Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-05-31
SHERMAN'S OFFICIAL REPORT.
The campaign of the Carolinas-The John
sion Truce


sHERMAN's OFFICIAL REPORT.
The Canpaisn of the Carolinas-The John.
ston Truce.
The correspondence and eficial report Of
Gen. Sherman to Gen. Grant on the campaign
OF the Carolinas is published by order Of the
Secretary of War in the Official Gazette. The
report is preceded by communication dated
April estb, in which Gen. Sherman refers TO
the New York FINES of the 2Sth, containing
budget OF military news authenticated by the
Secretary of War, and embracing copy Of
the basis of agreement between Gen. Sherman
and Johnston. Gen. Sherman complains of
his plan not being kept secret until further in
sons for his course, the character Of the inter.
views between President Lincoln and promi-
nent parties in Richmond, upon the subject OF
recon struction. He denies the in tention of in
subordinaion, and in conclusion promises to
go on and execute the orders OF the Lieutenant
General. This letter has attached to it the fol-
per has been published, demand that this also
be N ade public, though am in no manner re-
sponsible to the press, but to the law and my
proper superiofs"
The official report commences with affairs
on the LIST Of April, when the army was lying
at Colds borough Tepairing the wear and tear
the military operations against J Johnston to the
1ith, when General Sherman received john
ston's first letter. Proceeding, he says:
81 sgreen 70 mee, aen s Johnston IN person
the 18th st noon, provided the position Of the
troops remained statu quo. i was both willing
and anxious thus to consume few days, as it
would enable Colonel Wright to finish our
railroad TO Raleigh.
1.-TWO bridges had to be built and twelve
miles OF new road made We had no iron
except by taking up that on the branch from
Goldsborough to Weldon. Instead of losin,
by time gained in every way, for every hour
the railroad to our rear and improve the con
dltjon OF our wagon roads to the front, so desi.
Table In case the negotiations failed and we be
forced to make the race OF near two hundred
miles 10 head OF or catch Jehnston'S army,
then retreating toward Charlotte
At noon of the day appointed I met General
Johnston for the first time in my life, although
we had been interchanging shots constantly
since May. 1852.
Our interview was frank and soldier. like.
and he gave me to understand that further
war on the part of the Confederate troops was
folly, that The cause was lost, and that every
life sacrificed after the surrender of Lees army
was the "highest possible crime" He admit.
ted that the terms conceded to General Lee
were magnanimsus and all he could ask, but
he did want some general concessions that
would enable him to allay the natural fears
to maintain his control over them until til ey
could be got back to the neighborhood of their
homes. thereby saving the State Of North Oar
DINA the devastations inevitably to result from
turning his men loose and unprovided on the
spot, and our pur suit across the State.
He also wanted to embrace in the same gen.
eral proposition the fate Of all the Confederate
armies that remained in existence. ] never
made any concession as to his own army, or
assumed to deal finally and authoritativeiy in
regard TO any other, but 1t did seem to me that
there was presented a chance for peace that
might be deemed:.valuable to the Govern.
ment Of the United States, and was at least
worth the few days THAT would be consumed
in reference.
To push an army whose commander had
frankly and honestly confessed his inability
TO cope with me were cowardly, and unwor-
thy the brave men led
lpasnuch as General Johnston did not feel
authorized to pledge his power yer the armies
in Texas, we ad journed 10 meet the next day
at noon returned to Raleigh and conferred
freely will all my general officers, erery one of
whom urged me to conclude terms that might
accomplish so complete and desirable an end
All dreaded the weary and laborious march
after a fugitive and dissolving army back to-
wards Georgia, almost over the very country
where we had toiled so long. There was but
one opinion expressed, and il contrary ones
were entertained they We're withheld, or in.
dulged in only by that class who shun the
fight and the march, but are loudest. bravest,
and fercest when danger is past. I again
met General Johnston, on the 18th, and we
renewed the conversation-He satisfied me
then of his poaOer to disband the rebel armies
in Alabama, Mississippi, louisiana. and Tex
as, as we'll as those in his Immediate command,
namely, North Car olina, South Carolina, Flor
ida, and Georgia
The points on which he expressed especial
solitude were. lest their States were to be dis
membered and denied representation in Con-
eress, or any separate political existence
whatever, and that the absolute disarming his
men would leave the South powerless and ex-
posed to depredations by wicked bands Of as
Sassins and robbers.
President Lincoln's message of 1854; his am.
nesty proclamation; General Grants terms to
General Lee, substantially extending The bene-
fits OF that proclamation to all the officers
above the rank OF COLONEL the invitation to the
Virginia Legislature to reassemble In Rich
mond, by General Weitzel, with the approval
OF Mr.. Lincoln and GeneralGrant, then on the
49,. hnvTz n a
Ie.establish the constitution of the United
States, and last, and not least, the general uni
versal desire to close a war any longer with
out any organized resistance, were the leading
facts that induced me to pen the "memoran.
dunn" OF April Is, signed by myself and Gene
its face, as a mere .sbasis' for reference to the
President Of the United States and constitu.
tional Commander. in Chief, to enable him, if
he chose, at one blow, to dissipate the military
ened the national safety for years"
Con tin uipg, he says that the news Of the
Presidents assassination, which he'd him
on the l7th. duly impressed him with its ter
rfoie asrocity and probable effect upon the
country. but he saw NO good reason to change
ms course, and thought rather to manifest re.
spec. LOT mis- memory by following after the
Presidents death that policy which IL living
he felt certain Mr.. Lincoln would have ap.
Gen Sherman also refers To his ,s,,ar % ~.
Mayor OF Savannah, expressing his yiews on
the subject OF reconstruction W hinh vara not
febuked, and his i'm IMPRESSIONS OF the nacsssitr
OF bringing the war TO a close as soon as nos.
sible for financial reasons
ON the evening Of April %. Major Hitchcock
reported his return to Morehead City with dsa-
patches, OF which fact Gen. Johnston, at HiiIs.
boro, was notified, SO az to be ready in the
morning for an answer. and at o'clock A
II. on the Path, Major Hitchcock arrived, &C
'companied by General Grant and members OF
his stan
General Sherman says: sz
81 soon learned thai the memorandum was
disapproved, without reasons assigned, and
was ordered to give the forty.eight hours' no.
Gce, and resume hosttlittes at the G lose Of that
time, governing my eeh BY the substance OF
o1sEatch then incosed. dated March 3, I2 noon,
Al Wathineton. District Of Columbia, from
Point" ~"
WITHIN An hour courier was riding Nom
Durham q Staten towards HtiIsboro With mo-