The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-04-24
ny TELEGRAPH.
FROM GEN. SHERMAN.
TO THE DAILY PRESS.

""'',se0" t0'sses suspension of Hostttitses
SheTnaa's and Johnston A0res upon a
0@s's or Pe0ce-Sherman's Action is Dis
| approved by the President and all his Cab
uset = Gen. Sherman Ordered to Resume
| HOstittties = Grant on his Way to North
| Carolina to direct Operations against john
| sfon- JEFF. sDavis Liable to Escape = He
| Plumbers the Richmond Banks.
rs WAR DEPARTMENT.,
Washington, April %, 1865.
/ Yesterday evening bearer of dispatches ar
! rived from Gen. Sherman. An agreement for
| a suspension or hostities, and memorandum
| of what is called basis for peace had been
| entered into on the 18th inst, by Gen. Sher
man, with the rebel Gen. Johnston. The rebel
Gen. Breckinridge was present at the confer
| ference.
A Cabinet meeting was held at s o'clock in
the evening, at which the action of Gen, Sher-
man was disapproved by the President. by the
Secretary OF War, by Gen. Grant and nv
every member OF the Cabinet. Gen. Sherman
was ordered TO resume hostilities Immediately,
and was directed that the instructions given
by the late President in the following telegram
which was penned by Mr.. Lincoln himself. al
the Capitol on the night of the Sd of March,
were approved by President Andrew johnson
and were reiterated to govern the action of
military commanders. On the night of the Sd
W AA1ASAi WAAc Lincoln ana MS
Cabinet were at the Capitol, telegram from
Gen. Grant was brought to the Secretary OF
War, informing him that Gen. Lee had re-
quested an interview or conference to make
an arrangement for terms of peace. The let
ter OF Gen. Lee was published in letter of
Davis to the rebel Congress. Gen, Grants
telegram was submitted to the President, who
after bordering a few minutes, took up his pen
and wrote with his own hand the following re-
ply, which he submitted to the Secretary of
War. 1t was then dated, addressed and signed
by the Secretary of War, and telegraphed to
Gen. Grant.
WASHINGTON, March 3-l2 P. NJ
To Lieut. Gen. Grant The President d.
reefs me to say to you that he wishes you to
have no conference with Gen. Lee, unless it be
Tor the equalization Of Lees army, or on
some minor and purely military matters. He
instructs me to say that you are not to decide.
discuss or confer upon any political question.
Such questions the President holds In his own
hands and will submit them to no military
conference or conventions. In the meantime
you are to press to the utmost your military
advantages.
(Signed) e. M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
The orders of Gen. Sherman to Gen. Stone
man to withdraw FIR pm Salisbury and Join him,
will probably open the way for Davis to escape
to Mexico or Europe with his plumber, which
is reported to be very large, including not only
the plumber of the Richmond banks, but pre-
vious Accommodations.
A dispatch received by this Department from
Richmond, says it is stated here by respectable
parties that the amount of specie taken South
by Jefferson Davis and his partizans is very
large, including not only the plumber of the
Richmond banks, but previous accumulations.
They hope, it is said, to make terms with
Gen. Sherman, or some other southern com.
mander, by which they will be permitted with
their effects, including the gold plumber, to go
to Mexico or Europe. Johnston's negotia-
tions look to this end. After the Cabinet
meeting last evening, Gen. Grant started for
North Carolina to direct operations against
Johnston's army.
(5igned) E. M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.