Civil War Surrender

Dobber Documents:: Civil War Surrender
Surrender of Gen Joseph E. Johnston to W.T. Sherman, April 26, 1865 - Original at the State Archives
SEAL

Terms of a Military Convention entered into this 26th day of April 1865 at Bennett's House near Durham's Station N.C. between Genl. Jos. E. Johnston Commd'g Confederate Army and Maj. Genl. W.T. Sherman Commd'g the U.S. Army in North Carolina.

I. All acts of war on the part of the troops under Genl. Johnston's Command to cease from this date.

II. All arms and public property to be deposited at Greensboro and delivered to an Ordnance officer of the U.S. Army.

III. Rolls of all officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy to be retained by the commander of the troops and the other to be given to an officer to be designated by Genl. Sherman. Each officer and men to give his individual obligation in writing not to take up arms against the Government of the United States until released from their obligation.

IV. The side arms of officers and their private horses and baggage to be retained by them.

V. This being done, all the officers and men will be permitted to return to their homes, not to be disturbed by the United States authorities so long as they observe their obligation and the laws in force where they may reside.

(Signed) J.E. Johnston
(Signed) W.T. Sherman General Maj. Genl. Comdg US Forces in N.C.
Memorandum - April 18, 1865
Memorandum on basis of agreement made this 18th day of April, A.D. 1865 near Durham's Station in the State of North Carolina, by and between Genl. Jos. E. Johnston comdg the Conferate Army & Major Genl. Wm T. Sherman comdg the army of the United States in North Carolina, both present:
First: The contending armies now in the field to maintain the Status Quo until notice is given by the comdg Genl. of anyone, to its opponents and reasonable time, say 24 hours allowed.
Second: The Confederate Armies now in existence to be disbanded & conducted to their capitols, there to deposit their arms & public property in the State Arsenal; and each officer and man to execute and file an agreement to cease acts of war, to abide by the action of both State & Federal Authority, the number of arms & munitions of war to be reported to the Chief of Ordnance at Washington City, subject to the future action of the Congress of the United States, and in the meantime to be used soley to maintain peace and order within the borders of the States, respectively.
Third: The recognition by the Executive of the United States of the several State Governments in their offices & Legislatures taking the oath prescribed by the Constitution of the United States and where conflicting State Governments have resulted from the War, the legitimacy of all shall be submitted to the Supreme Court of the United States.
Fourth: The reinstatement of all the Federal Courts in the several States with powers as defined by the Constitution and laws of Congress.
Fifth: The people and inhabitants of all the States to be guaranteed as far as the Executive can, their political rights and franchises, as well as their rights of person & property as defined by the Constitution of the United States of the States respectively.
Sixth: The executive Authority of the govt. of the United States not to disturb any of the people by reason of the late War, so long as they live in peace & quiet, abstain from acts of armed hostility, & obey the laws in existence at the place of their residence.
Seventh: In general terms, the War to cease, a general amnesty so far as the Executive of the United States can command on condition of the disolving of the Confederate Armies, the distribution of the confederate arms, & the ___ of peaceful persuits by the officers and men hereto composing said Armies. Not being fully empowered by our respective (Governments) Principals to fulfil these terms, we individually and officially pledge ourselves to promptly obtain the necessary authority & carry out the above proposal.

(Signed) Joseph E. Johnston, Genl. Comdg C.S. Army
William T. Sherman, Maj Genl. Comdg U.S. Army
Official
E.J. Harris
Col & Inspector General
Army of Tennessee
(On the bottom right of this document is an upside down seal)
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE
MAR 22 1889
DIVISION
CONFEDERATE ARCHIVES

Terms of a Military Convention entered into this 26th day of April 1865 at Bennett's House near Durham's Station N.C. between Genl. Jos. E. Johnston Commd'g Confederate Army and Maj. Genl. W.T. Sherman Commd'g the U.S. Army in North Carolina.

I. All acts of war on the part of the troops under Genl. Johnston's Command to cease from this date.

II. All arms and public property to be deposited at Greensboro and delivered to an Ordnance officer of the U.S. Army.

III. Rolls of all officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy to be retained by the commander of the troops and the other to be given to an officer to be designated by Genl. Sherman. Each officer and men to give his individual obligation in writing not to take up arms against the Government of the United States until released from their obligation.

IV. The side arms of officers and their private horses and baggage to be retained by them.

V. This being done, all the officers and men will be permitted to return to their homes, not to be disturbed by the United States authorities so long as they observe their obligation and the laws in force where they may reside.

(Signed) J.E. Johnston
(Signed) W.T. Sherman General Maj. Genl. Comdg US Forces in N.C.
Memorandum - April 18, 1865
Memorandum on basis of agreement made this 18th day of April, A.D. 1865 near Durham's Station in the State of North Carolina, by and between Genl. Jos. E. Johnston comdg the Conferate Army & Major Genl. Wm T. Sherman comdg the army of the United States in North Carolina, both present:
First: The contending armies now in the field to maintain the Status Quo until notice is given by the comdg Genl. of anyone, to its opponents and reasonable time, say 24 hours allowed.
Second: The Confederate Armies now in existence to be disbanded & conducted to their capitols, there to deposit their arms & public property in the State Arsenal; and each officer and man to execute and file an agreement to cease acts of war, to abide by the action of both State & Federal Authority, the number of arms & munitions of war to be reported to the Chief of Ordnance at Washington City, subject to the future action of the Congress of the United States, and in the meantime to be used soley to maintain peace and order within the borders of the States, respectively.
Third: The recognition by the Executive of the United States of the several State Governments in their offices & Legislatures taking the oath prescribed by the Constitution of the United States and where conflicting State Governments have resulted from the War, the legitimacy of all shall be submitted to the Supreme Court of the United States.
Fourth: The reinstatement of all the Federal Courts in the several States with powers as defined by the Constitution and laws of Congress.
Fifth: The people and inhabitants of all the States to be guaranteed as far as the Executive can, their political rights and franchises, as well as their rights of person & property as defined by the Constitution of the United States of the States respectively.
Sixth: The executive Authority of the govt. of the United States not to disturb any of the people by reason of the late War, so long as they live in peace & quiet, abstain from acts of armed hostility, & obey the laws in existence at the place of their residence.
Seventh: In general terms, the War to cease, a general amnesty so far as the Executive of the United States can command on condition of the disolving of the Confederate Armies, the distribution of the confederate arms, & the ___ of peaceful persuits by the officers and men hereto composing said Armies. Not being fully empowered by our respective (Governments) Principals to fulfil these terms, we individually and officially pledge ourselves to promptly obtain the necessary authority & carry out the above proposal.

(Signed) Joseph E. Johnston, Genl. Comdg C.S. Army
William T. Sherman, Maj Genl. Comdg U.S. Army
Official
E.J. Harris
Col & Inspector General
Army of Tennessee
(On the bottom right of this document is an upside down seal)
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE
MAR 22 1889
DIVISION
CONFEDERATE ARCHIVES

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