Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-05-12

tlemsnly courtesy, and, as he was not occupied,
began 10 converse without apparent const Amt
or reserye He speaks in low tone Of voice,
slowly. and with that del beration which impres.
ses you with the idea that each word is well
weirhed-for il is always the best word, and fully
expresses hi idea.
.The surrender of Lees army terminated the
war he said. and nothing remained for us but
10 make the best terms we could This view he
eNp1essed TO Mr.. Davis who sent for him 10 meet
him at Greensboro, shortly following that event.
General Sherman, he said, was then just moving
out from Goldsboro'. He urged hr. Davis to
accept the situation, and not attempt to prolong
the war, which must be hopeless, and could only
result in needlessly devastating the country and
wasting valuabes lives, which was crime.
These views he subsequently, expressed TO the
| Governors of four States in telegram
ON the 3Oth Of April General Johnston sent
the following kilograms to the Governors of the
States of Georgia South Carolina and Florida
! The presence OF Governor Vance in his camp OF
the time made it unne cessary to address the de-
I spatch to him:
| GREsysBoRouGH, April 30, 1865.
| To his Excellencv, JosEPH Z. Brown, Augusta,
Ca; A. G. MAGRATH, Governor of South
! Carolina, spant4nsburg, via Chester, s. Co.
/ JOHN MILTON, Florida
! The disaster in Virginia the capture by the
| enemy Of all our workshops for the pre- 5aration
| of ammunition and repairing arms the impos-
sibility Of recruiting our little army, opposed by
! more than ten times its mber or of supplying
| II EXCEPT by robbiDg our own citizens destroyed,
] all hope of successful war. have, therefore,
/ mode military convention with General Sher-
man 10 terminate hostilities in North and South
! Carolina Georgia and Florida.
/ Imade this convention TO spare the blood OF
\ the gallant little army committed to me, TO pre-
vent further sufferings Of our eople by the de.
! vaststiOn and ruin inevitable FIR m the march Of
! invading armies. and to avoid the crime OF
J. E. JOHNSTON, General.
Upon parting with General Johnston, one
I feels that Providence must have ordained that
men of such marked chara ter should have be-
| come identified it'll the Rebellion TO give it that
| vitality without which il could never have been
! prolonged for the time necessary TO achieve the
| great purpose Heaven hand in view.
| During breakfast Gen. Johnston exl ressed
| much regret that Booth could not have been
! taken alive, so as to draw out of him the whole
4 plot The southern people could not certainly
be come ctei in the minds of the people with Tie
| transaction. The single argument that Mr..
| Lincoln was better for them than Mr.. Johnson
was a sufficient proof on that point, ii there were
no other.
Gen Johnston said he had no doubt tie Ieo-
! ple Of the South would Gcquiesce IN the abol-
1 ton of slavery. The members OF his stan spoke
1 of having seen many prominent gentlemen in
/
| ton had gone up and would accommodate them
4 lives 10 the new organization. He believed they
! would find il more profitable 10 hire free labor
I than 10 employ slave labor. The only fear he
| had on ;he subject was in the working oil the
| system on the large rice Plantations OF the Gull
\ States.
On these and many other topics Gen. Johnston
expressed the most enlightened views.
Soon af.erward the preparations for moving
were far advanced, and after obtaining the Gen
erals autograph, and that Of the members OF his
| immediate stat / took leave, impressed with the
conviction tina: the South had at least one safe
man to follow as well as good general.
HDos ARMY OF TENNESSEE.
NEAR GREESsBoRoUGH n. C., May 9 1867
| GENERAL ORDERS No. %. -COMGADEs: In ter
minating oar Official re atoms, earnestly eyhort
YOU 10 oIserye faithfully the terms OF pacific tion
| agreed upon and 10 discharge the obligations OF
| good ana peaceful citizens a your bones, as well
| as YOU have performed the duties Of thorough
| soldiers in the field. BY such q course you will
best Sc ure the comfort o. your families and Kim
| dred, and restore tranquility TO the country.
| You will return 10 your hOAes with the admit
| ration of our people, won by the courage and
| noble devotion you have displayed in this long
| war. shall always remember with pride the
lo7al supp IT ana generous confidence you have
given me.
now part with you with deep regret and bid
YOU farewell with feelings OF cordial friendship,
and with earnest wishes that you may have here,
after all the prosperity and happiness to be found
in the world.
COaiciall J. f. JoHNsToE, General.
ARCHE4 ANDERSON, A. A. Gen.
Lieut.. Col. KESSARD, Chief Ord.