Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-06-01
Up GelsgtxaB.
General Sherman's Report-A Dis
patch from Sherman to Grant.

06ueE61 04efmaQ AepOfG.-A Dis
patch from Sherman to Grant.
NEw York, May 31.-An abstract O.
Gen. Sherman's report concerning the i'm
portant points, is published. Il contains
the following dispatch to General Grant,
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF
MIssIssIPPI, IN TIE FIBLD, RALEIGH, N, G,
April 2S, -GenerGL:-Since You left
me yesterday, have seen the New YorL
Times of the 18th, containing budget Of
military news, authenticated by the sigua.
ture of the Secretary of War, which Il
grouped in such way as to give very er.
roneous impressions. It embraces a CODY
OF the basis of agreement between myself
and General Johnston, of April 10Th, with
commentaries, which it will be time
enough to discuss two or three years hence,
after the government has experimental a
little more in the machinery by which pow.
er reaches the scattered people of the vast
area OF country known as the South; but
in the meantime, think that my rank, If
not past service, entitled me at least to the
respect Of keeping secret that which
was known to none but the cabinet until
further inquiry could have been made, in
stead of giving publicity to documents 1
never saw, and drawing differences wide of
the truth. 1 never saw or had furnished
me copy of President Lincoln's dispatch
to you of the 9th of March, until after the
agreement, nor did Mr.. Stanton, or any
other human being, ever convey to me it's
substance or anything like 1t, but, on the
contrary, 1 had seen Gen. Weitzel's invita-.
ton to the Virginia Legislature, made in
Mr.. Lincoln's very presence, and had fail
ed to discover any other official notice of
q plan of reconstruction, or any idea cal.
culated to allay the fears of the people of
the South; that after the destruction of the
armies and civil authorities they would be
left without any government at all.
We should not drive people into
anarchy, and it is simply impossible for our
military power to reach all the resources
Of their unhsppy country. 1 confess did
not wish to break Gen. Johuston's army
into bands of armed men, moving about
without purpose, and capable only of in-
ficting mischief; but you saw on your
arrival that had my army 80 disposed
that his escape was only possible in a dis
organized shape, and as you did not choose
to direct my operations in this quarter,
infer you were satisfied with the military
situstion. At all events, the instant.
learned, what was proper enough, the dis
approval of the President, l acted in such
Gen. Johnston's whole army on the same
terms you prescribed to Lees army when
you had it surrounded and in your absolute
power. Mr.. Stanton, in stating that my
orders to Gen. Stoneman were likely to re-
suit in the escape of Mr.. Davis to Mexico
or Europe, Is in deep error. Stoneman was
not at Salisbury then, but had gone back
to SharpesVille. By turning towards me
he was approaching Davis, and had he
Joined me, as ordered, would have had
mounted force greatly needed for that aud
other purposes. But even now don't
know that Mr.. Stanton wants Davis caught,
and as my official papers, deemed sacred,
are hastily published to the world, it will
be imprudent for me to state what has
been done in that respect IS the editor of
the Times has.
1t may be logically and fairly drawn
from the singular document, the conclusion
that am insubordinate. 1 can only denv
the intimation. 1 have never in nv life
questioned or disobeyed an order, though
many and many time have rfsked INV
life and health and reputation, in obeyinp
orders or even hints TO execute plans and
purposes not to my liking. 1t is not fair
to withhold from me the plans and policy,
If any there be, and expect me to guess at
terent from different stand points. For
four years 1 have been in camp dealing
with soldiers, aud can assure You that the
conclusion at which the cabinet arrived
with such singular unanimity differs from
mine. l conferred freely with the best Of
fcers in this army as to the points involved
In this controversy, and strange to say they
we're singularly unanimous in the other
and they will learn With pain
end amazement that am deemed insubor.
dinRte and wanting In common sense that
who, in the complications of the last
year, worked day and night, summer and
winter, for the cause and the administra-
ton, and who have brought an army of
20 1000 men in magnificent style across a
country deemed impossible, and placed il
just where it was wanted, almost on the
day appointed. have brought no dis
credit on our government
do not wish to boast of this, but do
say that 1 am entitled to the courtesy of
being consulted before publishing to the
world proposition rightfully submitted
to higher authorities for adjudication, and
then accompanied by other statements
which invited the press to be let loose upon
me. 1t is true that non-combatants, who
sleep in comfort and security, while we
watch in the distant line, are better able
TO judge than we soldiers, who rarely see
a newspaper-hardly can hear from our
families or stop long enough to get our
pay. envy not the task of re-construc.
ton, and am delighted that the Secretary
has relieved me of it. AZ you did not IN.
dertake to assume the management of the
army, infer that on personal interview
you arrived at different conclusion from
that of the Secretary of war. will there
fore execute their orders to their conclu.
sion, and when done will with intense sat-
isfaction leave 70 the civil authorities the
execution of the task of which they seem
to me SO Jealous; but as an honest man
and soldier invite them to follow my path,
for they may see and hear something that
may disturb their philosophy.