The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-05-05
the AGREEMENT BETWEEN
q SHERMAN AND JOHNSTON.
The Interviews Between those
sH Generals

AOuOI0kSs t.-hrt
Remarks Of Rebel Omcar...rs
Of the Assassination or n
JEFF: Davis. 'Ol"
kALKIoH. N. c., April %,
(via WASHINGTON, April PAY
peace from the Potomac to the k,o c,.ns.
and I hope soon to lead you TO your hnross U !
were the cheering words in which Gen. She..
man announced to his proud army the resnit
of his two days conference with Gen, Jobns'
ton. The terms, as they were understood in
the army,-unconditiona submission to the
laws as they win be interpreted by the civil
courts of the federal government,-wer re-
ceived with perfect satisfaction.
Strange as It may seem, the actual terms, -
they are this morning published by authority
from the War Department, were not known,
even to those very high In authority, at the
time your correspondent left that army. The
terms. as understood, were believed to be of
Gen. Sherman's own choosing and declared by
him to be conquered army, and their accep-
lance by the government was not o question.
So firm was the belief that absolute peace
SheTmans announcement that he hoped soon
TO march his army homeward was accepted as
certainty, and preparations were accordingly
made. The real conditions upon which the
surrender was made, when known, will pro-
badly be as promptly rejected by the army as
~ President Johnston, his cabinet ana Gen.
very grave mistake, and been fairly beaten bv
War. '-"' 'o'' ' ~ 't'. "a
At the first meeting, at which Gen. Johnston
only was present, no terms were finally agreed
upon. AZ the second meeting, however, at
which breckinridge ofticiated, conditions were
finally oceepted and papers signed: Johnston,
on the first day, probably learned what Sher.
mans terms were, and, after full consultation.
with JEFF. Davis, who was at Hillsboro, con.
cluded to accept them, taking Breckinridee
with him, however, to draw up the papers.
This important conference was held at the 90
hcitation OF the rebel general, who, on the 18th
INST, sent by nag OF truce request for cessa-
ton of hoetilities till Grant could be sent for.
Sherman answered Immediately by saying that
If the surrender of his (Johnson) army was the
object of such truce, he was competent to at
tend to such q want; bnt, ANYTHING else waa
desired, he wished to know 1t, when he woud
decide whether or not It would be necessary
to send for the Lieutenant General. Johnston
was further informed that he Gen. Sherman)
was ready to meet him at any time, to confer
on the, subject of his wants. The offer was
promptly accepted, and the point of meeting
was agreed upon at Mr.. James Bennett's q
little hut on the left of Chapel Hill road, five
Mules from Dunhams station, and thirty from
Raleigh. -.e tst. s:s.-..g...f ri. ,.a77-'' -
The memorable meeting. took place. Gen.
Sherman, accompanied by his right hand man,
his able chief engineer, Col. O. M. Poo. and
Gen. Barry. with others of his staff, met Gen.
Johnston, with Major Johnston and Captain
Champion, of bis staff. Both generals were
accompanied BY their cavalry generals, Kilpat-
rick and Wade Hampton. Your coirespon.
dent, Nv. H." send forward q lengthy and de-
tailed account OF this meeting, he being the
only correspondent actually present during this
memorable interview aT17i.] a72..:,'z 5i'
After the more important questions had been
settled, Gems. Sherman and Johnston con.
versed freely and frankly. General Johnston
fairly admitted that the grand army of the
Mississippi was the best that ever marched.
Why" said Johnston, my engineers, my
insisted upon 1t that no army could ever pene-
trate the Salkehatchie swamps, and you not
only marched your army through them, bat
corduroyed and bringed them for miles, and
then drew after you your immense supply
train. The like could never have been done
by any other army" 4o& r ID .@.tisiI 9
? Gen. Wade ,Hamptons action and conduct
In the light Of such manly and candid admis.
sion. are doubly disgusting. He denied that
the South was conquered or even worsted, and
fully announced the theory that q Southern
man could whip three Northern men. We be.
lieve that four years of war have at least re-
duced the odds, even In his opinion, from five
to three. sf a47 = 500
During the interview of the two Generals.
Col Poe and Maj. Johnston, Chief Engineers
Of the two armies, had long and friendly In
terview. Maj. Johnston expressed his adni
ration for the engineering ability manifested by
our army in its march through South Carolina.
The two officers questioned each other about
their department, and, at the rebel generals
ranu pr,o eh cd him x1c,. ~ri
pontoons. Maj. Johnston proved himself q
thorough gentleman, and, as he parted from
Maj. Hitchcock, expressed the hope that they
would. would soon meet under more favorable circum
In speaking Of the armies of the southwest
Sherman inquired where Gen. Wilson. with his
cavalry. was. He is at Columbus. Ga. re-
piled Johnston. aud ! wish. for Gods sake.
that You would stop him. for he is raiding ali
through that country, tearing everything to
the devil
Gen. Sherman then showed Johnston a dis.
patch he had just received from Gilmore, saw.
ing that Potter, with a force of infantry and
cavalry. was finishing the work of devastation
In South Carolina. Sherman forestalled SSer-
mans request to have that stopped by saving
1t would not hurt the people to bear still
heavier burden :. Let Potter burn little
longer" said he.
Gen. Breckenridge was more reticentS He
showed plainly how deep was his humiliation.
he conversed, however, with those who i'd
dressed him, and to Gen. Sherman, in dis.
cussion as to the slavery question, made this
remarkable confession-"T The discussion ofthe
slavery question is at an end. The amendment
to the constitution forever forbiddiDg slavery
is perfectly fair, and will be accepted In that
spirit by the people of the South"
Tie news of the assassination of Mr.. Lincoln
was received by Gen. Sherman while at Xii.
patrick's headquarters, on the way to bis first
days meeting. We have it from Gen. Sherman
himself that Johnston was shocked, and mani
tested as much feeling and concern as an inti-
mate friend wonld have done; and well ne
might, for the exasperated soldiery OF the
Union army would have desolated the land
from the right to the left. The rebel chieftain,
expressing himself deeply panied at the unfor-
tunate event. was told that it would be polite
in him to publish a disclaimer OF all connection
or knowledge of the deed, or the conduct Of
our army could not be answered for.
jeff Davis. 1t ia. confidently believed, will
attempt to leave the country, and 1t was cur
rentIy reported that he had already started for
Mavico Ha "a to be Joined by the HamptOre