The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-05-26
SHERMAN.
A straightforward Letter of General
Shermaa...Views of a Soldier...
HIS Dtstrust of LaWyers...Amica.
BILE Settlement of Affairs.

bic Settlement of Affairs.
The Army and Many Journal of last
week contains the correspondence and COM
plete record of the negotiations between
SHERMAN and JOHNSTON. Nearly all the
letters relate simply to matters of detail,
and are not of public interest The fol-
lowing, however, relates to SHERMANs un-
Outstanding of the memorandum between
him and JOHNSTON. 1t is characteristic
and satisfactory:
HEADQUARTERS MIL. Div. OF THE MIss.,l
In THE FIELD, RALEIGH, N. c. April 81.
General j. E. Johnston, Commanding Confederate
Army:
GENERAL-I send you letter fer General
Wilson, which. if sent by telegraph and
courier will check his career. He NAV mis-
telegraph; therefore better send the original,
for he cannot mistake my handwriting, with
which he is familiar. He seems to have his
blood up, and will be hard to hold. If he can
Valley, it will obviate the necessity of his going
up to Rome or Dalton.
1t is reported to me from Cairo that Mobile
is in our possession, but it is not minute or
official
Gen. Baker sent in to me, wanting to sur
whole confederate army was surrendered. I
explained to him, or his staff officer, the exact
truth, and left him to act as he thought proper.
He seems to have disbanded his men, deposited
few arms about twenty miles from here, and
himself awaits your action. will not hold
him, his men, or arms subject to any condition
other than the final one we may agree on
| shall look for Major Hitchcock back from
Washington on Wednesday, and shall promptly
notify you OF the result. By the action of
General Weitzel in relation to the Virginia
Legislature, l feel certain we will have no
trouble on the score of recognizing existing
state governments 1t may be that the lawyers
will want us to define more infinitely what is
meant by the guarantee of rights of persons and
property 1t may be construed into a COM
pact for US to undo the past as to the rights of
slaves and 'vacate and abandon" plantations.
wish you would talk to the best men you
have on these points, and, if possible, let us in
our final convention make these points so clear
as to leave no room for angry controversy.
believe that If the South would simply and
publicly declare that we all feel, that slavery
is dead, that you would inaugurate an era of
peace and prosperity that would soon efface
the ravages of the past four years of war.
Negroes would remain in the South, and afford
you abundance OF cheep labor, which other
wise would be driven away; and it will save
the country the senseless discussions which
have kept US all in hot water for fifty years.
Although, strictly speaking, this is no sub
Ject OF military convention, vet am honestly
convinced that our simple declaration of a re-
suit will be acc opted as good law everywhere.
OF course, l have not single word from
Washington on this or any other point of our
agreement, but know the effect of sucha
step by us would be universally accepted
am, with great respect
Your Obedient servant
w. T. SHERMAN.
Major.General, u. 8. A.