Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-06-02
osn. shsrmAn Rxplains
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Il +, w.~.x. NJ si.-RsA. shalsn e =.
-,.;na ID negotiations with Johnston y 49,: y.
o~s. II il substantially the same = = ~ ~
hs6ur. tho Comnittee On ths Ceeess's
War: .,.. arranged,
- ~ ISSSIv - Ifsnk ano ~. ~.
enc ~ -. h,,r 10 understand tnas ..I-
s ~ ~. - efshs Ceessds...s liz. iI.s
tnR ~ ~ sIss The csuse was iost; tnas
ccs va Io' n. .sscriflced since Lees surren"
tnas eye.{ "hS.hest possible crime. Jonn-
~. an the terms conceded Lee
ston s on, and all he could ask but
were ~. Ss..s oopoeasions that would enable
b mar he natural fears and snxieties
nm NM - cssictrs, and t6Aenable hin - min
o. ~ ~ control over them unfh tGsy could
- 49,. rot back to their homes. He wanted to
embrace in some general proposition the
fate Of Ill confedeSats armies that remained
IN existence. Inever made my concession
Is to his army, or assumed to deal finally
and authoritatisely in feGard To- eny other,,
but il did seem to me chat there presented :
chance for peace that might Be valpsbls to
the government Of the U. S., that would be
worth The few. days that would be consumed
in pushing an army, whose commander had
so frankly md honestly confessed his ina
biity 10 cope wittime. We met again on the
18th. He says inasmuch Is Johnston did
not feel authorized TO pledge his power over
the armies in Texas, we adjourned to meet
again next day At noon.
returned to Raleigh and conferred free
ly with all my general officers, every one Of
whom urged me to conclude terms that
accomplish SO complete and desirable an
end. All dreaded the weary and laborious
march after / fugitive, and turning the army
back towards Georgia. almost over the very
country where We toiled SO long. There
was but one opinion, and contrary ones
were entertained OF INDUCED in only BY that
class who shun the fight and march, but are
the loudest and ficrce6t when the danger is
past. ~
again met Johnston on the 18th, and
renew0a the conyersatiOu. He soGis6od me
THEN Of his Povsr to dsband the rebel ar
mics in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and
Texas, as well as those in his immediate
command, Wig: North Carolina, South Car
DINA, Florida and Georgia. The points on
which he expressed especial solicitudc were
lest those States were TO be disbanded, and
be denied representation in Congress or
any separate political existence whatever,
and that absolute disarming Of his men
would leave the South powerless and ex.
posed to deprcdations by wicked bands Of
assassins and robbers.
President Lincoln's message of 1864 his
amnesty proclamation and General Grants
terms to Lee, substantially extending the
benefits Of that proclamation TO all officers
above tho rank of Colonel, and the invita-
ton to the Virginia Legislature to reassefn-
bic in Richmond by Gen. Weitxel, with the
approval OF Mr.. Lincoln aad Gen. Grant,
then on the spot, u firm belief that had
been fighting to re-establish the Constitu-
ton of the United States, and last but not
least, the general desire 10 close the war,
were the leading facts that induced me to
pen the memorandum of April 18th, signed
by myself and Gen. Johnston. 1t was de-
signed to be, and so expressed on its face, rs
mere basis for reference 10 the President
of the United States, as Constitutional com
manderin in. chief, TO enable him. if he chose,
at blow to dissipate the military power OF
the Confcderacy, which had threatened the
National safety for years. 1t admitted Of
modification, alteration and change. 1t had
no appearance Of an ultimatum. BY no false
reasoning can il be construed into usurpa'
ton of power on my part. have my opin-
ion on the questions involved, and will stand
by the memorandum.
But this forms no part of amilltary report.
The news of President l.lncons assassin.
alton, on the l4th OF April, wrongly report
ed to me by telegraph as having occurred on
the nth, reached me on the 18th, and was
announced to my command on the same
day in special order. was duly Impress
ed with its horrible atrocity and probable
effect on the country, but when the proper
~ and interests of millions still living were
involved, saw NO good reason TO change
my course. hut thought rather to manifest
real respect for his memory by following al
ter his death that policy, n living. felt Ger
tain lie would have approved or at least
not rejected with dis,lah. Up to that hour
| had never received one word OF instruction
oI advice as to the plan or policy OF the Gov
eminent 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 cvadcd the
subject Ny letter Ia the Mayor of Atlanta
has been published IL the world and was
not rcbukcd by the War Department for it.
Gen. Sherman then gives his ideas upon
reconstruction and refers to the interview
with Mr. Stanton, in which the latter APP
pcarcd to approve of his sentiments and had
urged upon him the importance oi bringing
the war to an end, for financial reasons.
On the oath Maj Hitchcock returned, ac
companied by Gen. Grant and n member of
his slaH, bringing information that the mom-
orandum was dsapproved 10 give at once
the ~ hours notice, and to resume hostilitics