The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-06-09

enable him to maintain his control over them
until they could be got back to the neighbOr-
hood of their homes, thereby saving the state
of North Carolina the deVas tatiOn inevitably to
result from turning his men loose and unpro-
vided on the spot, and our pursuit across the
State. He also wanted to embrace in the same
general proposition the fate of all the COnted-
crate armies that remained in existence.
never made any concession as to his own
army, or assumed to deal finally and authorita-
lively in regard to any other, but it did seem
to me that there was presented chance for
government of the United States, and was at
least worthy the few days that would be con-
.sumed in reference. To push an enemy whose
commander had so frankly and honestly con-
fessed his inability to cope with me, were cow
ardly and unworthy the brave men led. In
asmuch as Gen. Johnston did not feel author
lied to exercise power over the armies in
Texas, we adjourned to the next day at noon.
Ireturned to Raleigh, and conferred freely
with all my general officers, every one of whom
urged me to conclude terms that might accom-
plish so complete and desirable an end All
dreaded the necessary laboriOus march after
fugitive and dissolving army back towards
Georgia, over the very country where we had
toiled so long There was but one opinion eX-
pressed, and, if contrary ones were entertained,
they were withheld, or indulged in only by
that class who shun the fight and the march,
but are loudest, bravest, and fercest when dan
ger Is past n.- ..a % Ike. d.
SECOND INTERVIEW WITH JOHNSTON.
again met Gen. Johnston on the 18th, and
we resumed the conversation. He satisfied me
then of his power to dsband the rebel armies
in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas,
as well as those in his immediate command,
viz: North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
The points on which he expressed especial
y.-x xl.o:. 4
membered and denied representation in Con-
gress, or any separate political existence what
ever; and the absolute disarming his men would
leave the South powerless and exposed to de-
predations by wicked bands of assassins and
robbers The Presidents (Lincoln) Message of
1864; his Amnesty Proclamation; Gen Grants
terms to Gen. Lee, substantially extending the
benefit of that proclamation to all officers above
the rank of colonel the invitation to the Vir-
ginia legislature to reassemble In Richmond,
by Gen. Weitzel, with the supposed approval of
Mr.. Lincoln and Gen. Grant, then on the spot;
firm belief that had been fighting to re-
establish the Constitution of the United States;
and last but not least, the general and univer-
sal desire to close war any longer without
organized resistance, were the leading facts that
induced me to pen the memorandum Of April
Is, signed by myself and Gen. Johnston. It
was designed to be- and SO expressed as mere
basis for reference to the President of the Uni
ted States and constitutional commander-in-
chief, to enable him, If he chose, at one blow
to dissipate the power of the confederacy which
had threatened the national safety for years.
1t admitted OF modification, alteration and
change. 1t had mo appearance of an ultimaturn,
and by no false reasoning can 1t be construed
into an usurpaion of power on my part.
have my opinion on the questions involved,
out this forms 20 part of military report"
Immediately on my return to Raleigh dis.
patched one of my staff Major Hitchcock, to
Washington, enjoining him to be most prudent
and careful to avoid the spies and i1formers
that would I've sure to infest him by the way,
and to say nothing to anybody until the Presi-
dent could make known to me his feelings and
wishes In the matter ... ..,. ...... no .ul e.
THE NEWS or THE PRESIDENTS DEATH. -
The news Of President Lincoln's assassina-
ton, on the 14lh of April (wrongly reported
oy telegraph as having occurred on the 11th),
rea"hed me on The 18th, and was announced to
my command on the same day, in Field Orders
No. 66. was duly informed with its horrible
atrocity and probable effects on the country.
But when the property and interests of millions
still living were involved l saw no good rea-
son why to change my course, but thought
rather to manifest real respect for his memory
by following. after his death that policy which,
ii living, felt certain he would have approved,
~dSSsS~
GEN. SHERMAN AND sRCRErRY STANTON.
Up to that hour had never received one
word of instruction, advice or counsel as to
the plan or policy Of the government looking
to a restoration of peace on the part of the
rebel States OF the South. Whenever asked
for an opinion on the points involved, had
always avoided the subject. My letter to the
Mayor Of Atlanta has been published to the
world, and l was not rebuked by the War De-
partment for it Ny letter to Mr. -, of Sa-
vannah. was shown by me to Mr. Stanton, be-
fore its publication, and all that nv memory
retains Of his answer is that he said, like my
letters generally, it was sufficiently emphatic
and would not be misunderstood Both these
letters asserted my belief that according to Mr.,
Lineolns proclamation and messages, when
the people of the South laid down their arms
and submitted to the lawful powers of the
United States, ipso facto, the war was over as
to them and furthermore, that If any State
in rebellion would conform to the constitution
of the United States, cease wa-, elect Senators
and Representatives to Congress, if admitted
(of which each House of Congress alone is the
iudge) that State become instanter as much in
the Union as New York or Ohio. Nor were I
rebuked for these expressions, though it was
universally known and commented on at the
time. And again Mr.. Stanton in person at Sa-
ysnnah, speaking of the terrific expense of the
war and difficulty of realizing the money for
the daily wants of the government, impressed
me most forcibly with The necessity of bringing
the war to close as soon as possible for 6nan-
cial reasons. --.. ... e..
THE REJECTION OF THE AGREEMENT
On the evening of April g. Major Hitchcock
reported to Morehead City with dispatches of
which fact Gen. Johnston at HillsbOrOugh was
notified, so as to be ready in the morning for
an answer At 6 o'clock A. NJ. on the 2ith
Major Hitchcock arrived, accompanied by Gen.
Grant and members of his staff, who had not
teley,aphed the fact OF his coming over our
exposed roads for prudential reasons. soon
learned that the memorandum was disapproved
without reasons assigned, and was ordered to
give the forty .eight hours notice. and resume
hos,ilities at the close of that time; governing
myself by the substance of despatch then
enclosed, dated March 8, II NJ, at Washington,
D. c., from Secretary Stanton, to Gen. Grant
at City Point, but not accompanied by any part