Bennett Place - This historic site is located in Durham and is the scene of the largest surrender of the Civil War. The surrender took place on April 17, 1865 in the parlor of a farm owned by James and Nancy Bennett. Gen. William T. Sherman was pushing north to combine with Grant in Virginia and chasing General Joseph Johnston's confederate troops through North Carolina. The generals met at Bennett's farm to discuss a surrender. Just before they were to sign the surrender Sherman got word of the assassination of Lincoln a fact he did not disclose to his troops for fear that would riot and loot Raliegh. Sherman's terms were more generous than those given to Lee by Grant. As a result they were rejected by the politicians in Washington. When Johnston and Sherman went back to the negotiating table they were joined by the Confederate VP John Breckinridge who wanted Johnston to reject the terms and continue fighting. Breckinridge left taking with him the Confederate cavalry to help Jefferson Davis escape the Union forces. Johnston had seen enough fighting and signed the surrender, which followed the terms Grant had set forth. Johnston and Sherman remained friends with Johnston being an honorary pall bearer at Sherman's funeral.
Washington Duke Homestead - This is state historic site which features the house Washington Duke built for his second wife, Artelia, in 1852. The Dukes are the founders of the American Tobacco Compant and, of course, Duke University. The Dukes lived in the house until 1874 when they moved into Durham to oversee their expanding tobacco empire. The brightleaf tobacco produced by Duke was the foundation of the Duke wealth. The site includes a tobacco curing barn, factory, tobacco packhouse,and other out-buildings. Also at the site is a museum which reviews the history of the tobacco industry(no smoking on premises).
Alamance Battleground - The backcountry of North Carolina was a hot-bed of anti-British feeling prior to the Revolutionary War. This anti-British feeling resulted in armed confrontations with British authorities. The colony's governor Tryon(later governor of New York) finally decided to take action against the troublemakers. In May of 1771 a militia force of approximately 1000 met an armed band of Regulators of about 2000 at Alamance. The Regulators were not well organized and were routed by the militia. The militia suffered 9 killed, but there is no official documentation concerning the Regulators losses.(London newspapers reported the battle stating 300 Regulators were killed). The site features a small visitors center and a nature trail badly in need of repair.
Also on the Alamance site is the Allen House. This house dates from about 1780. It remained in the Allen family until given to the state and moved to the Allmance site. It stands as an excellent example of an 18th century frontier house. Since we were the only people at the site on the day we visited, the historical interpreter gave us a tour of the house and discussed what was known of the inhabitants. The house had been in the Allen family from two centuries and as a result some of the original furniture remained on display. It's not often you get to see a 18th century house with some of the original furniture. The interpreter was also kind enough to give Nan a copy of the herb remedy book compiled by Rachael Allen, who was described as a "Traveling Healer."
No comments:
Post a Comment