Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-05-28
BOTTLE AND TABLE.
MRS. BENNETT WITNESSED the
PRESENCE AND USE OF BOTH.
They Are Row the Property Of widow
Jenes-Ths Two Tables and Their
Relative Positions
rcorr,,nooaonc, q, N, RIcbmoua p,sps.ch.I

Correspondents Of tbs Richmond Dspasch.l
DURHAM. N. c.. May T.-My attention
has been called TO an article in your issue
of the 18th instant, wherein reference Is
made TO certain particulars OF the surren-
der Of Johnston to Sherman on the 18th OF
April. 1866. at the house Of James Bennett.
near Durham. N. q.
The impression that Q Federal officer
had purchased the table upon which the
articles of surrender had been written. as
we'll as q black bottle out of which the
two famous officers are said to have taken
O drink. Is evidently erroneous. General
Sherman IN the letter written by him very
wisely suggests the almost Inpossibility OF
reciting from memory those details. which.
however insignificant then, have gathered
interest with the years.
1t is true o Federal officer bought table
from the BENEFITS, but this table was not
the historic one wherein the articles or
surrender were written. but the dining
table, as the evidence below would seem
to indicate.
AN LyE-wrTSEss.
Happily, there are living witnesses to
verify the statement or history IN this
matter. Mrs. Bennett. now resident or
Durham, affrms that she was present upon
the memorable OCCASION: prepared the
room for the distinguished guests in her
quiet country home. and witnessed the
presence and use of the black bottle and
the small table. She will testify that this
bottle and table were sold 10 the late Mr..
Thomas ID. Jones several years ago ana are
now the property of his widow. nee Matte
l.. Southgate. OF Durham. N. q.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Just twenty-eight years ago to-day, May
| q, 1865. Hnrper's Weekly volume IL. No.
439, page 1922 gives not only an account OF
the surrender. but illustrations by its
staff artist. Davis, which clearly set forth !:
First, the small arms turned over by john
ston's army 10 Lieutenant Lyster, chief
of ordnance, Department North Carolina,
Greensboro May 8, 1855; second. accoutre-
ments Of Johnston's army turned over to
J. s. Clingman, ordnance office, Depart
ment North Carolina, May 8. 1865; third.
interior Of James Benefits house. scene
of Johnston's surrender. April &c, 1865 !;
| fourth, james Benefits house, where
| Johnston surrendered to Sherman--lnte-
| rior view-all evidently accurately sketch
| ed by the artist and with like accuracy
| transmitted to tho printed page.
The third picture shows the two gene
| rails seated OF the dining table, upon which
| are the bottle, q pitcher. and two glasses,
the WrltluG-sIanu, OF sLudls laOiS' oo'he
| just to the right.
THE GOVERNOR OF NORTH CAROLINA TO THE
GOVERNOR OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
The positions OF men and tables would
suggest that, having finished the work on
the small table. the generals drew up 10
the dnlng-table TO pass tho compliments
| of the season after the fashion of the Gov
ernor of North Carolina to the Governor
| Of South Carolina. An old fashioned clock
hangs on the wall Just above the tables
with hands indicating the hour of ll:2O A.
| NJ. and who knows but what these hands
as represented noted the exact moment IN
which the fate OF the southern Confede-
racy was sealed?
NO ROOM FOR DOUBT.
| With these sketches made at the very
time and place. sustained by the evidence
| of Mrs Bennett, then member OF the
household, il would seem there IS little
room for doubt but that Mrs Jones, OF
| Durham, is now in possession OF the exact
| bottle from which living witness testities
| General Sherman did take a drink with
| General Johnston. and also the same Ia
bic upon which the articles OF surrender
| were written.