Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-05-26
A TABLE AND BOTTLE
ALLEGED TO HAVE FIGURED At JOE
JOHNSTON's SURRENDER.
sherman Recoiiects the Table but Far.
gets the Black Botfle-Stiih He Does
Not Question the Tradittoa.
Especial telegram to tho pispasch.I

RALEIGH, N. O.. May 25.-Some years ago
q well-known army officer. who married
here and who has spent much OF bis time
in this State. wrote the late General w. Il.
Sherman that he had visited Durham and
the Bennett House. near there, where
Johnston surrendered to Sherman. He
found Miss Bennett there. daughter or
granddaughter of the former owner. and
made inquiry as 70 the table on which the
agreement, was drawn up. This table he
had been shown at the North Carolina Ex-
position OF 1884. AS well as black bottle out
of which the two famous officers were said
ohsyo taken drink. Miss Bennett said
that some Of the Federal officers had in 1865
bought the table. The officer above refer
red 10 told General Sherman these things
and asked him TO give his recollection OF
the matter. As much has recently been
published about the table and bottle.
General Sherman's letter. now published
for the first time is of interest.
sHERNAS's STORY.
Ii is as follows: II hate TO spoil any of
the present traditions OF the war, which IL
already IN the past a. that of tine Revolu-
tion. As TO the table at the Bennett
House, near Durham. on which General
our two interviews. | would dislike TO tes-
tity at this late date. but my recollection
of 1t is q square table fitting in one corner
of the room. There was other furniture
in the room, and there NAV have been an
oval table there. As to the bl N,k bottle am
even more incredulous. douo II Johnston
and drank anything, or II so. 1t must
have been from the contents of small
flask habituolly carried by my orderly.
DON'T QUESTION IT
Still, | advise you not to question any,
thing There Is as much of the true
cross held sacred by the Christian world
as would build q frigate. SO will relies OF
our war multiply with time. am glad TO
hear what you say of Durham. When
was there in 1866 it was nothing. and when
1 was at the Cotton Exposition of Atlanta,
in 1891. | saw the exhibit OF the Durham to-
bacco and heard from the proprietor OF its
wonderful growth. | was naturally IN
torested and hope to learn before die
that the entIre South will experience the
Quickening spirit of enterprise and thrift
that has transformed the wilderness OF the
West into thriving States and communi-
ties"
RAILWAY CHANGES.
It IS now officially learned that Major
W. W. Vass. of the Seaboard Airline, who
is the oldest living railway treasurer;
will after next November cease to hold
that position. but will be made secretary
of the Raleigh and Castor and Raleigh
and Augusta divisions of the road. There
will be one treasurer for the enfre system
and his Office will probably be at Balti-
more.
The Knights of Labor have this year
ceased to exist in North Carolina. Their
organization IL entirely on paper. This
has been very nearly the case for two or
three years.
ASSUMED THE TASK.
Associate-Justice Walter Clark has a.
sumed the task of preparing the colonial
records of North Carolina from lI76 TO
1881. The work OF the late Colonel Will
liam L. Saunders epded with l776.
The North Carolina Confederate Monu-
mental Association has been duly organ
lied. II will receive the $4,000 appro-
priated by the State. As much more will
be privately contributed. The monu-
ment, it appears, is to be erected in tho
Capitol Square. This is n mistake, as tho
square is small and the big building will
dwarf the monument.