Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-06-03


upon the enemy's commqpication in Ala.
bams.
Two days afterward Sherman received
Johnston's proposal for srcohference, Iand
the report proceeds to describe.
TIE FIRST INTERVIEW WITH JOHNSTON.
III agreed to meet General johnson in
person at a point intermediate between our
pickets on the 18th atgnboh1 provided the
position Of the troops remained RaM quo.
was both willing and anxious to consume
a few days, as it would enable Colonel
Wight to fpish our railroad to Raleigh
Two bridges had to be built and twelve
mites of new road made. We had no iron
except by taking. uplthe branch from,
GoldsborOugh to Weldon. Instead of los
ing by time 1 gsiued in every way, for
every hour of delay possible was required
to reconstruct the railroad to our rear and
improve the condition Of our wagon. road
TO the front, sOdesirRble in case the nepo.
tiations failed, and we be forced to make
the race OF near two hundred miles to head
of or catch Johnston then retreating to.
ward Charlotte. ...
"At noon of the day appointed 1 met
General johnson for the fret time In nv
life, although we had been exchanging
shots continually stNces May, 1885 Our
interview was frank and soldierlike, and he
gave me to understAnd that further war on
the part of the Confederate troops was follv.
that the cause was lost, aud that every
life sacri6ed after the surrender of Lee's
army was the highest possible crime. He
admitted the terms concHded to- Gen. Lee
were magDanimous aud all he could ask:
but he did want some general concession. :
that would enable him to allsy the natural
fears and auxieties Of his followers and en-.
able him to malOtain his control over them
until they could be got back to the neigh.
borhood of their homes, thereby saving the
state ofNorth Carolina the devastation in.
evitably to result from. turning his men
loose and unprovided on'the spot, and our
pursuit across the state. He also wanted
to embrace in the same general proposition
the fateDf all the Confederate srmies that
remained in existence.
81 never made any concession as to his
own army, or assumed to deal finally and
authorttaively in regard 70 any other but
Il did seemto me'that thete R6s.preseutedj
chance for peace that might be deemed
valuable to the government of the United
States, and was ct least worthy the few
days that would be consumed In reference.
Topush an enemy whose commander had
so frankly and honestly confessed HE ina
ability to cope with me, were cowardIy and
unworthy the brave men. led. ,Iuasmueh,
as General Johnston did not t el author.
lied to exercise power over the armies in
Texas, we adjourned to the next day at
noon. nor vaFk 1T 4z3EEI1l Slff7
81 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 de-
siEable an end, All dreaded the necessaryi
ElG6ottous marck after q fugitive aud dis.
solving army back towards Georgia. over
the very country where We had toile4 40
long. There was bat one opinion exprnssed
0nd 1t contrary ones were enteFtaine5
they were withheld. or INDUCED In onIy
by that class who shun the 6Sht And the
march, but are loudest, 6rayest and.
hsrCest when danger ia past.
sEcoHD GSTERvtEW WITH JcansroN. -
"Isgain met General Johnston on ,hs
!sth, aud We resumed tho GouvsFsation.-
he ne satlaasd me then Of his power 10 dia.
oana tne rebel armies in Alabama, Mis-
slssiPPi, houisiaua and Texas. AZ Iell sss
t4ose IN his immediate Command. viz
North Carolina, Georgia aud Florids. The
points on which he expressed esDeeial -.
licttqde were lest their sIStes Tefs 10 f,Al
dismembsEed S0d denied repres M Z tinSS 5iSS=
0on netess6 OF any separate political exist-
enee Whatever; and the absolute disarmins,
MA men would leave the South powerless
and exposed q dePtedAtious 6y Wicke6
eands q asaAssine aod FobbstS, THE Pres
loenES u SLl9eolnl Message % 1854; his An-