Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-05-25
w n Rr ~ = ActIng secretary Of State.
IRON the Charlotte Democrat

CARD FROM GEN. J. L. JOHNSTON.
We Law before our readers the following
letter from Con. Joseph +. Johnston, stating
the causes which Induced HIM to make terms
of surrender with Gen. Sherman. We be-
Iieye Gen. IOaEston's conduct, and his re-
tusal 10 continue the war after all hope OF
success WAS vain, is generally approved; but
If apv ono has a doubt on this point, the rea-
sons set forth by Gen. Johnston will clearly
show tina. he acted correctly and wisely:
CHArLorrs, n. c., May 6, 1865.
Having made a convention with Maj. Gen.
Sherman 20 terminate hostiit;es in North
and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, Ii
seems 10 me proper 70 put before tue people
of those States JhG condition OF military al
f.irs which rendered that measure absolutely
necessary.
On the 26.h Of April, the day Of the con-
ycu;io9, ty tLe returns of three Lieutenant
Generals Oil Army OF Tennessee (that un-
der my command the number OF Infantry
and artillery prescu; anu absent was 1O,jlO
the to.al present lS,j7S-the encc,iye
to.a!, or fighting force, l4,l19. On the ith
of April. trc dato OF the last return | car
find. the effective total OF the cavalry was
3 40 Bu. between tie 1th and 10Th
Ayril IL was greatly reduced by events ~
Vi-riuil and approximations Of surrender. In
South Carolina We Lad 1Oung'S Division OF
cavalry. less than one thousand, besides Re
serves AID State trOops-tOgether much IN
6,rior To the Federal force IN Jhat State. In
F,,rila We we're as weak. In Georgia ouT
ipateouate force had been captured q. Ma
con. I'm Lieut.. Gen. Taylor'S department
there was DO means of opposing the iormida-
bic army under General CANDY which had
taken Mobile, nor the cavalry under General
WILSON which had captured every other
Mace of Importance west OF Augusta. The
',tler had been stopped at Macon by the ar
p,;stic.. as We had been at Greensboro, but
las distance flom Augusta being less than
hat Of ours, that place was in its power.
To carry on tde was, therefore, VIC had to
deDend on the Army OF Tennessee alone
Tie United lates could have brought against
il twelve or fifteen times its number III the
armies Of Generals Grant, Sherman and
Candy. With such odds sga.nst US, without
the means OIL procuring ammunition or re-
pairinz arms, without money or credit to
proyi:e food, it vas impossible TO continue
line war except as robbers, The consequence
of prolouging the struggle would only have
been the destruction or dispersion of our
brayest mea, aud great suffering Of women
and children by the desolation and ruin iu-
eyitsble from me marching Of 2OO,O 600 men
through the country
Hay!ag failed in An attempt 10 obtain terms
giving security 10 citizens as well as soldiers,
/ had 10 choose betgeep wsntonly bringing
tie evils Of war upon those had been chosen
70 defend, and averting those calamities with
the confession that hopes were dead which
every thinking Southern man had already
lost. l therefore stipulated With Gen. Sher-
man for the security Of the brave aud true
men committed 20 me on terms which also
terminated hos'ilities in all the country over
which 10Y command extended, and announced
IL 70 your Governors by telegraph AS follows
The disaster IN Virginia, the capture by
the enemy otull our workshops for the prepa-
ration OF ammunition and repairing OF arms,
the impOssioiIity OF recruiting our little
army. opposed 70 more than ten times It's
number, or Of supply ing it except by ro6bing
our own citizens, destroyed all hope OF sue
cessiu! war. have therefore made mill
tary convention with 1lJo General Sherman
10 terminate hOstiltieS in North and South
Caroline, Georgia and Florida. made this
convention 70 spare the blood Of this gallant
i;ttls army, 10 prevent further suffering OF
our people by tho devastation end ruin in
ey;tabie from the marches OF invading armies,
and 70 avoid the crime Of waging hopeless
war" - T. "OtNsloN'