The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-06-01
feed after the surrender of Lees army,
was the highest possible crinie@ John,
ston admitted that the terms conceded

was the ulSutSb pooslpiO CiiuiOf
/ ston admitted that the terms conceded
| to General Lee we're magnanimousand
| all he could ask, but wanted some con-
| cessions that would enable hin to ALA"
| the natural fears and anxiety of his fol-
lowers, and enable him to maintain his
| control over them until they conld be
| got back to their homes. He also want
ed to embrace in the same general propo-
| sition the fate of all the Confederate
armies that. remained in existence.
never made any concession as to his owa
| army. or assumed to deal finally or an-
tthoritively in regard to any other, bnt 1t
| did seem to me that there was presented
a chance for peace that might be deemed
valuable To the Government of the Uni
| ted States, and was, at least, worth the
| few days there wonld be consumed in
| reference thereto To push al army
whose commander had 80 frankly aud
honestly confessed his inability to cope
with me, were 'cowardly and unworthy
| the brave men led e
They met again OH the 18th ANA re-
| newed the conversation. He says: In
asmuch as General Johnston did not feel
authorized to pledge his power over the
L dTTllcS Ill lCAdSt WO w iHSSs
the next day at noon. / returned to
Raleigh and conferred freely with all my
General officers, every one OF whom
urged me to conclude terms that might
| accomplish so complete and desirable
an end. All dreaded the weary and Ia
borious march after fugitive and dis
solving army back towards Georgia, nj,
most over the country where we had
hailed so long. There was but one opin-
ion expressed, aud if contrary ones were
entertained they were withheld or in
dulgedin only by that class who shnn
the fight and the march, but are loudest,
| bravest and fiercest when danger ispast.
Iagain met General }Johl,ston on the
| 18th, and we renewed the conversation.
He satisfied ME then of his power to dis
band the rebel armies III Alabama, Mis-
sissippi, Louisiana and Texas, as well as
| those in his immediate command, name
ly, North Carolina, South Carolina, Flor
ida and Georgia. The points on (which
he expressed especial solicitude were lest
| those States were to be dismembered and
denied representation in Congress or any
| separate political existence whatever.
and that the absolute disarming of his
men would leave the South pOwerless
and exposed to depredatiOns by wicked
| bands of asSassins and robbers.
| President Lincoln's message OF 1864,
his amnesty proclamation, and General
Grants terms to General Lee, substanti-
ally extending the benefits of that proc
lamation to all officers above the rank of
Colonel, and the invitation to the Virgin
ia Legislature to reassemble in Richmond
by General Weitzel, with the approval of
Mr.. Lincoln and General Grant then on
the spot, and firm belief that had been
| fighting to re-establish the constitution
| Of the United States. and last and not
least, the general and universal desire to
close war any longer without organized
resistance, were the leading facts that
induced me to pen the memorandum OF
April 18th. signed by myself and General
johnston 1t was designed to be, and 50
expressed ON its face, as a mere basis TOR
reference to the President of the United
States and constitutional commander in
chief, to enable him, if he chose,
at one blow to dissipate the whole
military power of the COnfederacy,
which had threatened the national safe
ty for wears. 1t admitted of modfica-
ton, alterations and change. 1t had no
appearance of an ultimatum, and by no
false reasoning can it be construed into
! usurpation of power on my part have
nv opinions on the questions involved.
and will stand by the memorandum, but
this forms no part of military report
The news of President Lincoln's assas-
sination on the 14th of April, wrongly re-
ported to me by telegraph as having Oc-
Cured on the llth. reached me on the
18th. and was announced to my com
mand the same day in Special Field Or
ders No. Sc was duly impressed with
its horrible atrocity and probable effect
upon the country, bnt when the proper
ty and interests of millions still living
were involved | saw no good reason to
change my course, but thought rather to
manifest real respect for his mem-
ory by following after his death
that policy which, if living, felt
certain he would have approved, or at
least not rejected with disdain. Up 20
that hour had never received one word
of instructions, advice or counsel as to
the plan or policy of the Government
looking to restoration of peace with
the rebel States of the south. Whenever
asked for an opinion on the points in
volved, | had always evaded the subject
NV letter to the Mayor of Atlanta has
been published to the world, and was
not rebuked by the War Department for
it,
Gen. Sherman then gives his ideas up
on reconstruction, and refers to inter
views with Mr.. Stanton, III which the
latter appeared to approve his senti-.
mcnts, and had urged upon him the i'm
portance of bringing the war to close
for financial reasons.
On the oath, Major Hitchcock return
ed, accompanied by Gen. Grant and a
member of his staff, bringing information
that the memorandum was disapprOved,
and ordered me to giveat once the forty
eight hours notice, and resume hostili-
ties at the close of that time.
Reception Of the Amnesty Prociama-
ton in Tennessce-General Wilson
Prohibits the Assembling OF the Geor-
gia Legislature.
CINCINNATI, May 3l.-The Gazette's
N,,hy;lla disnatch saws the amnesty