Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-05-31
NEWS

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ouEnnlUB LETTER 10 GRANT
Nsw Yeax, Nay S1.-AE abslfaet Of Gen.
Sherman ssp1aA covssins imperteat points,
10 published. Il contains ne following dis.
patch to Gen. Grant:
HRApQ'ns Mn. Drv. Or Mlss.. m Frslp,
Raleigh, N. G., April IS, 1865. (
ss:-SiAcs you lei meyestsslay Ihave
seen the New York zimSs Of the 2lth, con.
tanning . budget Of military news suthenti.
cetsa 81 ~ SitnaSre .eflAe osnstsey ef
War, which 10 grouped In such way q TO
give very aroneous Impression. Il en-
braces copy Of the basis Of agreement BE-
tween myself and Zen. Johnston, Of April
1eth. with commentasies which Il will be
time enough 70 discuss I've q three years
hence, sftcr the Government has expefi.
mented little mors in the machinery BY
which power reaches the scattered people
of the vast area Of country known d the
South, but in the meantime think that my
rank, If not past service, entitled nie, It
least, to the respect Of keeping secret what
Was known to none but the Cabiset until
further enquiry could have been made, in
stead Of giving publicity t. documents I
never saw, and drawing differences wide Of
truth. never had furnished me copy Of
President Lincoln's dispatch to you Of
March 9Th, until after the agreement, nor
did Mr.. Stanten or any human being convey
to INC its substance; but on the contrary, l
had seen Gen. Weitsers invitation to the
Virginia Legislature, made in Mr. Lincoln's
presence, and had failed to discover any
other official notice Of plan Of re-construc.
ton, or any idea calculated to allay the
fears Of the people Of the South that after
the destruction Of their armies and civil au.
thorities they would be left without any
government 1t al. We should not drive .
people into anarchy, and it 10 simply impos-
sible for our military power to reach all tho
resources Of their unhappy country. I Icon.
fess did not wish 70 break Johnston
army into bands Of armed men, moving
about without purpose, and capable Of inf
mite mischief, but you saw on your arrival
that had my army SO dispased that his es-
cape was only possible in a disorganized
shape, and IS you did not choose to direct
military operations in this quarter, infer
that you were satisfied with the military sit
uation. At all events, the instant learned
what was proper enough, the disapproval Of
the President, l acted in such manner as
to compel the surrender Of Johnston's whole
army on the same terms you prescribed to
Gen. Lees army, when you had it sur
rounded and in your absolute power. Mr..
Stanton, in stating that my orders to Gen.
Stoneman were likely to result in the escape
Of Mr.. Davis to Mexico or Europe, is in deep
error. Stonemau was not at Salisbury then,
but had gone back to Statesville. Davis
was beyond him but towards me. He was
approaching Davis, and had he joined me as
ordered | would have had o mounted force,
so greatly needed for that and other pur-
poses, but even now do not know that Mr.
Stanton wants Davis caught, and as my
official papers were deemed sacred. are has
tily published to the world, it will be i'm
prudent for me to state what has been done
in that respect, as the editor of the Times
has. 1t may be logically and fairly drawn,
from this singular document, the conclusion
that am insubordnate. l can only deny
the intention. have never in my life qucs
toned or disobeyed an order, though many
and many q time have l risked my life and
health and reputation in obeying orders, or
even hints to execute plans and purposes
not to liking. 1t is not fair to withhold
from me plans and policies, if any there be,
and expect M to guess at them, as facts
and events appear quite different from dill
ferent stand-points. For four years have'l
been IN camp, dealing with soldiers, and can
assure YOU that the conclusion at which the
Cabinet arrived with such unanimity differs
from mine. Iconferred freely with the best
officers in this army rs to the points invoiv-
ed and this controversy, and strange to say,
they were singularly unanimous in the 9TH
er conclusion, and they will learn with pain
and amazement that am deemed insubor-
dinate and wanting in common sense.
That !, who in the complications Of last
year worked day and night, summer and
winter, for the cause and administration, and
who have brought an army Of TO- 900 men in
magnificent style across country deemed
impossible, and placed it just where it was
wanted almost on the day appointed, have
brought discredit upon our government. ]
do not wish to boast Of this, but say that
it entitled me to the courtesy Of being con
suited, before publishing to the world a
authorities for adjudication, and then ac-
companied by other statements which invit-
ed the press to be let loose upon me. 1t is
true that non combatants, men who sleep in
comfort and security while we watch on the
distant lines, are better able to Judge than
VIC poor soldiers, who rarely see ncwspa
per and can hardly hear from our families,
or stop long enough to get our pay. envy
not the task Of reconstruction, and am de-
lighted that the Secretary has relieved me
OF it. As you did not undertake to assume
the management Of affairs Of the army, | in
fer, that on:personal inspection, your mind
arrived from differ rt conclusion from the
Secy. Of War, will therefore go Oh and ex-
ecutc your orders to their conclusion, and
when done, will with intense satisfaction
leave to civil authorities the execution Of
the task of which they seem to me SO jeal-
Gus, but as an honest man and soldier in
vite to follow in the path, for they may see
something and hear something that may dis
turb their philosophy.
With sincere respect,
w. I. SHERMAN, Maj. Gen.
1t. Gen. Grant, Gen. in Chief.
P. S.-As Mr.. Stanton's singular paper
has been published, demand that this be
made public, though am in no manner re-
sponsible to the press but to law and my
proper superior. w. IT.. S.
New Yonk, May S1.-Herald's Washing
ton special says
jeff Davis IS expected to arrive there to-
day. and will be arraigned soon after his ar