The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-05-05
the SHERMAN JOHNSTON CON-
Ference.
Description of the Scene by
an Eyewitness.
How Johnston, Breckenridge, and
Wade Hampton Looked.
What They Said.

What They Said.
Correspondence of the Cincinnati Commercial.
RALEIGH, N. c., April 20.
During Friday, April IA, letter. received
under flag of truce, from Major Mcclellan
Wade Hampton, and directed to Major General
w. 7. Sherman. was forwarded to Raleigh by
Brevet Major General j. Fitzpatrick, whose
headquarters were then upon the Chapel Hill
road, twelve miles distant from the capital.
The next morning. before daylight, dis
patch from Major General Sherman arrived
inclosing letter directed to Gen. Johnston
which, it was significantly intimated in the
accompanying note to Fitzpatrick, related to
1.-The beginning of the end"
Gen. Fitzpatrick then sent a truce letter by
Lieut.. Colonel Godfrey, of the LIST Alabama
cavalry, to Gen. Hampton, saying that during
the pending of important correspondence be-
tween their chiefs he, in accordance with his
instructions, should advance his force to Chapel
Hill, but meantime would himself be upon the
Hillsboro road, on which, unless opposed, he
correspondence. Gen. Hampton replied ac-
quiescing, and the Hillsboro road became the
highway of truce.
Captain Day, of Kilpatricks staff, was then
sent with Gen. Sherman's letter in reply to Gen.
Johnston, which was received by Captain
Loundes, A. A. G., of Gen. Wade Hampton's
staff Reply was made that an answer from
Gen. Johnston could not be returned before
o'clock in the afternoon of the next day. On
the 10th a train came from Raleigh to Klpat-
rick's headquarters, at Durham, repairing the
telegraph on the way, with Charles Eddy, Gen.
Sherman's telegraphery aboard, in preparation
for the answer from Gen. Johnston, to be for.
warded by telegraph to Gen. Sherman5reply
to be returned the same way. Capt. Hays, of
Kilpatrick's staff, being dispatched to the picket
line at the time appointed, about o'clock in
the afternoon, returned with the following COM
municatiOn from Lieut.. General Wade Hamp-
ton, to Breyet Major General Judson Knpat-
rick:
HEADQUARTERS &C, IN rIIE;FIELD,l
April IL, 1865.
GENERAL: The General commanding directs
me to arrange for a meeting between himself
and Maj Gen. Sherman. In accordance with
these instructions, beg to inquire where this
meeting can most conveniently be had?
suggest 10 o'clock A. NJ tomorrow as the time
and point on the Hillsboro road, equi-dstant
from the pickets of your command and my
own, as the place for the proposed meeting.
l am with respect yours truly.
Lieutenant General
Major General j. FITZPATRICK. U. g. A.
This communication having been forwarded,
the following was returned:
I have just received and read your communi-
cation from Liept. Gen. Wade Hampton pro.
posing meeting between Gen. Johnston and
myself at 10 A. NJ. tomorrow. You can make
all necessary arrangements with Gen. Hamp-
ton for the proposed meeting. You had better
defer the meeting till IL o'clock NJ. Also say
to Gen. Hampton that should be pleas ed to
(signed) ". T. SHERMAN.
At 1850 A. n. on the 18th inst, the train
1.-TWO passenger cars marked Raleigh and Gas
tony arrived at Durham, with Gen. Sherman
and bis staff, Maj. Gen. Barry, Chief of Artille
~. Coz; Poe, Chief Engineer, Col CASTOR,
Chief Quartermaster, Maj. Dayton, Assistant
Adjutant General. Maj. Andenreid, Maj. Mich
OILS, Maj. Mccoy, Capt. Bachtill and Lieutenant
Howard
The General and his staff were received by
Fitzpatrick and conducted to his headquarters
while horses were being saddled.
At 20 minutes past II A. NJ. the party set out
the two commanders, with. their stats, and
an escort of two hundred men, accompanied
by Colonel Curwin, of the 18th PENNSYLVANIA
cavalry, commanding Gen. Kilpatrick's Eighth
brigade.
The place of conference was "half way be-
tween picket lines" and Gen. Johnston and
Lieut. Gen. Hampton-neither Hardee nor
Bragg being present-were found at the house
OF one James Bennett, some three and q half
miles from Durham. Of Gen. Johnston's
staff, but enc officer was present, a son of
Wade Hampton. Of Hamptons staff, were
present Major, Chief of Artillery, Major Nc
Clellan, and Capt. Loundes, Assistant Adiutant
General. Col. Warning, of Cobb's Legion, COM
handing brigade, was also present in charge
of the escort.
Johnston and Sherman ret;rad into tho bopso
together. Wade Hampton and his son. of
Johnstons staff, reclined upon an old work.
bench in the yard, the other rebels about
them. They were well dressed-indeed, dirty
and villainous as the dress of tie rebel private
looks, sufficient blue mixed with the gray, to-
gether with lace, stars and cuff, make arebel
officers appearance respectable. In addition,
they were rather fine looking fellows. Wade
Hampton though very slightly round-should-
cred, is tall and broad.shouldered enough for
figure, and his flush face is set with magni-
ficent brown mOustache and beard. His eye
brows, though very heavy, and regular enough
to indicate good nature, only contracted over
has an ugly habit of striking, and at the same
spasmodically knitting, his forehead. His
sons face pleased me better. Of his staff,
liked best the look of Capt. Loundes, who
together with Col. Waring-a very wide
awake and aritty little officer-lke sensible
gentlemen, for the occasion at least, appropri-
ately put aside hostility and reserve, and par
took of the courtesies of conference.
I cannot wonder ct the bitterness displayed
by Hampton in reply to Kipatrick's kindly
intended advances. The occasion was q con-
ference upon the subject of the surrender of
his army-his cause having been already rem
dered hopeless by fate, and the unavoidable
submission of Lee. Yet, said he to Knpat-
rick, "had the writing Of the terms of agree.
ment, they should never be written, and
(here there was chance interruption, which
continued long enough for him to have lost the
thread of his remark, had he not clutched it
Juss Teio,e 1 1ss never co1 tha. I,.n
waged war as you have done" Our fiery cav
alrymau restrained himself to simple allusion
to the burning of Chambersburg, adding that
the ruthless pillaging. and occasional darker
outrages, were the unavoidable incidents of
every invasion; that the predatory bitterness
If 4horunan,a oYDoditi0n waa refa1iatOrv