Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-04-24
from Washington.
WAR DEPARTNENT, |
WAsHfNkr0N A nril.92


Yesterday evening bearer of dispatches
arrived from General Sherman. An agree.
ment for suspension Of hoatilities, and a
memorandum OF what is called a basis for
peace, had been entered into on the 9Th inst,,
! by General Sherman, with the rebel General
Johnston, and Brgadier General Breckinridge
was present at the conference. a Cabinet
meeting was held at eight o'clock in the even
| ing, at which the action Of General Sherman
1 was disapproved by the President, BY the Sec.
rotary of War, by General Grant, and by ev-
cry member Of the Cabinet Gen. Sherman
was ordered TO resume hostiIites Immediately,
and was directed that the instructions given
| by the late President, ih the following tele.
gram, which was peuned by Mr. Lincoln him.
self, at the capitol, on the night Of the 50 OF
MAJ ch, were approved by President Andrew
johnson, and we're reiterated to govern the
| action of military commanders
| On the night of the Sd of March, while
President Lincoln and his Cabinet were at
the Capitol, a telegram from General Grant
was brought TO theSecretary Of War, inform.
ing him that General Lee had requested an
interview or conference, to make an arrange
ment for terms of peace The letter Of Cen
eral Lee was published in letter to Davis
and to the rebel Congress General Grants
telegram was submitted to Mr.. Lincoln, who,
after pondering few minutes, took up his
pen and wrote with his own hand the
following reply, which he submitted TO the
Secretary OF State and Secretary of War. 1t
was then dated, addressed, and signed by the
Secretary Of War; and elegraphed to .Gener-
al Grant
WAsHIEoToE, March 8, le65-I2 P. M
Lieutenant General Grant The President
directs me to say TO you that be wishes you TO
have DO conference with General Lee, unless
it be for the capitulaiion of General Lees
army, or on some minor aud purely military
matter. He instruets me to say that you are
not to decide, discuss, or confer upon any po-
litieaI questions. Such questions the Pres-
dent holds in his own hands, and will submit
them to no military conferences or conven-
tions. Meantime, you are to press to the ut
most your military. advantages.
(signed) EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
The orders Of General Sherman to General
Stoneman to withdraw from Salisbury and
JON him, will probably open the way for Da-
Wis 10 escape to Mexico or Europe with bis
plunder, which is reported to De very large,
including not only the plupder OF the Rich
mond banks, but previous aecumulatons.
A dispatch received by this Department,
from Richmond, says It is stated here, by
respectable parties, that the amount Of specie
taken South BY JEFF Davis and his parlisans
is very large, including not only the plunder
of the Richmond banks, but previous acenmu-
lations. They hope, il is said, TO make terms
viii. General Sherman, or some other COM
mAnder, by which they will be permitted, with
their effects including this plunder, to go to
| Mexico or Europe Johnstous negotiations
look to this end
After the Cabinet meeting, last night, GEN
eral Graut started foF North Carolina, to direct
operations against Johnstons army
e NJ. STANTON,
Secretary OF War
| As reports have been in circulation for
some time ~of correspondence between Gen
erals Johnston and Sherman, the memoran-
dunn Of what was agreed upon, and the re-
suit Is sa follows AZ
Memorandum or basis OF agreement made
this 18th day Of April, A D., 1865, near
| Durham Station, in the State Of North Car,
olins, BY and between General Joseph jobs
ston, commanding the Confederate Army,
and Msior General W. T. Sherman, com
mandiug the Army OF the United States IL
North Carolina, both present:
First-The coniending armies now 10 the
field TO remain in stdtu quo until notice is
given by the commanding Generals Of either
one TO It's opponsnh and reasonable time, say
forty eight hours, allowed.
Sscond--Ths Confederate armies now in
existence to be disbanded and conducted TO
their several State capitals, there deposit their
arms and public properly iH. the State arse
mails, and each officer and man to execute
and Gle an agreement to cease from acts OF
war, aud abide the action OF both State aud
Federal onthorities; the number Of arms and
Imnntions Of war TO be reported 70 ths ChieI
of Ordnance Al Washington City subject to