Sherman Receives News of Lee's Surrender in Smithfield - Smithfield NC
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 35° 30.685 W 078° 20.823
17S E 740598 N 3932996
In the early morning hours of April 12, 1865, two Union officers arrived here and delivered a telegram from General Ulysses S. Grant to General William T. Sherman, who was quartered in the Old Johnston County Courthouse.
Waymark Code: WM17P1P
Location: North Carolina, United States
Date Posted: 03/17/2023
Views: 1
TEXT FROM THE HISTORICAL MARKER
Sherman Receives News Of Lee's Surrender In Smithfield-In the early morning hours of April 12, 1865, two Union officers arrived here and delivered a telegram from General Ulysses S. Grant to General William T. Sherman, who was quartered in the Old Johnston County Courthouse, which stood on this site (depicted above). After reading the telegram, General Sherman issued the following dispatch to his army:
"The general commanding announces to the army that he has official notice from General Grant that General Lee surrendered to him his entire army on the 9th. inst., at Appomattox Court House, Virginia."
Upon receiving this news, "tumultuous cheering" erupted and bands played, as Sherman's army celebrated the news of Lee's surrender in Smithfield before resuming its march on Raleigh in the final days of the Civil War.
LOCATION: Marker is located in front of the Johnston County Courthouse. Marker is at the intersection of East Market Street (U.S. 70) and South 2nd Street, Smithfield NC 27577
Date Installed or Dedicated: 01/01/1996
Name of Government Entity or Private Organization that built the monument: Johnston County.
Union, Confederate or Other Monument: Union
Rating (1-5): 
Photo or photos will be uploaded.: yes
Related Website: Not listed
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