April 26, 1865 Agreement

Text of April 26, 1865 (Surrender) Agreement

Engraving of the interior of Bennett farmhouse
“Interior of James Bennett’s house - Scene of Johnston’s surrender - April 26, 1865.” Harper’s Weekly, May 27, 1865. North Carolina Office of Archives and History

Terms of a Military Convention, entered into this 26th day of April, 1865, at Bennitt's House, near Durham Station, North Carolina, between General Joseph E. Johnston, commanding the Confederate Army, and Major-General W.T. Sherman, commanding the United States Army in North Carolina:

  1. All acts of war on the part of the troops under General Johnston's command to cease from this date.
  2. All arms and public property to be deposited at Greensboro, and delivered to an ordinance-officer of the United States Army.
  3. Rolls of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate; one copy to be given to an officer to be designated by General Sherman. Each officer and man to give individual obligation in writing not to take up arms against the Government of the United States, until properly released from this obligation.
  4. The side-arms of officers, and their private horses and baggage, to be retained by them.
  5. 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.

W. T. Sherman, Major-General
Commanding United States Forces in North Carolina

J. E. Johnston, General
Commanding Confederate States Forces in North Carolina

Approved: U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General