Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1865-05-04
Charles City, Iowa, May 4, 1866.
Sherman's Great Blunder.
SURRENDER OF JOHNSTON.

| .. SURRENDER OF JOHNSTON. ...-
Advices from Raleigh state that the
conference between Sherman and 10.
Johnston took place at Chapel Hill, ff-
teen miles west Of Raleigh. Johnston's
army, composed Of about $4,000 men,
including Hampton's and Wheeler's
cavalry, lay thirty miles from the city
on the road leading to Charlotte. On
the second interview, Breckinridge, the
rebel Secretary of War, was present
and participated in drawing up the
memoranda of terms of capitulation,
which have been published. During
the conversation Breckenridge freely
admitted the failure of the rebellion,
and declared that peace was almost at
hand. In alluding to the constitution
al amendment, he said that it was
strictly the legal way of abolishing
slavery, and he predicted its ratifica-
tion by three-fourths of the States. 1t
was understood that during this confe-
renee, which lasted two days, jeff. Da-
Wis was at Hillsboro' and in telegraph
ic communication with Breckinridge,
at Johnston's headquarters. When
the terms of capitulation were laid
before President Johnson he remark
ed that he could detect John c. Breck-
inridge's hand in every line of them.
Every one feels that Gen. Sherman
committed great blundcr in giving
the rebels such favorable terms, and
has seriously tarnished his former well
earned laurels. The President and
Cabinet were much distressed over the
agreement, and one Cabinet minister,
while expressing profound sorrow for
him personally, stated that nothing
short of relieving him and ordering
him north would be adequate to the
case. President Johnson's views are
known to accord with those expressed
by Secretary Stanton in his bulletins
on the subject.
The feeling Of the officers and men
in Sherman's army may be inferred
from the following extract of letter
from Major General high in command
under Sherman: -a
"Thc terms agreed upon between
ourselves and the rebels are disgrace
full and degrading to this army. The
true condition of affairs is not yet full
ly understood by the rank and file, but
the officers understand the full import
Of the agreement entered into between
u victorious army of 10000 men and a
demoralized, worsted force of less than
one-third its numbers, which at any
time within the last two weeks it conld
have annihilated. Indignation is a
tame expression to describe the feeling
which exists among the intelligent otf-
GERS Of this army" r.. -...
1t is understood that Gen. Sherman
will be relieved by Gen. Grant, and be
required to answer for his assumed of
fence before military court.
Gen. Grant hsstened to Raleigh and
at once notified Gen. Johnston that the
proposed treaty could not for a mo-
ment be entertained by our Govern
ment, as will be seen by the following
OFFICIAL BULLETIN. #
WAR DEPARTMENT, April 25th.
To Major General DIR:
A despatch has just been received
by this department from Gen. Grant,
dated Raleigh, 10 O'Clock forenoon,
Gath. He says: t" I reached here this
morning, and delivered to Gen. Sher-
man the reply to his negotiation with
Johnston. Word was Immediately
sent to Johnston terminating the truce,
and information that civil matters
could not be entertained in any con
vention between army commanders :
b. NJ. STANTON, Sec'y Of War.
Gen. Grant gave the rebel command
er, Johnston, until Wednesday Of last
!. week to surrender or fight Johnston
replied that he would surrender, as re
tquested, if JEFF. Davis and the othel
rebel leaders might be pardoned ant
allowed to leave the country. Grant,
terms were the same as those extend
ed to Lee, and he would not chang,
them. Johnston concluded to accept
and dispatch from Gen. Grant, ds
ted at Raleigh, 10 P. n, April 26th
= says:
Johnston surrendered the force
in his command, embracing all frol
here TO the Chattahoochie to Ger
Sherman, on the basis agreed upon be
tween Lee and myself for the Army Q
Northern Virginia" + EHa 1
!, This virtually closes the war east Q
the Mississippi; but it is probabl
> that the cunning ruse Of Johnston an
Breckenridge. dictated by Davis, al
4 swered the purpose Of the latter, an
- opened the way fer JEFF Davis to q
ospe with all his booty. g.a
! II 10 believed in sWashington tbs
b designs have been attempted on tn
: life Of Chief Justice Chase, as susp
cious parties have been found lurkin
about his house. A strong guard
d now kept around his residence do