The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1865-06-09

idiiihS 10 give ttDely CO OpeTalOn large
share Of the responsibility Of its failure
This is the essential poip, Of difference
between the majority and minority reports
Of the committee concerning that, disas-
trous expedition.
Letter Of Gen. Sherman to Gen. Grant.
An abstract Of Gen. Shermsn's report,
converting important points is published.
i. contains the following dispatch to Gen.
Grant:
HEADQ'Rs MILITARY DIVISION OF MISS, J
In THE FIELD, RALEIGH. N. c.,
April %, 1865.
GENERAL - Since you left me yesterday
I have seer the New York Times of the
Oath, containing a budget Of military
news, authenticated by the signature of
the Secretary of War, which is grouped
in such a way as to give very erroneous
impressions. 1t embraces q copy of the
basis of agreement between myself and
Gen. johnson, Of April 18th, with COM
mentaries which it will be time enough to
discuss to or three years hence, after the
government has experimental a little
more in the machinery by which power
reaches the scattered people of the vast
area Of country known es the south but
in the meantime do think that nv rank,
if not past services, entitled me at least
to the respect Of keeping secret what was
known to none but the cabinet, until fur
ther inquiry could have been made, in,
stead of giving publicity to documents l
never saw, ard drawing differences wide of
the truth.
/ Fever saw or had furnished me copy
of President Liucoln's dispatch 10 you of
the 5th Of March, until after the agree
meht, nor did Mr.. Stanton or any human
being, ever convey to me its substance or
anything like it. But, on the contrary.
had seen Gen. w etzefs invitation to The
Virginia Legislature, made in the presence
of Mr.. Lincoln, and had failed to discover
any other official notice of plan of re.
construction, or any idea calculated to all
lay the fears of the people Of the south,
that after the destruction of the armies
and civil authorities they would be left
without any government at all. We
should not drive people into anarchy,
and it is simply impossible tor our military
power to reach all the resources of their
unhappy country. l confess, | did not
wish TO break Ger. Johnson's army up in
to bands Of armed men, moving about
with purpose and capable only Of in6n-
tie mischief. But you saw on your arriv-
al, that had my army 40 disposed, that
his escape was only possible in a disorgan
lied shape, aud as you did not choose to
direct military operations in this quarter,
infer you were satisfied with the military
situation. At all events, the instant I
learned what was proper enough, | acted
IN manner as to compel the surrender of
Gen. Johnstun's whole army on the same
terms you prescribed to Gen. Lees army,
when yon had it surrendered and in your
absolute power.
Mr. Stanton, in stating that my orders
10 Gen. Stoneman were likely to result ia
sbe escape OF Mr.. Davis to Mexico or En-
rope, is deep error. Stoneman was not
al Salisbury then, but had gone back to
Danvllle. Davis was beyond him By
turning towards me he was approaching
Davis, and had he Joined ME as ordered
would have had a mounted force which
was greatly needed for that and other pur
poses. But even now, cont know that
Mr.. Stanton wants Davis caught, and as
my official papers, deemed sacred, ale
h o.
imprudent for me to state what has been
done in that respect, as the editor of the
Times has
1t may be logically and fairly drawn
from that singular document, the concu-
sion that | am insubordiua,e | can only
deny the intention. | have never in nv
life questioned or disobeyed an order. tho
many and many time have l risked my
life aud reputation in obsyiug orders, or
even hints to execute plans and purposes
no. TO my liking. 1t is not fair 70 with
hold from me plans and policy, if any
there be, and expect me to guess at them
as facts. and even appear quite different
from different standponts. For four years
have been in camp dealing with soldiers,
and can assure you that the conclusion
at which the cabinet arrived with such
singular unanmity differs from mine. |
conferred freely with the best officers in
the army as to the points involved in the
controversy, and, strange to say, they
were singularly unanimous in the other
conclusion, and they will learn with pain
and amszsment that am deemed wanting
in common sense,-ths! |, who in The
Of last year worked day and
night, summer and winter, for the cause
and the administration. and who have
brought an army OF 10000 men in mag
nificen, styls across country deemed
impossible. and placed it jus. where i. as
wanted, almost on the day appointed,
have brought diseredi, on our government.
| do not wish to boast of this, bu, do say
I h at II eptite ga ma N tho courtosy ri ho;,o