New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-31
MAJOR GEN. SHERMAN.
Ills Testimony before the Committee
On the Conduct Of the War.
HIS REPORT IN FULL.
Important and Interesting Letters to Gen. Grant
and Secretary Stanton.
WASHINGTON, May %. 1895

WASHINGTON, May -, 1905.
Maior.Gen Sherman being sworn and examined:
BIZ tie CAairman-Q. What is your rank in the
arnyi A. am Major-General in the Regular
Army.
@. As your negotiation with the Rebel Gen.
Johnston in relation to his surrender has been the
subject Of much public comment, the Committee de-
sire you to state all the facts and circumstances in
regard to it, or which you wish the public TO
know. A. On the 18th day of April last1 was at Raj
eieh in command of three armies, the Army OF the
Ohio the Army of tho Cumberland, and the Army
of the Tennessee; my enemy was Gen. Joseph 4.
Johnston of the Confederate army, who commanded
so 900 men, retreating along the railroad from ha
eigh by Marlborough, Greensborough, Salisburyand
Charlotte; commenced pursuit by crossing the
curve of that roadin the direction OF Marlborough ana
Charlotte; after the head Of my column had crossed
the Cape Fear River at Aven's Ferry, received
communication from Gen. Johnston, and answered
it, copies of which most promptly sent TO the War
Department, with letter addressed to the SecIe'
tary Of War. as follows:
"HDQRs. Nh. DIV. OF THE MISSISSIPPI. !
IN THE FIELD. RALEIGH, N. e.. April Is. 1905
~ Observation-Disclosures 70 Won with Cen Johnston wfich
think will be follow ed by terms Of capulation Will
grant the terms Gen. Grant gave Gen. Lee, and
be careful not to complcate any points OF civil poney.
t. be prepared TO ud our work DONE IL now raining
in torrents anS shall await Gen Johnstons reply
here and will prepare 10 meet bin in person at Chapei
II have invited Gov Vance TO return to Raleigh.
with the civil officers Of bis state. have met exGoy.
Graham Messrs Badger Moore Holden and others ali OF
whom agree that the and that the States ~
tie South their ale glance, subject to the
Constitution and laws Of Congress, and must submit to
the National arms This great fact was admitted, ana
Nv. l. SHERMAN, Major.Gen."
met Gen. Johnston in person at house i've
miles from Durham Station, under a flag OF truce.
After few preliminary remarks he said to me, since
Lee had surrendered his army at Appomattox
Court House, Of which he had just been advised,
he looked upon further opposition by him as the
greatest possible Of crimes that he wanted to
know whether could make him any general con-
cessions; anything by which he could maintain his
hold and control of his army, and prevent its scat
tering; anything to satisfy the great yearnng OF
their people; if so, he thought he could arrange
terms satisfactory to both parties He wanted to
embrace the condition and fate of all the armies OF
the Southern Confedcracy, to the Rio Grande 70
make one Job Of it, as he termed IT,
asked him what his powers were-whe.her he
could command and control the fate Of all the
armies to the Rio Grande. He answered that lie
thought he could obtain the power, but ne did not
possess IT that moment; he did not know where MI
Davis was but lie thought II could give him the tine
be could find Mr.. Breckenridge whose orders would Dc
OLE we'd everywhere and ne could pledge TO me his per-
sona faith that whatever he Undertook to do would Do
done
had had frequent correspondence with the late Presi.
dent Of the Unied Stats with the Secretary Of War.
with Gen. Halleck and with Gen. Grant, aud the sen.
era impression left upon my mind that II settlements
could be made consistent with the Constitution Of the
United States laws VI Congress aud the proclsms
ton the President. they would not only be willing
but pleased to terminate the war by one stroke
Of the pen.
needed time to finish the railroad from the Neuse
bridge up to Raleigh and thought could put in four
five days OF good time in making repairs TO my road.
therefore consented delay "a hours TO enable Gen.
Johnston TO procure what would satisfy to his
authority and ability as military man. to do what he
undertook 10 do; therefore consented TO meet him
tie next day, the l7th at IL nooD at the same place.
We did meet again; after general interchange OF
Ooureses lie remarked that he was then prepared to
sato of the day before. He then asked me what was
willing do told him, in the first place. could not
deal with anybody except men recognized BY rs az
'belligerents," because no military man could 20 be-
yond that fact The Attorney General has since de-
cided, and any Of common sense SO understood It
before; there difference upon that point 20 to
the men and officers accompanying the Confederate
armies. told him that the President Of the United
States. by published proclamation. had enabled every
man in the Southern Confederate Army Of the rank OF
simply taking the oath Of allegiance to the United
States, and agreeing to 60 to bis home and live in
peace. The terms OF Gen. Grant to Gen. Lee extended
the same principles the officers Of the rank Of Brig
General and upward. including the highest officer IN
the Confederate Army, via Gen. Lee, the Commander
in-Chief was therefore wiling to proceed with him
Then conversations arose as to what form Of govern.
ment they TO have in the Southi Were the States
"a sEa h. al
in Cougressf Were the people there to
be- in the common language Of the people Of The SOUTH
slaves to the people of the North OF course, said
" No desire that you shall regain your position
citizens Of the United States free and equal TO us in all
respects and wish repr eseDtaon upon the condition Of
submission 10 the lawful authority Of the United States
MS defined by the Constitution the United States Courts
and the authorities of the United States supported BY
those courts" He then remarked to me that Gen.
in the Confederate army
by and II had no objection, he would like 10
have him present i called his attention to the fact
that had the day before explained TO him that any
citations between must DO confined TO bcliger.
ents lie replied that he understood that perfectly
" Bot" said be- Breckinrdge. whom you do not know,
by public rumor, US Secretary VI War Is In fact
u Major-Generaii give yoa my word for that. Have
you any objection 10 his being present a. Major Gen.
era n replied, II have NO objection to any military
officer you desire being present part Of your per-
sona staff" L. myself had my own officers near me at
call
Breckenridge came stranger TO me. whom bad
never spoken 10 in my life. and he joined in the
sa,ion while that conversation was going on courier
arrived and handed to Gen. Johnston package OF pa
per; he and Breckenridge sat down and looked over
Them for some time and put them away in tLer peck
cts; what they were knew not but one OF them MSS
sin Of paper written, as Gen. Johnston told me-, by
MI Reagan Postmaster.(eneral OF tho southern Con-
federacy they seemed TO talk about II sos'o voe~ and
finally banded II TO me; glanced over ~ was pre-,
coded by a preamble and closed with lev general
terms; rejected it ut once.
We then discussed matters, talked about Slavery.
talked about everything There was universal assent
mar Slavery was AS dead anything could be, that 10
was one of the of the war long snce detsrmtned
and oven Gen. Johnston laughed at the folly Of tho Con-
In re