Col. Robert M. Hughes is a nephew of General Johnston. He will be one of the speakers at the unveiling of Confederate monument today at Bennett place. He will speak from viewpoint of the south.
Bennett Place Memorial to Be Unveiled This Afternoon. . . Many Notables of Both the North and South Will Take Part in Ceremony. . . National Importance. . . Memorial Is Beautiful Work of Art—Grounds at Bennett Place Have Been Greatly Beautified
The eyes of the nation are today centered upon Durham. At a little spot, hallowed by the memory of those heroes in gray and their foes of the north during their presence there on April 26, 1865, when the forces of the Southland laid down their arms, bringing the Civil war to a final close, sons and daughters of both the north and the south will assemble to pay their tribute of respect and honor to the Confederacy. Speakers representing both the north and the south will have places on the program, showing that no longer does the feeling of bitterness so pronounced between he two sections following the reconstruction days of the war exist. A memorial will be dedicated to the Confederacy and will be accepted, together with the 35 acres tract of land, by the state.
Durham has just cause to be interested greatly in the unveiling and dedication of the memorial for upon the very events that transpired at the Bennett place up to the laying down of arms by General Johnston rests the founding and growth. Getting a taste of Durham tobacco, taken without recompense on the part of the owner, members of both he federal and southern forces assembled around Durham cultivated a taste for it and that was the beginning of the tobacco industry in Durham. Many orders were addressed to Durham’s station by men from various sections of the country, after they had departed to their homes to resume more peaceful pursuits than war, for some of that tobacco. With the increased demand for tobacco came the demand for larger quarters in which to manufacture it; with the increased quarters came the need for additional help in manufacturing the golden weed and gradually Durham threw off her swaddling clothes. Today the name of Durham is known in every civilized country on the globe. The manufactured products sent to all corners of the earth advertise the city’s resources. And all this grew from the theft of a few bags of manufactured tobacco by northern and southern soldiers during the time negotiations were under way between Generals Johnston and Sherman for the laying down of southern arms.
The memorial is a beautiful work of the sculptor’s art. Two upright stone columns, erected on a stone base upon which appear bronze tablets bearing a brief outline of the historical importance of the spot constitute the monument. The two stone pillars depict the life of the old south for in ante-bellum days the southern mansions were prominent because of the large pillars or columns erected as supports for the porches.
The old chimney will be one of the most interesting features of the park. It is the only relic of the old cabin in which the two famous generals held their parleys. For a time it ha been permitted to crumble and fall down but within the past weeks it has been placed in permanent condition and will prove to be a very attractive memorial to the people who visit the park.
The park itself has been changed so that no person who has not been keeping in close touch with the work being done cannot recognize it. Symmetrical walkways have been laid and in various ways the plot of land has been beautified.
The Unveiling
At 2:30 o’clock in the afternoon the ceremonies will begin at the Bennett site. Bleachers sufficient to accommodate all those expected to attend have been erected so that it will not be necessary for anyone to stand during the time the program is being carried out. Col. Benehan Cameron, chairman of the memorial commission, will preside over the ceremonies. The memorial will be presented to the state by Gen. Julian S. Carr in behalf of the Morgan family, who made the memorial possible. Following General Carr’s address, Governor Cameron Morrison will make the speech of acceptance of the memorial and the park. Col. Robert M. Hughes of Virginia will be one of the principal speakers, representing the south, and in his address he is expected to throw much light upon the period leading to the parleys between Generals Johnston and Sherman. United States Senator Wheeler of Montana will be one of the chief speakers and he will speak as a representative of the north. Other talks may be made.
Never before in the history of Durham have the people had the opportunity to hear such a number of noted people. General Carr is Durham’s own citizen and needs no introduction. He is beloved of all who know him. His reputation and his name are not confined to Durham alone nor to the state, but he is known throughout the nation. He is a personal friend of Mrs. Samuel T. Morgan, wife of the late S.T. Morgan, who, together with other members of her family, gave the monument and the land to the state for the park.
Colonel Hughes is the nephew of General Johnston and literary executor. He is probably the foremost authority on the Civil war and especially that part pertaining to his illustrious uncle in the nation.
Senator Wheeler is one of Montana’s senators in Washington. He was born in New England and moved to Montana where he has made a national reputation through his work. He will speak as the representative of the north, making the event a really national affair.
Through an arrangement with the Durham Public Service company ample car facilities will be provided to carry the people who will attend as far as the country club. From the country club jitneys and busses will complete the transportation problem.
The band from Trinity college will take part in the program and all of the student body will be permitted to attend.
Dinner at Malbourne
At 6 o’clock the distinguished visitors will be entertained at dinner at the Malbourne hotel by the local members of the memorial commission. This will be an informal affair and one of the most attractive features of the day’s program. Only the visitors, members of the memorial commission, and members of the local committee will attend this part of the program.
Reception in Evening
Invitations have been sent out to the members of the (words obscured) to meet the guests of the city at an informal reception to be given in the Piedmont club from 8 until 11 o’clock in the evening. This is also tendered by the Durham members of the memorial commission. They are Col. Benehan Cameron, Gen. Julian S. Carr, Dr. Frank C. Brown, and R.O. Everett.
The special guests are Mrs. Samuel Tate Morgan of Richmond, Va., Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Reynolds of Charlotte, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cabell of Richmond, Va., Mr. and Mrs. S.T. Morgan Jr., all members of the late Samuel T. Morgan (family); Governor Morrison, Senator B.K. Wheeler of Montana, Col. Robert M. Hughes of Virginia, Col. W.S. Fitch of Guilport, Mass., and Major General A.J. Bowley, commander of Fort Bragg.
Something of the History
For a number of years the erection of a memorial to the Confederacy has been planned for Durham. The late Mr. Morgan, owner of the site whereon General Johnston surrendered, planned to give it to the state but his death intervened. Knowing his desire to tender it to the state, his wife entered the plans to erect a permanent memorial and to make state park out of the Bennett site and today the people will have an opportunity to see the excellent gift that has been made.
In the last session of the state legislature, R.O. Everett, representative from this county, put through a bill whereby the state took over the Bennett site for a state park. With it the state obligated itself to keep the grounds in good condition and to beautify them. The governor appointed a commission known as the memorial commission to work out plans for the ceremonies to be staged on the date it was presented to the state. The commission began its work, together with a committee of local citizens, and many conferences were held regarding the plans of the ceremonies. The work was not without its unpleasantries, however, nor was it without its disappointments but the commission and committee continued their work undaunted with the result that Thursday the park will be officially turned over to the state.
From the front page of the Durham Morning Herald, Thursday, Nov. 8, 1923
Photos on page 14:
Col. Benehan Cameron. Colonel Cameron is chairman of the memorial commission and has taken an active part in making plans for today’s event. He was a member of delegation to Washington recently that invited President Coolidge to attend.
Mrs. B.N. Duke. Mrs. Duke is chairman of the women’s committee which helped in making plans for the unveiling of monument and its dedication to the Confederacy.
General Julian S. Carr. General Carr is honorary life commander in chief of the United Confederate veterans and is known throughout the nation. He will deliver memorial to the state in behalf of Morgans.
Generals Johnston and Sherman. General Johnston, on the left, and General Sherman, on the right, played conspicuous parts in the Civil war for through their conferences the war was ended. [The newspaper incorrectly identified Johnston and Sherman. I’ve corrected it here.]
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