Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-04-26
sherman's Conference with Johnston
.-Particuiars of the Interview.
-ofresPondence ClncinrnAti CommeTc

saerman's Conference with Johnston
.-Particuiars of the Interview.
Telezrsphic Correspondents CncinnnAu Commercial.
WAsHIxGToS, April 24ih ls65.
Your correspondent from General ScbOields
army brings forward the foIlOsing fac's olnect-
Cd With The late conference between Generals
sherman, Johnston and Breckinridge
RAIElGH. n C. April 90. 1861
VIA WAsniSGroN, April % 1865.
Peace from The Potomac TO the Rio Grsnde.
and hope soon a lead you 70 your homes,
were the cheering words in which General Sher
man announced - bis proud army the result OF
his two days conference with General Johnston.
The terms. - they were understood IL the army.
unconditional submission 10 the laws as they will
be interpreted by the civil courts of the federal
government. were read with perfect satisfaction.
strange as IL may seem, the actual terms, as
they are this morning published By authority
from the war department, were not known even
10 these very high authorities az the time your
correspondent lett that arms
The terms. as understood were believed TO be
OF Gen. Sherman's own choosing, and dictated
By him TO conquered army, ana their accept
ance by the government was not questioned So
firm Was the belief that absolute peace would be
proclaimed from Washington, that Gen. Shsr
mans announcement that he hoped soon to
march his army h0meward was accented as
certainty. The real conditions upon which the
surrender was made, when known am conf
dent will DE as promptly rejected oy the aImy As
,hes have been BY President Johnson, his cabine.
and Gen. Grant.
General Sherman, sc fear, has made very
grave mistake, and been fairly beaten BY that
cunning traitor, the rebel secretary OF war.
At the first, meeting. at which Gen Johnston
only was present, no terms were finally az eed
upon, at the second meeting. however. al which
Breckinridgs olheiated, conditions we're finally
accepted and papers signed
Gen. John IN. on the first Gay, problLy
learned what Gen. ShefmGns terms were. A.
ter full consultation with JEFF, d avis, who was
az HI. ORC, he concluded TO accept them, taking
Breekinridge with him. however. TO draw M tht
papers
This important conference vas held st the 81
licitation of the reoel general, who, on the 4rh
inst sent by flag Of truce 4 request FOR Cess
ton OF hcstlities until Gen. Grant could be seat
for. Gea. Sherman answered Immediately by
saying, that II the surrender OF hiS army the
object OF such 4 truce. he Tas competent TO -
tend to such wants: bat il anything else was Je
sired, he wished 20 know il, when he would &c
eide whether or not i would be necessary =
send for the Lieutenant General He was in
formed that he, General Sherman, was ready q
his wants This offer was promptly accepte ?
and, through Wade Hampton. the point of NEE,
ing was agreed upon a. Mr. james Bennett!
little hut on the Left OF Chapei Hi road. five
miles from Durhams station ADD thirty ilcn
Raleigh, the memorable meeting took mace
General Sherman was accompanied by his right
hand man, biz able chief engineer. Colonel o
NJ Poe. AMI General Barry, with others OF hi
staff aId met General John. ton. with Maia
Tol, ! IL
Both Generals were accompanied by ,her CIV
alrv General fitzpatrick ard Wade Hampton
Your correspondent ~ n send forward
lengthy aud detailed account OF this meeting
he being the only correspondent actually preaen
during this memorable interview
After the more importans questions had oecr
settled. Generals Sherman ard Johnston con
versed freely and fralklr General Sherman said
and General Sherman iliry admitted, that h.
grand Army o. the Mississippi was the best a.
my even niaIshalei Why said Johnston
"my engineers, my officers, and the people o
South Carolina all insisted upon it, that n1J
could ever penetrate Salkahitchie swamos, an,
you have not only marched yoar army through
il, out corduroyed sad bridged it for miles, ano
then drew after you your immense supply trains
The like could not have been dcne bV anv othei
| army"
General Wade Hampton actous and conduc
in the light OF such manly and candid admis
sion, are suggestive Of his hatred of the people
who elevate and dignity the lahoring classes, anC
thorough fana;icism in his notions of southern
superiority and chivalry He denied that the
south was conquered or even worsed, aud fully
re-announoei the theory that one southern man
could whip three northern men. We believe fou,
years OF war have at least reduced the odds, ever
in his opinion. from FIVE three. During the
| interview OF the two generals, Colonel Poe and
MajO- Johnston, chief engineers O. the two Al.
miles, had a long and friendly interview. MsioI
Johnston expressed his admiration for the en-
gineefing ability manifested by Shermuns army
in its march through South Carolina
The two officers questioned each other about
their departments, and az the rebel engineer
| request Poe showed him our plan of building
pon:0ons. Major Johnston proved himself q
| thorough gentleman, and as he parted from MAJ.
Poe, expressed hope that they would soon meet
! under more favorable circumstances La speak
| ing OF the armies in the southwest Sherman in
CURED where General Wilson with his cavalry
was. He is at Columbus. Georgia. replied
Johnston land | wish for Gods sake that you
would stop him, for he is raiding all through
that country, tearing every thing TO the devil -
| General Sherman then showed Johnston 4 dis
| patch no bad just Fecersj from Gilmore. saving
! that Potter. with force of infantry and cavalry
was finishing the work OF devastation in South
| Carolina Sherman i0restalled JOhnstons re-
| quest 10 have that stopped, by saying that he
thought Il would not hurt thar people 10 bear q
still heavier burden" Lei Potter burn little
/ longer" said he General Bseckinridge vas
moIose and reticeEl He showed plainly how
deep was bis humiliation he conversed. how
| ever, with those who addressed him, aud to Gen
eral Sherman, in discussion as TO the slavery
| question, made this remarkable confession: The
discussion Of the skareTy question IS at end.
! The amendment 10 the constitution forerer forbid
ding siarery perfectly fair and ,ciH be accepted
in that spirit Jy The people of the south - IL this
is the feeling Of the class be particularly leure
seHts, hail Il with cladness
The news OF tho assassination OF Nj Lincoln
was received by General Sherman while at Xii
patrick : hea6quarters his way the first
days meeting. We have i from General Sher-
man himself, that Gsueral Johnston Vas shocked.
and m .nifeste much feeling ard concern as
an intimate friend would have done And veil
be might, Tor the exasperaied soldiers os the
union army would have cesoi5tcd the lard from
/ the RICH, 20 the lei, The rebel ch.eflain er.
pressing himself deeply Dared ?, the unfortunate
event, he vas that il would be polite IN him
10 publicly Z. IN atty connection vi;h or
knowledge Of esd, @. tae cordu,. Of our
army could not wssel Tor.
JEFF. Davis, j. nfiently believed wiH at
tempt 70 leave the country, and il was currently
/ reported bat 10 h. ready started .or Mexico.
he is % DC i5ined be the Hamptouians and
losser. and the u ditch. and unite With the
I