennett Memorial Rd., Durham, North Carolina |
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| Area | 30.5 acres (12.3 ha) |
| Built | 1789 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000452 |
| Added to NRHP | February 26, 1970 |
Bennett Place in Durham, North Carolina, is a very important historical site. It was here that a major part of the American Civil War officially ended. In April 1865, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered his army to Union General William T. Sherman. This was the largest surrender of the war.
The generals met twice at Bennett Place. Their first meeting on April 17, 1865, included some political agreements. But these were quickly turned down by the United States government. So, they met again on April 26. This time, they agreed only on military terms, similar to how General Robert E. Lee had surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant earlier. This final agreement at Bennett Place helped bring the long war to an end.
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The Story of Bennett Place
After his famous "March to the Sea," Union General William Tecumseh Sherman led his army north. He moved through North and South Carolina. Meanwhile, Confederate President Jefferson Davis met with his General Joseph E. Johnston in Greensboro, North Carolina. General Sherman had stopped his army in Raleigh.
A few days earlier, on April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee had surrendered his army. This happened at Appomattox Court House. Even though President Davis wanted to keep fighting, General Johnston knew the war was almost over. He sent a message to General Sherman, asking for a meeting to discuss a truce.
General Johnston rode east along the Hillsborough Road. He was escorted by about 60 cavalry soldiers. General Sherman rode west to meet him, with about 200 of his own soldiers. The farm of James and Nancy Bennett was a good, private spot for their meeting. This farm is now known as Bennett Place.
The First Meeting and Lincoln's Death
The first discussion happened on April 17. During this meeting, General Sherman shared some shocking news. He handed General Johnston a telegram that said President Abraham Lincoln had been assassinated. This made their talks even more serious.
The generals met again the next day, April 18. They signed terms of surrender. However, the United States government in Washington rejected these terms. They said Sherman had agreed to too many political things. These things were beyond what a military surrender should cover.
Why the First Deal Failed
The first surrender agreement was tricky because General Johnston wanted more than just a military surrender. He was influenced by President Davis. Johnston wanted to talk about how state governments would be set up again. He also wanted some weapons returned to the states. And he wanted to discuss civil rights for soldiers after the war.
General Sherman agreed to these broader terms. He thought he was following President Lincoln's wishes for a kind and forgiving end to the war. However, Sherman did not know that Lincoln had told General Grant to only discuss military matters.
When the U.S. Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, read the terms, he disagreed. He convinced the government to reject them. Sherman was told to meet Johnston again. He had to ask for a purely military surrender. President Davis then told Johnston to break up his army and escape. But Johnston chose to disobey. He agreed to meet Sherman one more time.
The Final Surrender at Bennett Place
The second meeting happened on April 26, 1865. General Sherman and General Johnston met again at Bennett Farm. With help from General John M. Schofield, they agreed to new terms. These new terms were very similar to what General Grant had given General Lee. They only covered military matters.
This agreement meant the war ended for 89,270 Confederate soldiers. These soldiers were in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. This was the largest group of soldiers to surrender during the entire Civil War. After this, only a few smaller surrenders happened in other states.
Bennett Place State Historic Site
The Bennett family, James and Nancy, owned the farm where the meetings took place. They were simple farmers who suffered greatly during the war. They lost a son and a son-in-law in the fighting. Their third child also died during the war years. The Bennetts never fully recovered from these losses. James Bennett died in 1878, and the family moved away.
The farm was left empty and slowly fell apart. A fire destroyed the farmhouse in 1921. But in 1923, a special monument called the Unity Monument was placed there. Many people helped save and preserve this important historical spot.
In the 1960s, the site was fully restored by people who cared about history. The farmhouse was rebuilt to look like it did during the war. It's a two-story log house with a special roof. There is also a log kitchen and a smokehouse on the property. After the restoration, the site was given to the State of North Carolina. It became a state historic site.
Today, the Bennett Place State Historic Site is open to the public. It is located in Durham, near Duke University. Visitors can explore the site from Tuesday to Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM. There is a visitor center, a museum, and a theater where you can watch a presentation called "Dawn of Peace." You can also visit the rebuilt Bennett farm. The site often holds special events and programs throughout the year, including reenactments of the surrender. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
In 2010, the site showed a new painting by artist Dan Nance called "The First Meeting." On the same day, they started a scholarship for history students. It honors William Vatavuk, who wrote the first guidebook for the historic site.
Images for kids
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This marker tells about the history of Bennett Place.
