Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-04-26
hHERNAN's CONFERENCE WITH
JOHEST0N,
Details by an Eye-Witness-..E.s % ..n
Tells where Wilson 1s--- Wants Lim
stopped, &c. "a

The correspondent OF the Cincinnati,
Commercial, who was present at the inter-
view of Sherman with Johnston and Breck-
inridge. gives the following interesting de-
tails in regard to it
AT the first meeting, at which General
Johnston only was present, no terms were
finally agreed upon. At the- second meet
ing, however, AZ which .Breckinri1ge Off
ciated, conditions were finally accepted and
papers signed.
General Johnston, on the FIRST day, prob
ably learned what GenersI Sherman's terms
were. Alter full consultation with JEFF.
Davis, who was at Hillshoro, he concluded
to accept them, taking Breckinridge with
him, however, to draw up the papers.
This important conference was held at
the solicitation of the rebel general, who,
on the 4th inst, sent by flag of truce re.
quest for a cessation of hostilities until
General Grant could besent fer. General
Sherman answered immedi6sely by saying
that if the surrender of his army was the
object of the truce, he was competent to
attend 20 such wants but if anything else
was desired he wished TO know it, when he
would deciGe whether or not it would be
necessary to send for the Lieutenant Cen
ersl. He was informed that he, General
Shermsn,) was ready to meet him at any
time to confer on the subject. This offer
was promptly accepted, and, through Wade
Hampton, the point of meeting Was agreed
upon. At Mr.. James Bennett's, a little
hut on the LETT of the Chapel Hill Road,
five miles from DuThRm's Station and thir-
ty from Raleigh, the memorable meeting
took place. General Sherman was accom-
panied by his right-hsnd man, his able
Chief Engineer, Colonel 0. NJ. Poe and
General Barry with others OF his staff, and
met General Johnston, with Major Johns
ton and Captain Hampton, Of his staff =
Both Generals we're accompanied by their
cavalry Generals, Fitzpatrick and Wade
Hampton.
Your correspondent "V. H." sends for
ward lengthy and detailed account of
this meetin.-he being the only CORES
pondent actually present during this men,
orable interview.
After the more important questions had
been settled, Generals Sherman and
Johnston converted freely and frankly
General Sherman said and General John
ston fairly admitted, that the grand Army
of the Mississippi was the beat army ever
marshalIed. "Why," said Johnston, "my
engineers, my officers, and the people of
South Carolina all insisted upon it, that
no army could penetrate Sslkahatchie
Swamp, and yol have not only marched
your army through it, but corduroyed and
bridged it for miles, and then drew after
your immense supply trains. The like
could not have been done by any other
army.
General Wade H Hlmpton's actions and
conduct in the light of such manly, y,candid
admission, are suggestive of his hatred of
the people who elevate and dignity the
laborilg classes, and thorough fsnaticism
in his notions of Southern superiority and
chivRlry. He denied that the South was
conquered or even worsted, and fully re-
announced the theory that one Southern
man could whip three Northern men. We
believe four years of war have, at least,
reduced the odds, even in his opinion, from
five to three. During the interview of the
two Generals, Colonel Poe and Major
Johnston, Chief Engineers of the two
armies, had long and friendly interview.
Msjor Johnston expressed his admiration
for the engineering ability manifested by
Sherman's army in It's march through
South Carolina. The two officers question
ed each other about their departments, and
at the rebel engineers request, Poe showed
him our plan OF building pOntoons.
Mainr Johnston proved hiunsalF q thnr-
ongh gentleman, and as he parted from
Ma or Poe, expressed a hope that they
would soon meet under mora favorable
circumstances In speaking of the armies
in the south west, Sherman inquired
where General Wilson with his cavalry
was. "He is at Columbus, Georgis," r.
piled Johnston, Z" and l wish for Gods
sake that you would stop him, for be is
rsidiDg sll through that country, tearing
everything to the devil" General Shef-
man then showed Johnston dispatch lie
had just received from Gilmore, saying
that Potter with force of infantry and
cavalry wss finishing the work of devasta-
ton in South Carolina. Sherman fore
stalled JOhnston's request to have thst
stopped, by saying that he thought it
would not hurt that people TO bear q still
heavier burden. "Let Potter burn q little
longer" said he General Breckenridge
was morose and reticent He showed
plainly how deep was his humiliation. He
COuN6isouf AOM0NeE1 Will buOs6 WHO dQ-
dressed him, and to General Sherman, in a
discussion as to the slavery question, made
this remarkable confession. EThe Discus
sion of the slavery question is at an end.
The amendment to the Constitution for
ever forbidding slavery is perfectly fair,
and will be accepted in that spirit by the
people of the South" If this is the feel
ing of the class he particularly represents,
we hail it with glsdness.
The news Of the assassination of Mr..
Lincoln was received by General Sherman
while at Kilpstrick's headquarters, on his
way to the first days meeting.
JEFF. Davis, it is confidently believed, will
attempt to leave this country, and it was
currently reported that he had already
started for Mexico. He is 10 be Joined
there by the Hsmptonisns and Rosser, and
the 'lasL ditch," and unite with the French.
General Sherman has said that be would
not 90 out Of his way to capture Davis, for
they wouldn't hang him if he was caught.
Johnston has been notified, ere this that
the terms OF surrender agreed upon are not
accepted, and that the truce at tLeexpira-
ton OF the forty-eight hours, must end.
But we predict that there will be no fight
ing. Johnston's army is about Chapel
Hill, about twenty five miles from Raleigh,
With his left wing on the Hsw river. His
retreat has been cut off by Stoneman, who,
though now on his flank, has so DESTROYED
the road that it cannot be repaired. Sheri-
dan Is near at hand, and, with Fitzpatrick
and Stoneman, can alone handle Johnston's
army, which docs not now number over
thirty thousand men. Demoralized and
already beaten, Johnston can do nothing,
then, but surrender unconditionally.
The mails having been detained, 1 give
q summary of news from Raleigh. It was
occupied BY Ki patrick on the 18th, having
been surrendered by ex-Governor Bragg
Msnley and the Mayor Of the city. The
city was at once throughly guarded, and