Alexander Dickson House

Johnston and Sherman met on The Bennett Farm on April 17, 1965. At this meeting, Sherman told Johnston of President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, which he learned of via telegram. It was then that the generals began discussing terms of peace.

Sherman was only prepared to discuss military terms, while Johnston wished “to arrange terms of a permanent peace.” This meant that Johnston wanted to discuss political terms, as well. When they met again on April 18, a “basis of agreement” was submitted by Sherman and accepted by Johnston. The terms, which established an armistice that could be cancelled if a 48-hour notice was given, included the recognition of a state government, use and establishment of federal courts, and the granting of political and civil rights. Jefferson Davis approved these terms. However, they were rejected by the Union due to the violence in Washington following Lincoln’s assassination.

Sherman, by the orders of Ulysses S. Grant, called for stricter terms, which Davis did not approve. However, Johnston disobeyed Davis’ orders and met with Sherman again on April 26. This meeting ended in a military surrender ending the war in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida.

The historic home managed to survive for the next century on the original Dickson farmland, though it fell increasingly into disrepair. In 1982, however, the Dickson house was moved over a mile down the road, where it was fully restored as part of a plan to transform it into the Hillsborough Visitors Center -- a function that it still serves to this day.