Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-06-01

| sion army vas reueating rapidly on Toe ROADS
from Hillsboro to Greensboro. be himself beins
Al Greensboro, although out OF place as 10 time
| here invite all military critics who study III,
problems of vsrto take their maps and compars
| the position of my ARM on the 18th and 18th o
April with that OF Gen. Hsleck about Burkes
vile and Petersburg the Goth OF April. when
according 10 his telegram To- Secretary Stanton
be offered 70 relieve me OF The task OF cutting ca
JobDstOn's retreat Major Gen. Stopemsn n,
the time was ~ Sal,ersviIIe. and Johnsion's only
line o. retreat WAS by Salisbury and Charlotte
Ii may be that Gen. HaIleck's troops can ont
march mine, bot there is nothing in their past
history to show IL; or il may be that Gen Hal
| leck can inspire his troops with more energy OF
action. | doubt that also. save and except 10
this single instance: When he knew the enemy
was ready to surrender disperse. As advised
by my letter Of April 18th, addressed to him
when chief Of staff. at Washington city, and
delivered into his hands on the 2Ist inst by
Major Hitchcock. OF nv stsf.
He (Shermsn) met Johnston, MAY 18th, as
arranged. The interview frank and soldier
like. General Johnston gave him TO understand
that further war on the part OF the Confederate
troops folly; that the cause lost; and
that every life sacrificed after the surrender OF
Lees army would be the highest possible crime
he admitted the terms conceded 10 General Lee
were magnsuimous and all he could ask but
wanted some concessions that would enable him
10 allay the natural fears and anxieties OF his
followers. and enable him to maintain his control
over them until they could be got back 10 their
homes. He also wanted to embrace in some
general proposition the fate OF all the Confeder
ate armies chat remained in existence. | never
made any such concession as 10 his own army,
or assumed TO deal authoritatively in regard TO
any other. but il did seem to that there
was presented chance for peace that might be
deemed valuable TO the good of the United
States. and was at least worth the few days that
would be consumed. In reference to pushing an
army whose commander had so frankly and hon.
estly confessed his inability to cope with me. it
were cowsrdly and unworthy the brave men /
led
As General Johnston did not feel authorized 10
pledge his power over the armies in Texas, they
adjourned till the next day Gen Sherman re-
turned 10 Raleigh and consulted with his officers
every one of whom urged him 70 conclude the
terms that might accomplish so desirable al end.
They met again the 18th and returned to and re-
newed the conversation
All dreaded the weary. laborious march after a
fugitive and dissolving army back towards Geor-
ga, the very country where We had tarrled so
long. There was but one opinion expressed.
and il contrary ones were entertained, they were
withheld or INDUCED in only by that class who
shun the fight and the march, but are loudes,
bravest, and fercest when dagger is past
again met General Johnston on the 18th, and
we renewed the conversation. He satisfied me
then Of his power to disband the rebel armies in
Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana. and Texas. as
well as those of his immediate command, namely
North Carolina, South Carolina. Georgia, and
Florida. The points which he expressed
especial solicitude were lest those States
were 10 be dismembered and denied repre-
sentation in Congress, or any separate political
existence whatever; and shat absolute disarmiDg
OF his men would leave the South pewerless aud
exposed to the depr dations of wicked bands OF
ssssssins and robbers.
President Lincolns message VI 1854, bis am
nesty proclamation and Gen Grants terms to
Gen. Lee substantially extending the benefits OF
that proclamation to all officers above the rank
of Colonel and the invitation to the Virginia
Legislature to reassembe in Richmond by Gen
Wezel, with the approval OF the President and
Gen Grant, then on the spot; a firm belief that
had been fighting to re establish the Consttu
ton OF the United States, and last and not least
the general and universal desire to close a war
any longer without organized res staLce, were the
laadng facts that induced me 10 pen the memo
randum of April 18th. signed by myself aud Gen.
Johnston Ii was designed 10 be and so eI
pressed on its face as a mere basis for reference
TO the President of the United States and Con
stitutional Commander Chief, To enable him,
if be chose, at one blow to destroy the military
power of the Confectionery which had threatened
the national safety for four years. IL admitted
of modification. alterations and change; it had 10
appearance OF an ultimatum, and by no false
reasoning can it be construed into usurpaiiOn OF
power my part. ! have my opinion on the
questions involved. aud will stand by the memo
randum; but this forms no part of military re-
port.
The news oil President Lincolns assassination
of the 18th of April. wrongly reported TO me by
telegraph as having occurred on the llth, reach
ed me on the lIth, and was announced to my
command the day, in special field orders
No. 90 | was duly impressed with its horrible
atrocity and probable effect upon the country;
but when the property aud interests of millions
still living were involved, saw no good reason
to change my course, but thought rather to mani
fest real respect for his memory by following,
after his death, that policy which. if living felt
certain he would have approved, or at least not
rejected with disdain. Up to that hour had
never received one word of instruction. advice,
counsel. to the plan or policy of the Govern
ment looking 10 a restoration of peace on the
part OF the rebel States OF the South Whenever
asked for opinion on the points involved, had
always eyaded the subject. My letter to the
Mayor OF Atlanta has been published to the
world and l was not reouked by the War De-
partment for it.
General Sherman then gives his ideas upon re
construction, and refers to interviews with Mr.
Stanton, in which the latter appeared to approve
of bis sentiments. and had urged upon him the
importance of bringing the war to a close for
financial reasons.
On the24'h Major Hitchcock returned, accom-
panied by General Grant and a member of his
staff. bringing information that the memorandum
was disapproved, and orders 10 give at once the
forty eight hours notice and resume hostilites at