American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-05-10
THE CLOSE OF THE WAR,
Special Dispatch to the NJ Y Tribune,
w

WASHINGTON, May l, 1865.
Your correspondent (E. So with Gen.
Sherman's army sends the following dis,
patches to this Bureau:
RALEIGH, N. g., April 28, 1866.
The 9th of April, 1865, will remain
celebrated in our annals as the day which
witnessed the final surrender of the Reb-
el army under Joseph Il. Johnston, and
closed the Shareholders Rebellion.
The presence of Lieut.. Gen. Grant at
Raleigh with the ultimatum of the Gov
ornment, has been known to the Rebel
officers for four days, and, no doubt had
salutary influence upon the negotiations
which hitherto have hung fire. General
Sherman, Gen. Schofeld, and Gen. How
ard, with several members of their res
pective stats, among others Col. w. II.
Wherry of Gen Schcfeld's staff, left for
the front at aishto o'clock this morning By
train.
Benefits house, five miles beyond Dur
hams Station, and about thirty from Raj
cigh, was the place of conference, tho
same as that where the former interview
took place 1t is small and unpreten.
tions country dwelling, with only two
rooms, and small allowance of windows
in each room. The house, however, was
scrupulously neat, the floors scrubbed to
a milky whiteness, the bed in one room
very neatly made up, and the few articles
of furniture in the room arranged witt
neatness and taste. The grounds were
ornamented with few flowers and lit,
tie shrubbery Opposite the house is
fine oak casting broad shadow and 9th
eF trees 9bopt the premises had been trim
med by the Rebel officers and soldiers to
give them an inviting appearance.
The train, bearing the Union Generals,
arrived at the station, OF house, about two
o'clock p. m. Gen. Johnston with Capt.
Wade Hampton, jr., and Major Preston
of his staff with several other officers ar
rived about q o'clock, and after a very
civil but not over warm greeting between
the officers, and the introductions of the
officers, Gen. Johnston and Gen Sherman
Aoll a short privateinterview in the room
set apart for the conference, meanwhile
the Rebel officers withdrew to some dis
tance, and remained in conversation among
themselves, the Union officers doing the
same.
Gems. Schofeld and Howard then join
cd the Conference, which lasted about one
hour. Wade Hampton, having been re-
lievcd of command, was not present, nei-
ther was Breckinridge. The basis of sur
render was the same as that on which Lee
handed over his shattered army to Gen.
Grant. Instead of marching to their re-
spective Capitals to deliver their arms,
the whole force, estimated at 25, 900 men
of all arms, with all the artillery and ma
terial of war, are to be delivered at Green's
borough, n G.
The terms include norecognition no of the
existing State Governments, the whole
civil feature Of the settlement being Iefs
to the people and the General Govern
ment. The surrender includes all tho
Rebels in srms in the four States of N.
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and
Florida to the Chattahoochie River. The
remainder of the Rebel armies-Kirby
Smiths and otAers--wil undoubtedly fol,
low suit.
Geu. Johnston throughout has shown
unmistakable anxiety to close the war
without further bloodshed. He seemed
considerably oppressed with caro- and re-
spon1bility, but maintained his atfab
and gentlemanly bearing throughout
The officers fpally mingled freely Il
conversation upon the war, and the men
argued and disputed about the merits IF
various battles in which they lad taken
part. The conference closed cordially,
the officers shook hands and parted with
mutual expressions Of good will Thus
closes the drama Of four years bloody
and most inexcusable war. The train re,
turned to Raleigh at 9 p. m. An order
viii be published tomorrow announcing
the surrender of the Rebel army. Gen.
Grant goes north on a special train in the
morning. The Twenty-third aud Tenth
A. G. remain here,