The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-06-01
0Aszman's oAcial RspsSt. !.
New York. May 81.

SAsrman's ohcial Rspsrt e
j New York. May 81.
Gen Sherman explains bis negotiation
with Gen. Johnstoa in his Official repos
as follows:
It is substantially the same q givel
before the Committss on the Conduct o
the Wsf:
He met Johnston April 18th % arrsne
ed. The interview was frank and soldie
like. Gen. Johnston gave him to under
stand that further war on the part OF th.
Confederate troops vas folly, that th,
cause was lost and every life sAcYi6ced af
ter the surrender of Lees army was ths
hig hest possible crime. Jolnstoa admit
ted the terms conceded to Gen. Lee were
maguanimous and ali he could ask, bal
wanted some concession that would en-.
able him to allay the natural fears and
anxieties of his followers and euable hin
to maintain his control over them until
they could be got back to their homes -
He also wanted to embrace in the rank
general proposition the fate Of oil the Con.
fcdera.e armies that remained in existenSe
l never made any concession as to his own
army or assumed to deal finally and au-
thoritatively in regard to any other, bat
it did seem to me that there was present
ted chance for peace that might be
deemed valuable to the government the
United States and was worth st least the
few days there would be consumed in ref
ense thereto. To psat as army whoee
commander had 30 frankly and honestly
confessed his Inability to cope with NIB
were cowardly and unsorthy the bssvs
men l led
They met again on the 18Th and re-
newed the conversation. He Gays inas-
much Is Gen. Johnston did not feel au.
thorized to pledge his power over the ar
mics 10 Texas We adjourned to meet. tie
next day at noon. returned TO Raleigh
and conferred freely with oil my general
ofhcere, every one Of whom urged. me to
coaolude terms that might accomplish 20
complets and desirable an end. All dread
ed the weary and laborious march afte}
: fugitive and dissolving army back tot
vards Georgia almost over the very oounI
try whsre We had travelled 30 long
There was bat one opinion expressed aud il
contrary ones vsss enterssiaed they were
withheld orinduiged IN b. only that class
who shun the fight and the march, but
are loudes,, bravest and 6ercest when
danger is past. 81
again met Johnstoe on the 18th and
We resuued the conversation. He sssis-
fied me then OF bis power to disband the
rebel armies 10 Alabama, Mississippi.
Lousiana and Texas - veil rs those in
his iamedists command, namely North
Houth Cars1fna, Florida and
Georgia. The points on which he cx-
pressed especial sOiici.uds were thstif tho
armies Of these States we're TO DC disbapd-
ed aud denied repr.sssAtion in Congress
Or any sepsrsse political existence what
ever. the absolute dinrmin9 of his men
would leave the south powsress and ex-
pcsef to depre5stion by wicked bands of
assassins and robcers.
2 Pscsident Liucola's messsge of 1854,
his amnesty proclamation and General
Grants terms TO Gen. Lee substantially
the benefits Of that proclams-
ton to eli officers above the rank of Colo
nel, and the invitation to the Virginia
legislature to reassemble ia Richmond BY
Gen'l Weitsel With the approval of MIR.
Lincoln and Gen Grant then on the spot,
. firm belief that Il had been fghtiog to-
re-estab blish the constitution of the Uni
ted Stases and last and not lsast the gem
eral and universal desire. 10 close . war
any longer without any organized rssis-
tAnce, were ths leading facts that induced
me TO pen the memorandum of April 18th
sig ned by mys.k and Gsa. Johnston =
Is was designed to be, ss it stated on its
face, As . mere basis for reference to the
President Of the United Ststes, con6situ.
tional commsnasr-in chief, to enable him,
n no choseat oss blsy, to .aisaiPats the
military power Of the C5nfederAcy winch
hal tbseatened the natjpnal safety four
yesrs. 1. admitted of modification, alter
asisn sand chanEss ~ Il hsd 70 appear
ance Of sn ulsiuatum and b. no false rea-
souiug can it be construed into 4 dsurpa-
ticn Of power on my part. 4 have my
opinion on the question involved and win
stand by the memorandnul, but this forms
no part of military report.
The news Of the Presidents assassins.
tion on the l4th Of April wss reported to
Geby tshgnph = hAsiag oce9red on
the nth. It reached me on the 18th
and MAS announced 70 ny command ON,