The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-15

to Htll5borO, thaf grim vlSaged war
smootited its wrinkled front" and Cen
eral Joseph u. Johnston. ono of the
Confederate commanders, laid down
his arms and surrendered TO General
W. y. sherman. This was tho 2sth
day of April. 1865. seventeen days af-
ter the memorable surrender of Gem
eral Robert Il. Lee TO General U. s..
Grant at Appomattox, Va. At this
plain old farmhouse fell the curtain
upon the last act of the, terrible drama,
and the dark cloud that had so long hung
over the heads of our people began
TO clear away. and a new era COM
menced TO dawn upon the South.
General Johnston, with the remnant
of his heroic troops. was encampcd at
Greensboro. Al tho same time, General
Sherman, on his march to the Tea. :
was encamped at Raleigh. Johnston
moved down to Hilisboro and with his
troops took up cal.p there. Sher.-an.5
men moved TO Durham, then an un-
pretent!ous village. with not more
than 200 Inhabitants, and at that time
known as Durham's Station, twenty-six
miles west of Raleigh, on the North
Carolina Railroad. From Raleigh TO
Greensboro, a distance of 81 miles, both
armies moved indiscriminately. John
ston saw that his "thin gray line was
at the straining point of endurance ami
sent word TO Sherman mis- desire for q
conference. On the strengt.. of this an
armistice of ten days was declared.
Generals Sherman and Johnston, the
former from Durham and the latter
from Hillsboro. started out for a con-
sultation They met at tho Bennett
place. where an agreement was reach
Cd and articles of surrender were
drawn up Willie the terms of sur
render were agreed upon at the above
mentioned place, the surrender OF john
ston.s troops occurred later at Green's
boro.
As stated above. the historic "Ben-
nett place" was at that time the house
Of James Bennett. Mrs. Eliza Christie
pher. now deceased. was daughter
of Mr. Bennett. few years ago some ON
gentlemen who were visiting at that
place, stated TO her that II had been
denied by some pretendingly know
ing ones that Generals Johnston and
Sherman ever met at tho house OF
her father. She tfereupon stated that
she saw the two generals meet at
the gate shake hands, and walk side
by side into the house, talking earn
estly all the while. The fact that these
two officers who had been so rigor-
ously fighting each other for years
were then so friendly and gentle-
manly toward each other, made a VIVID
and lasting impression upon her.
Each Took ssNip,,'
While the articles Of surrender We're
being drawn up Mrs. Christopher saw
the two generals take drink OF whis-
key from a'littlc black hottle." Her
father also took a drink with them
from the same bottle. On ths-1 5th day
Of May, 1854, Mrs. Christopher sold
the above mentioned bottle TO Mr.
Thomas D.. Jones, prominent Leaf
tobacco dealer OF Durham, now de-
ceased. At tho time Mrs. christopher
made affidavit to the following;
North Carolina,
Durham County.
Mrs. Eliza CHRISTOPHER, being
duly sworn, deposes and says that
she is a daughter OF James Ben-
nett, who resided during his life
time on the Hillsboco Road. three
and one-half miles west of DUR
ham. That she was present at
her fathers house on the 26th day
of April, 1865. when Generals w. 7,
sherman aud Joseph u, Johnston
met there and arranged all the
Johnston to Sherman. That while
+
they drank from a bottle of whis-
key, and that the bottle sold to
Mi. Thomas p. Jones Is the identi-
cal one from which they drank
| on that occasion.
ELIZA a. CHRISTIE PHER.
Sworn and subscribed before mo
this less the 18th day OF May. 1854.
C, b. GREEN, j, r..
The bottle was presented a. few
years ago to the Museum or Trim
Iity College, Durham, N, G. by Mrs
Matte 81 Jones. Widow OF n,
lirhomas ID. Jones Tho littl
black bottle is stu In the Trinlt,
Museum. and has been seen by nu
The "Rennet place" has little abo,l
it to indicate the historic association
connected with 1T. The house Is |,
plain, sunpretending structure that iha
ever been devoid OF paint ltlout am
,swithIn. In order to preserve this his
1storic old house as much AS possibl
land save IT. from the rayages OF TIM
and the beating storms of winter
shalter has latel been erected owe
1.-The house and ~ has 4 beer Enclosed