Papers Between Sherman and Johnston. 49
of peace & prosperity that would soon efface the ravages of the past four years of war. Negroes would remain in the South and afford you an abundance of cheap labor which otherwise will be driven away, & it will save the country the senseless discussions which have kept us in hot water for fifty years. Al- though, strictly speaking this is no subject of a military conven- tion yet I am honestly convinced that our simple declaration of a result will be accepted as good law everywhere. Of course I have not a single word from Washington on this or any other point of an agreement but I know the effect of such a step by us will be universally accepted.
I am with great respect, your ob't servant,
W. T. Sherman, Maj. Gen. U. S. Army.
Terms of a Military Convention entered into this twenty- sixth (26th) day of April, 1865, at Bennett's House near Dur- ham's Station, N. C, between General Joseph E. Johnston, Com- manding the Confederate Army and Major General W. T. Sher- man, 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 Greens- boro, and delivered to an Ordnance Officer of the United States Army.
3. Rolls of all the 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 General Sherman. Each officer and man to give his individual obliga- tion 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 bag- gage to be retained by them.
