Durham, SC

July 18, 2014 Arrived at Birchwood RV park 7/16/14 and spent the afternoon at the Duke homestead. Knew nothing at all about the origins of Duke University. We hear so many tales about how the Civil War impacted lives and changed history forever and the Duke's story is one of those. Mustered out of the Confederate army 134 miles from home, Washington Duke walked home to find that all he had left was the home itself, his land, a wagon full of tobacco, two blind mules and a family to feed.  From that humble beginning he built the American Tobacco Company and he and his heirs built a fortune.

Tobacco drying shed
Duke Homestead

Yesterday we spent at the Bennett Place, a small homestead belonging to James and Nancy Bennett, located on a major (for that day) road. It so happened that the location was midway between the two opposing camps of Generals Sherman and Johnson. Some 8 days after the surrender of Lee to Grant, and the day after Lincoln's assassination, (the day Sherman got the message) Generals  Sherman and Johnson met at the Bennett place and negotiated a surrender of Johnson's Confederate troops. It took them 3 days to come to an agreement, that was not popular neither with the Federal Government nor the Government of the Confederacy. President Jeff Davis wanted Johnson to retreat and continue fighting; the Union leaders wanted the South punished for Lincoln's death. The two generals, weary from battle and concerned about their armies fates tried to arrive at a fair surrender.  The Unity Arch was erected to symbolize the unity of the States.

Unity Arch, one column representing the North
and one the South.

Nature walk on the grounds.

Ryan, rein-actor portraying a
Confederate Soldier
at Bennett Place

How awe inspiring to step back in time to see events that changed our lives.