Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-06-10
RALrIGu, n. C., April 20.

In the Field,
go s-.sF RALEIGH, n. c., April 20. }
GEN. Since you left me yesterday,
I have seen the N. 7. Times of Oath,
containing a budget of military news,
authenticated by the signature of the
Sec'y of War. which is grouped IN such
way as to give very erroneous impress
slons. 1t embraces copy OF the basis
of agreement between myself and Gen.
Johnston, of April 18th, with comments
which it will be time enough to discuss
two or three years hence, after the gov
eminent has experimental little more
in the machinery by which power reach
es the scattered people of the vast area
of country known as the South, but in
the meantime I do think that my
rank, if not past service, entitled me at
least to the respect of keeping secret
what was known. to none bus the Cabin
ct, until further inquiry could have been
made, instead of giving publicity to
documents / never saw, and drawing
differences wide of the truth. 81
/ never saw, or had furnished me, a
copy of President Lincoln's despatch to
you, of the 9th of March, until after the
agreement; nor did Mr.. Stanton, or any
human being, ever convey to me its
substance, or any thing like it, but, on
the contrary, had seen Gen. WeitZeps
invitation to the Virginia Legislature,
made in Mr. Lincoln's very presence,
and had failed to discover any other of
fetal notice of plan of reconstruction,
or any ioea calculated 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 a people into anarchy, and it is
simply impossible for our military pow
er 10 reach all the resources of their I'M
happy country.
/ confess did not wish to break Gen.
Johnston's army into bands of armed
men, moving about without purpose and
capable only of infinite mischief, but
you saw ON your arrival, that had my
army so disposed that his escape was
only possible in disorganized shape,
| and as you did not choose to direct mill
tary operations in this quarter, infer
you were satisfied with the military
situation. At all events, the instant /
| learned, what was proper enough, the
disapproval Of the President, acted In
such manner as to compel the surren-
der OF Gen. John ston's whole army On
the same terms you prescribed to Gen.
Lees army, when you had it Fsurren-
dered, and in your absolute power Mr..
Stanton, In stating that my orders to
Gen. Stoneman were likely tt result in
the escape Of Mr.. Davis to Mexico or
Europe, s in deep error. Stoneman
was not ut Salisbury then, but had gone
back to Dauville. Davis passed beyond
linn by tuning towards me. He was
approaching Davis, and had he joined
me as ordered, would have had noun
ted force eatly needed for that and
other purposes. ahasss tfs
But even now don't know that Mr..
Stanton wants Davis caught and as my
Official papers deemed sacred are ha tily
published to the world, it will be impru-
dent for me to state what has been done
in that respect, as the editor of the
Times. has It may be logically and
fairly drawn from that singular docu-
ment, the conclusion that am insubor-
dinate. / can only deny the intention.
1 have never in my life questioned o,
disobeyed an order, though many and
many time have risked my life and
health and reputation in obeying orders
or even hints, to execute plans and .pur-
poses not to my liking. 1t is not fair to
withhold from me plans and policy, if
any there be, and expect me to guess at
them as facts, and even appear quite
different from different stand points,
For four years have been in camp,
dealing wi.hlsoldiers, and I can assure
You that the conclusion at which the
cabinet arrived with such singular unan-
unity differs from mine. I conversed
freely, with the best officers in the army.
as TO the points involved IN this contro :.
versy. and, strange to say, they were
singularly unanimous in the other con-
clusion; and they will learn, with pain
and amazement. that / am deemed in
subordinate, that /, who, in the COM
plications of last year, warred day and
night, summer and winter, for the cause
and the administration, and who have