The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-05-05


One remark OF his, though, was very signif.
can't as showing the teud already developing
between the defeated and disappointed con.
federate soldier and the abused, plundered and
repentant citizen. He claimed that the engine
intercepted, together with the peace commits
tsioners, by Fitzpatrick, should have been al
lowed to pass back to Raleigh, as he had re-
quested, he himself having first placed him
self in their path to prevent their purpose of a
conference with Sherman. Fitzpatrick judi
ciously answered that he had determined that
confederate soldiers should not interfere with
the citizens, in their laudable designs of COM
municating with an army whose office and pur.
pose is the restoration of peace and social re-
construction, adding, casually, that the engine
and train, which it would have been poor poll
cy for him, under the circumstances, to have
passed to Raleigh, only to be run off or disabled
by the enemy, was lawful capture, as. though
it had truce flags flying, he was forced to fire
on it to bring it to halt. Then Hampton,
with insidious and OminOus bitterness, replied
to the effect that it was matter OF perfect in
difference to him, how such men as the Ra-
leigh commissioners were fired upon; evident
ly implying that he despised the peaceful and
public spirited citizers who refused, in the face
OF despair, maddened with frenzy like his own,
any longer to countenance the utter ruin of the
people.
About 211a o'clock in the afternoon, the chiefs
issued from the house together, Gen. Johnston,
venerable with intermingled gray, in close
cropped hair and beard, lifted his hat continual
ly to the officers in blue, who admired his mill
For my part. l thought our own chieftain, ug-
ly as he is called far better looking man, tall
err, younger, and more commanding. At the
word to horse" the parties separated, and
the days conference was ended.
what was the result ?" each inquired of the
other, returning; for nothing could be gath
cred from the secret face of Sherman. In the
evening, however, it transpired that the confer
ence was continued to the following day, John
ston owning that, while he himself was pre-
pared to surrender. he could not vouch for the
obedience of his infatuated command. Accord
ingly, he should meanwhile submit to Davis
and Brekinridge (who are supposed to be at
Greensboro, the following proposition from
Sherman: A complete surrender, by State au-
thority, of all right, title. interest and claim of
the so-called southern cOnfederacy to the Uni
ted States, which would itself assume the re-
sponsibility of taking care Of the recusant rebel
chiefs.
Sherman informed Johnston of the assassin
alton OF the President, who expressed great and
sincere regret, acknowledging that nothing,
just at this juncture, could have happened SO
deplorable. Sherman told him at once to notify
his army of the event, ct the same time publicly
disclaiming any sympathy whatever with the
deed, or he could not answer, if the contrary
was suspected, for the forbearance of his own
command.
Together with the dispatch informing him of
the murder of the President, Gen. Sherman
received another accompanying from the Sec
was planned in Paris by a conspiracy, thus to
cut off every prominent member of the govern
ment. and that certain of the conspiratOrs had
already set out from New York to his army,
"are doubtless even now in your midst. be-
seech you to beware, and heed that warning
which the President neglected"
This letter contained description of one of
the conspirators-it is to be hoped sufficiently
accurate to identify him. Detectives are on the
track.
The next morning, the 18th, as bright and
propitious as the preceding, smiled upon the
continued conference. About the same hour
the train brought back our chieftain to sec.
ond and final meeting with the leaders of the
southern confederacy. Gen. Sherman was re.
ceived with that grace which belongs to our
brave young cavalryman, Fitzpatrick. who again
conducted the distinguished general to his flag.
draped quarters-the house Of DR.. Blackwell
the flags, rebel captures surrendered to Kilpat-
rick at Raleigh.
An escort of two hundred men, picked from
the 9Th Indiana, carried sabres, in two ranks,
facing between headquarters and the railroad
track, thronged the fences, climbing every
lookout, pressed the gay and dashing cavalry.
men to view the scene and catch rare glimpse
of the grim Sherman, delighted to witness his
marks of regard towards their own favorite
leader. the bold young raider, whose signal
enterprise was now reaping just reward, thus
made host of the ceremonies of truce, toward
the fastening on of which his own vigor had
not failed to contribute.
The word is given to mount, and the General
seats himself upon o white charger, without
belt, sabre or pistol-an old, low-crowned,
Handicapped, faded black felt hat, clapped
close upon his head-for all the world Except
for his coat, which lay back in the breeze in
very irregular abandon of its buttons), as if
setting out once more "on circuit " from his
law office at LeavenwOrth, to patch up some
exceedingly aggravated divorce case Kilpat-
rick rode beside him upon melted brown
steed, himself belted, sashed and sabred, the
handsomest figure on the field. Present sa-
bres, was the order to the escort as the Gen.
eral passed through with uncovered head. and
soon the whole party are upon the road
AS this meeting proved memorable enough
for history, a list Of the principal individuals
present would not be without interest.
OF Sherman's staff, Maj. Gen. Barry, chict
of artillery; Col. Poe, chief engineer; Col.
CASTOR, chief quartermaster Maj. Hitchcock,
inspector general Maj. Ahdenreed, A. D. C.:
n.
and Charles Eddy, telegrapher; Brevet Mai
Gen. Fitzpatrick, and the following members of
his staff: Maj. Estes. assistant adjutant gener.
al Maj. Helm, chief surgeon; Mai. Dunbar
quartermaster; Lieut.. Col. Godfrey. A. %. C.:
Capt. Brink, inspector general; Lieut.. Lewis
chief of ordnance: Lieut.. McRea, A. A. C. 8:
Lieut. Messenger. signal officer, and Lieut. Full.
Ter, A. d. G.
Besides these were present, Brig. Gen. Jor.
dan, with his assistant adjutant general. Cant
Ward, commandant of Kipatrick's LIST brigade
from which were chosen the escort and Col
Jones, commanding the regiment the sth In.
diana, part of which composed the escort. Col
Jones has won reputation for determined and
skilful fighting which, together with bis looks
formidable in spite of exceedingly reckless at
tire, made him marked man for the rebels
who inquired the name of "yonder fiehtin1,
man" and by Gen. Sherman, who. on o5r ride
back, called him to his side and held him in a
few moments galloping conversation.
Arrived at the house Games Benefits. a
plain one stored frame, with apparently Int
one room, that in which the conference was
held-the out house or kitchen detached after
the North Carolina style, and built Of ioos
These premises, which, however humble this
remarkable truce conference has made iIlnstri.