The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1865-06-06

Va och. hohSihau iSpoit, CoScIiuS luc
important points, is published. 1t con-
tains the following dispatch to Gen.
Grant:
HrADoUARrrRs MIL DIV OF THE Mlss
IS The FIELD,
"a RALEroH. N. O., April 25, 1865.
GENERAL: Since you left me yester-
day, have seen the New York Times
of the oath, containing a budget of
military news, authenticated by the
signature of the Secretary of War,
which is grouped in such d way as to
give very erroneous, impressions. 1t
embraces copy of the agreement be-
tween myself and Gen. Johnston Of
April 18th, with commentaries, which
it will be time enough to discuss two
or three years hence, after the Govern
ment has experienced little more in
the machinery by which power reaches
the scattered people of the vast area of
country known as the South. But in
the meantime, l do think that my rank,
if not past service, entities me at least
to the respect of keeping secret what
was known to none but the Cabinet
till further enquiry could have been
made, instead of giving publicity to
documents that / never saw, and draw
ing differences wide of the truth. /
never saw or had furnished me copy
of President Lincoln's dispatch to you
Of the Sd of March until after the
agreement, nor did Mr.. Stanton, or any
human being, ever convey to me its
substance or anything like it; but on
the contrary, / had seen Gen. WeitzePs
invitation to the Virginia Legislature,
made in Mr.. Lincoln's very presence,
and had failed to discover any other
official notice of plan of reconstruct
ion, or any idea calculated to allay the
fears of the people of the South that
after the destruction Of the armies
and civil authorities they would be left
without any government at all.
We should not drive a people into
anarchy, and it is simply impossible
for our military power to reach all the
resources of their unhappy country,
| confess / did not wish to break John
ston's army into bands of armed men,
moving about without purpose end ca
capable only of infinite mischief: but
but you saw on your arrival that ] had
my army so disposed thai that his es-
cape was only possible in q disorganized
shape, and as you did not choose to di-
rect military operations in that quarter,
| infer you were satisfied with the mill
tary situation. At all events, the mo-
ment l learned (what was proper
enough,) the disaproval of the Presi-
dent, | acted in such manner as to
compel the surrender of Johnston's
whole army on the same terms you
prescribed to Lees army when you had
it surrounded and in your absolute pow
er-
Mr.. Stanton, in stating my orders to
Gen. Stoneman were likely to result in
the escape of Davis to Mexico or Eu-
rope,is in deep error. Gen. Stoneman
was not at Salisbury then, but had
gone back to- Slatesville. Davis was
beyond him; by turning towards me he
was approaching Davis, and he joined
me as ordered, / would have had a
mounted force greatly needed for that
and other purposes. But even now,I
don't know that Mr.. Stanton wants
Davis caught, and as my official papers
deemed sacred are hastily published to
the world, it will be imprudent to state
what has been done in that respect.
As the editor of the Times has, it may
be logically and fairly drawn from this
singular document the conclusion that
| am insubordinate. / can only deny
the intention. / have never in my life
questioned or discredited an order,
though many and many time have l
risked my life and reputation in obey
ing orders or even hints to execute
plans and purposes not to my liking.
1t is not fair to withhold from me
the plans and policy, if any there be,
and expect me to guess at them, as
different stand-points.
For four years l have been in camp,
dealing with soldiers, and l can assure
you the conclusion at WHICH the Cab
met arrived with such singular una
nimity, differs from mine. conferred
freely with the best officers in this
army as to the points involved in this
controversy, and strange to say, they
were singular unanimous in the other
conclusion, and they will learn with
pain and amazement, that l am deemed
insubordinate and wanting in common
sense-that /, who, in the complica
tons of the last year, worked day and
night, summer and winter for the cause
and the Administration, and who have
brought an army of 10000 men in
magnificent style across a country
deemed impossible, and placed it just
where it was wanted, almost on the
day appointed-have brought disoredit
on our Government. do not wish to
boast of this, but l do say that it en-
titled me to the courtesy of being con-
suited before publishing to the world a
proposition rightfully submitted to
higher authorities for adjucation, and
then accompanied by other statements,
which invited the press to be let loose
upon me. 1t is true, that non-combat-
ahts-men who sleep in comfort and
security while we were on the distant
lines-are better able to Judge than
we poor soldiers, who rarely see a
newspaper or hear from our families,
or stop long enough to get our pay.
envy not the task DEMONSTRATION,
and am delighted that the Secretary
has relieved me Of it. AS you did not
assume to control the management Of
the officers of the army, / infer, that
on personal inspection your mind ar
rived at q conclusion different from
that of the Secretary of War. will,