Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-06-01
Genera, sherna.. R.por, ana ME.
patches.

WAsaiScros. Ma, 80 The reports and dis.
patches OF Major General W. T Sherman. in
reference 20 his operations against General John
s,on, and bis negotatons and agreements with
that General. Wilt be officially published to NOR
row. The following is an abstract covering the
most important points of the documents The
/ frst is a dispatch from Gen. Sherman TO Gen.
Grant, Gs follows:
HEApe'Rs MIL Div or TEX MIssissIPPfl
In THE FIKLD. RALEIGH. n. q,
Apnl q. less.
| GKSERAL: Since you left yesre rday have seen
| the New York Times OF The 2ctb, containing a
budget OF military news. authenticated by the
/ signature of the Secretary OF War, which is
| grouped in such a way "a to give very errone
Gus impression Ii embraces n copy of the basis
of agreement between myself and Gen. John
ston OF April lolb, with commentaries which il
| will be time enough two or three years hence,
| after the Government has experimental a little
more 10 machinery, by which power reaches the
shattered people OF the vast area OF country
| known as the South: but 10 the meantime | do
| think that my rank, If not past services, entitled
me AZ least to the respect Of keeping secret what
was known to none but the Cabinet until fur
| Their inquiry could have been made, instead Of
giving publicity to documents | never saw, and
| drawing differences vide of the truth. never
saw. or had furnished me, copy OF Mr. Lincoln's
dispatch to YOU OF the Sd Of March until alter the
| agreement Mr.. l.. did not, nor Mr.. Stanton or
any human being, ever convey 10 me lis sub
| stance or anything like it, but. on the contrary
| had seen Gen. Weitzel's invitation to the Viz
GINA Legislature made in Mr.. Lineon's yery
presence and had failed TO discover any other
official hint of plan OF reconstruction, or any
idea calculated to asy the fears OF the people OF
I the South after the destruction OF their armie.
and civil authorities would leave them without
sny Government at all We should not drive a
people into anarchy, aud it is simply impossible
for our military power to reach all the recesses
of their unhappy country. / confess did not
wish TO break Gen J0hnston's army into bands OF
armed men, rowing about without purpose and
capable only OF infinite mischief. But you said
on your arrival that had my army so disposed
that his escape was only possible in a dsorganizet
shape: and as you did hot choos a to direct mill
tary operations in this quarter. j nler you were
satisfied with the military situation. A. all
events, the instant | learned, what was proper
enough, the disapprova OF the President |
acted in such manner as TO compel the sur
render Of Gen. Johnston's whole army Oh the
same terms you prescribed for Gen. Lees army
when you had il surrounded and in your sbso-
lutte power.
Mr. Stanton n stating that my orders TO Gen.
S;onemsD were likely to result in the escape Of
Mr Davis TO Mexico or Europe, is in deep error
Stoueman not at Salisbury then, bu, had
gone back TO Statewide Davis was supposed
TO be between US, and therefore StOnemsn was
| beyond him. BY turning towards me he Was
approaching Davis. and had he joined me as or
dered, | would have d mounted force, greatly
needed tor that and other purposes. But even
| now | DO not know that Mr. Stanton wants Davis
caught; and my official dispatches, deemed
sacred hastily published TO the world, it will
be imprudent Tor to state what has been done
in that respect. As the editor of the Times has,
it may be logically aud fairly drawn IRON this
| singular document, the conclusion that | sm in
subordinate, only deny the intention. /
have never In my lite questioned or dlsobeyed ali
order, though mans and many time have
risked my life, my health and reputation, IN
! obeying orders or even hints to execute plans
and purposes not To NV liking. IL is
not fair to withhold from me plans anu
policy, if any there be, and expect me
to guess at them, for facts and events appe n
quite different from different stand ponts. For
four years have been In camp dealing with sol
diers, and l can assure you that the conclusion
at which the Cabinet arrived with such singular
unanimlty, differs from mine. | conferred freely
with the officers in the arm, ~ the points
involved IN this controversy, and strange 70 say,
they sngulaTly harmonious in the other
conclusion. snd they will learn with pain aud
amsZement that Was deemed insuboriinste and
wanting IN common sense; that i, who, in the
campaigns of last year, worked day and night,
summer AID win er Tor the cause aud the Admin
I-tratiou, and who have brought army orser
onty thousand men in magnificent condition
acTosS country, deeTed impossible, aud placed
it just wher il wanted, on the day appointed,
have brought dlscreclt on our Government. /
do not wish 10 boast Of this but do say that il
entitled me to the courtesy OF being consulted
before publishing TO the whole world PROPOSE
ton rghtiully submitted 10 higher authority for
proper adjudication and then accompanied by
other statements which invited the press TO be
let loose upon me Lis il true, that non comoa-
tants, who sleep 10 comfort and security, whilst
We watch in the distance, are better able 10
judge than poor soldiers, who rarely see a
newspaper, can hardly hear from orr families or
stop long enough TO get our pay, Il envy not
the task of reconstruction, aud delighted that
the Secretary has relieved me of it.
As you did not undertake TO assume the man
agement of affairs OF thi. army, / infer that ON
personal inspection your mind arrived at a diff
ferent conclusion from that Of the Secretary of
War. L will therefore 20 on and execute your
orders to their conclusion, AID. when done, will
with intense satisfaction, leave to the civil au-
shorties the execution OF the task of which they
seem to me so jealous; but, as an honest man
and soldier, invite them 10 follow my path, tor
they may see some things and hear some things
that may disturb their philosophy
With sincere respect,
W T. SHERMAN,
Major General Commanding
Lieut.. Gen. IT, 5. Grant, General in Chief
Washington. d g.
Z. S.-As Mr.. Stanton's singular paper, has
been published i demand that this also be made
public, though | am i'll no manner responsible 10
the press, but TO the Law and my proper supe-
riors. W. /. SHERNAS,
Major General Commanding
Under date OF City Point, Virginia, May 9th,
General Sherman forwards a detailed report Of
his erstions from April LIST. to which time it
appears they had been brought down in previous
reports He says: At that time all were busy in
repairing the wear and tear OF our then receut
hard march from Savannah, and repIenishing
clothing aud stores necessary for further bro
gress. | had previously. by letter and in person,
notified the Lieutenant General commanding the
armies of the United States, that the 10th of
A pril would be the earliest possible moment at
which he could hope to have my things in resdi
ness, aud We were compelled TO use our railroads
to the very highest possible limit, in order TO
fulfil that promise. Owing TO s mistake in the
Railroad Department in Seeding locomotives aud
cars OF wrong guage, the four foot sight and
half inch guage already in North Carolina, with
such OF their old stock as was captured by Major
General Terry at Wilmington and on his g.y