The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-05-19
GENERAL sHERMAN'S TERMS TO
JOHNSTON.
A Letter, from Hon. +. Ewing, the
Generals Father.in.LaW.

To the Editor of the Cincinnati Commercial
o. The public papers, which defend Gen. Sher-
man against the attacks made on him for his
transaction with Johnston, including the cap
ture and surrender of the rebel army, generaiiy
assume it as foregone conclusion that he maze
a mistake, yet no one has showd us wherein
the mistake consisted, and venture to say no
one can say anything In the matter, either IN
principle or detail inception or result, to which
the most punctiliOus can object. l refer, as
matter of course to what he in fact did, not
to what is assumed for him or falsely imputed
to him. The actual flc.s, plainly told, are
these: .ea. .n .-.i ,at. r..s
On the 18th of April Sherman had Johnston
so hemmed in that he must either fight or sur
render. On that day, and In this condition
of things. the two generals met, discussed
not only the surrender of the army under
Johnston, but the. other rebel forces in the
south and west in the expressed hope that
they might save the furthur efusiOn Of blood.
As the proposed action, except so far as con-
cerned forces under command OF each, was
beyond their power, they agreed to suspen-
zion of hostilities, their armies remaining In
statu quo, until each could consult with, and
obtain the instructions of those in power
Sherman, of course, that of the president of
the United States and his cabinet. IMe iilcI+-
He reported at once. and received instruc-
tons to confne himself to the mere military
surrender OF the rebel troops in his power.
He accordingly received the surrender of
Johnston with his "a. 900 men, with their arms
and munitions Of war; precisely what he would
have done had the cabinet directed him not to
negotiate, but without any attempt to excite q
public clamor. This Is aH Sherman did, and
all he proposed to do, until he should receive
instructions from the department. He held
Johnston and his army firmly, he lost no adj
vantage which he could have gained had he
attacked Johnston Immediately without nego-
tiating. but saved, no doubt the effusion OF
blood. pod s,s r., rr,--,,,-,.rr,,.l.. ...:
Now, am at o loss to find the mistake.
w g it in the propositions which he sent to the
President and cabinet They are greatly
misrepresented in the Secretarys bulletin. But
it is no matter what they were, they came with
no authority. Sherman assumed none, but
simply sent the propositions to be passed upon
by the cabinet Stigma, q very able writer In
the Commercid, and one who. represents the
were themselves the best practical It may be
so, and probably is but anyear's experience
will show u.s. -,e ,.n,,'u-aa.r s..a,,,.,.,
But i this matter, Gen. Sherman could
hardly be charged with thinking for himself.
The propositions submitted were conceived in
the spirit of Mr.. Lincoln's last speech, which
Gen. Sherman no doubt had seen, as it was in
all the public prints; and there Is no proof,
and indeed no pretence, that he had seen Mr..
Lincoin's Instructions to Gen. Grant with
which the propositions are SO deliberately con-
trasted IN the Secretarys bulletin. The prop
oeitiOns may be the best or the worst possible,
but Ia either case have yet TO learn that there
was . mistake in making them known to the
Respectfully, oa,',qa1oo2a II. EWING.