The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-06-09
Gen, Shermap's Report.

GENERAL Since you left me yesterday.
! have seen the Now York Times of tho oath,
containing budget oS.military nows, an-
theDticated by the signature of the Secre-
tary OF War, which is grouped in such way
as to givo very erroneous Impressions. 1t
embraces copy of tho basis Of agreement
between myself and Gen. Johnston, of April
10th, with commentaries WHICH IL will be
time enough TO discnss tive or three. years
bonco, after the Government has oxpori
mented little more in the machinery BY
WHICH power reaches tho scattered people
of the vast area Of country known as tho
South. But, In the meantime, do think
that my rank, If not past service, On titles mo
at least to the respect of keeping secret
what was known to none but the Cabinet
until further inquiry could have been made.
instead OF giving publicity to q document
nevor saw, and drawing differences wide OF
THO truth. l never saw or had furnished
me copy Of President Lncoln's dispatch
to yon of tho 5.h of March, until after the
agreement, nor did MIR. Stanton, or any bu.
man being, ever convey to mo tho substance
or anything like it. But, on the contrary
] had seen Gen. Wctzel's invitation to tho
Virginia Legislature, made in Mr.. Lipcoin's
very presence, and bad failed to discover
! any other official notice of plan of recon.
struction, or any idea calculated to allay
tho fears of the people of the South that,
after the destruction of their armies and
civil authorities, they would DO left without
any Government at all. We should not
drive people into anarchy. and II is sim.
| ply impossible for our military powor TO
reach oil the resources of their unhappy
country. l confess did not wish to break
General Jobnston's army into bands of
armed men, moving about without purpose,
and capable of infinite mischief. But you
saw, on your arrival, that had my army so
disposed that his escape was only possible
in disorganized chase; and, as you did not
choose to direct military operations in this
quarter, infer that you were satisfied with
tho military situation. At al, events, tho
instant learned lwhat was proper enougb)
the disapproval of the President, l acted in
such manner as to compel the surrender
OF General Johnston's whole army, on the
samo terms you prescribed to General Lce's
army. when you had it aurrondcrod and in
your absolute powor.
Mr. Stanton, in stating that my order to
Con. Stoneman was likely to result in the
escape OF Mr.. Davis to Mexico or Europe, is
in deep error. Stoneman was not at Sauls.
bury then, but had gone back to StatesviIle.
D"''o WOO uoyoho hBu Dy TO-
ward me nc was approaching Davis, aud had
he joined mo as ordered, would have had
mounted force greatly needed for tina: and
other services. Bat, oven now, l don't
know that Mr.. Stanton wants Davis caught,
and my official papers, deemed sacred, are
hastily published to tho world. 1t will be
imprudent for me to state what has been
done In that respect, as the editor of the
Times has. 1t may bo logically and fairly
drawn from this singular document. the
conclusion that am insubordinate. / can
only deny tho intention. / have never in
my life questioned or .disobeyod an order,
though many and many q time have risked |
my life, and hoalth, and reputation, in obey.
ing orders or even hints to execute plans
and purposes not to my liking.
1t it 10 not fair to withhold from me plans
and policy il any there be, and expect me
to guess at them, ss facts aud events appear
quite different from different standpoints..-
For four years have boen in camp, deal.
ing with soldiers, aud can assure YOU that
tho conclusion at which the Cabinet ar
rived, with such singular unanimity, differs
from mine. conferred freely with the Of
ticera In this army as TO the points involved
IN thIs controversy. and, strange to say,
they wero singularly unanimous in the 9TH
or conclusion. and they will learn with pain |
and amazemen: that am deemed insubor-
dirate, and wanting in common sense; that
/. who in he COM npications of last year,
worked day and night, summer and winter,
TOR the cause of the administ ration, and
who have brought an army of O,0OO men, I
in magnificent style, across country
doomed impossible, and placed it just where
1t was wantcd, almost on the day appointed,
have brought di0oredit on our Government.
| do not wish to boast of this, but do say
that 1t entitled me to tho courtesy of being
consulted before publishing to the world
proposition rghtfully submitted TO higher
authorities for adjudication, and thea ac-
by other sfatements which in.
vited tho press to lot loose upon me. 1t is
tluo that non cpWbatgnts, who sleep in com.
fort and security while we watch ON the dis.
tant limo, are better able judge than we sold.
iers. who rarely oee newspaper or hardly
can hear from our families or stop long
enough to got our pay.
] envy not tho task Of reconstruction.
aud am delighted that the Secretary has
relieved mo of 1t. AS you did not under
take to assume the management of tho ar.
my, infer that, on personal inspection,
your mind arrived at different conclusion
from that of the S Secretary of War, I will
therefore 90 on and execute Your orders to
their conclusion, aud when done will, with
intense satisfaction. leave to the civil au.
thorties the execution of the task of which
they seem so jealous; but. as an honest man
and a soldier, l invite them to follow in
this path, or they may see something and
hear something that may disturb their phi.
losophy. With sincere respect,
w. T. SHERMAN,
Maj Con. Commanding.
To Lt Gen. u. s. GRANT, Gen in Chief,
Washington, d. G.
7. s. As Mr., Stanton's singular paper
has been published, demand this also be
mana nnhlic ihnnn nh / In,