The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-06-09

OF the VOlumlnOuS lnSLtcT SO iiOtittIN ior tSiiSo
on the public in the New York journals OF the
24.h of April. That was the first and only
time ever saw that telegram, Or had one Woro
of Instructions on the important matters IN
volyed in it, aud il does seem strange 10 nae
that every bar-room loaier in New York can
read in the morning journals " official matter
that is withheld from General whose COM
mand extends from Kentucky TO Norm Gar
DINA.
Within an hour o courier was riding from
Durhams Station toward HillsbOrOugh, with
notice to Gen. Johnston of the suspension OF
the truce, and renewing my demand tor the
surrender of the armies under his immediate
command. (see two dispatches OF April "a, "a.
NY; and at II II l had the receipt of his pick.
ct officer. therefore published my orders
No. 81 to the troops, terminating the truce at
u n. on the 26th, and ordered all to be in read.
mess to march at that time, on the routes pre-
scribed bv Special Field Orders No. So, of April
II. from the positions held April 49, General
Grant had orders from the President to direct
military movements, and | explained to him
the exact position of the troops, and he ap-
proved of it most emphaically; but he did not
relieve me or express wish TO assume COM
mand. .r
The FINAL CAPITULArION.
All things were in readiness when, on the
evening of the 25th l received another letter
from Gen. Johnston asking another interview
to renew negotiations. Gen. Grant not only
approved, but urged me to accept, and l ap
pointed meeting at our former place at noon
of the 26th, the very hour fixed for the renewal
Of hostilities. General Johnston was delayed
by an accident to his train, but at two P. NJ. ar
rived
We then consulted, concluded and signed the
final terms of capitulation. These were taken
by me back to Raleigh, submitted to General
Grant, and met his immediate approval and
signature. Gen. Johnston was not even aware
of the presence of Gen. Grant at Raleigh at the
time. There was surrendered TO Us the second
great army of the so-called COnfederacy; and
though undue importance has been given to the
so called negotiations which preceded it, and
rebuke and public disfavor cast on me wholly
unwarranted by the facts, l rejoice in saying
that it was accomplished W thOut further ruin
| and devastation to the country; without the
loss of a single life to those gallant men who
had followed me from the Mississippi to the
Atlantic; and without suhjecting brave men to
the ungracious task of pursuing fleeing foe
that did not want to fight. As for myself,
know my motives, and challenge the instance
| during the last four years, when an armed and
defiant foe stood before me, that l did not go
| in for fight and l would blush for shame if I
had ever insulted or struck fallen foe.
HOMEwARD MARCH OF sHKRMAN's ARMY.
| The instant the terms of surrender were ap-
proved by Gen. Grant, made my orders No.
IS, assigning to each of my subordinate COM
! manders his share of the work, and, with Gen.
Grants approval, made special orders No. &C,
putting in motion my old army, no longer re.
quired in Carolina, northward for Richmond.
| Gen. Grant left Raleigh at A. NJ of the 9th;
! and glory in the fact that during his three
days stay with me, l did not detect In his lam
guage or manner one particle of abatement in
the confidence, respect and affection that have
existed between US throughout all the various
events of the past war and though we have
honestly differed in other cases as well as this,
still we respect each others honest convictions.
| still adhere to my then opinions, that by a
few general concessions glittering generali-
ties"-all of which In the end must and will be
conceded to the organized States of the South,
this day there would not be an armed battalion
opposed to us within the broad area of the do
minions of the United States. Robbers and
assassins must in any event result from the dis
bandment of large armies; but even these
should be, and can be, taken care of by the To-
cal civil authorities, without being made a
charge on the national treasury.
| STANTON AND HALLECK.
On the evening of the I'd of May returned
| to Hilton Head, and there tor the first time re-
ceived the New York papers of April %,
| containing Secretary StantOn's dispatch of 8
A. II. of the 9th of April to Gen. Dix, includ-
ing Gen. Halleck's from Richmond of P. N.
the night before, which seems to have been
rushed with extreme haste before an excited
public, viz : morning Of the 2Sth You will
observe from the dates that these dispatches
were running back and forth from Richmond
and Washington to New York. and there pub.
lished. while Gen. Grant and I were together
in Raleigh, N. c., adjusting to the best Of our
ability the terms Of surrender of the only re.
naming formidable rebel army in existence at
the time east of the Mississippi River. Not
one word of instruction had been sent to me
of the displeasure of the government with nv
official conduct, but only the naked disap.
proval of skeleton memorandum sent prop.
erly for the action of the President of the
| United States. The most Objectionable fea
ture of my memorandum had already (April
24) been published to the world in violation of
official usage; aud the contents of nv accom-.
panying letters to Gen. Halleck, Gen. Grant
and Secretary Stanton, of even date, though 81
hand, were suppressed. In all these let;ersI
had stated clearly and distinctly that Johnst0n's
army would not fight, but if pushed would
disband and scatter into small and DANGEROUS
guerilla parties, as injurious to the United
States as to the people themselves, that all
parties admitted that the rebel cause of the
South was abandoned, that the negroes were
free, and that the temper of 81 was most favor
able to o lasting peace. / say all these opinions
of mine were withheld from the public with
seeming purpose And do contend that my
official experience and former services as well
as my past life and familiarity with the people
and geography of the South, enitle my
opinions to at least decent respect
Although this dispatch (Mr. Stanton's. of
April 90 was printed :. Off cial," it bad come
to me only in the questionable shape of a news.
paper paragraph, beaded ''shermaG's truce
disregarded. / had siready done what Gen.
Wilson wanted me 20 do. viz: had sent him
supplies of clothing and food, with clear and
distinct orders sid instructions how to carry
on in Western Georgia the terms for the sur
render of arns and parOliug prisoners the pri-
soners naie BY Gen Johnston's capituhtion
| OF AprI %. aud had properly and most oppor.
| tuue,y ordered Gen G .lmore to occupy Orange.
! bury and Augusta-strategic points, OF great
value at all times, IN peace and war. But as
the Secretary had taken upon himself to order
nv subordinate Generals TO disobey mr Or