The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-08-04
The SHERMAN JOHNSTON
TREATY.
Interesting Letters from General
Sherman.

part of Gen. SHRRMANis testimony before
the committee on the conduct of the war,
has just been published:
| HEApo'R's MIL. Div. OF THE MrssIssIpPI,l
In THE FIELD, RALEIGH, April Is, 1865
GENERAL-I received your dispatch describ-
| ing the man Clark, detailed to assassinete me-
He had better be in hurry, or he will be too
late
The news of Mr.. Lincoln's death produced
most intense effect on our troops. At first I
feared it would lead to excesses but now it
has softened down and can easily be guided.
None evinced more feeling than General John.
ston, who admitted that the act was calculated
to stain his cause with dark hue and he
contended that the loss was most serious to the
South, who had begun to realize that MIR. Lin
coin was the best friend the South had.
cannot believe that even Mr.. Davis was
privy to the diabolical plot, but think it the
emanation of set of young men of the South
who are very devils. Iwant to throw upon the
South the care of this class of men, who will
soon be as obnoxious to their industrial classes
as to us.
Had pushed Johnston's army to an ex-
tremity it would have dispersed and done inf
mite mischief. Johnston informed me that
Gen. Stoneman had been at Salisbury, and was
now about Statesville. have sent him orders
to come to me-
Gen. Johnston also informed me that Gen..
Wilson was at Columbus, Georgia, and that
he wanted me to arrest his progress. leave
that to you.
Indeed, if the President sanctions my agree.
ment with Johnston, our interest is to cease all
destruction.
Please give all orders necessary according to
the views the executive may take, and inf1u-
ence him, if possible, not to vary the terms at
all, for have considered everything, and be-
lieve that the confederate armies once dispersed
we can adjust ali else fairly and well sn,,n
Maj. Gen. Commanding.
Gen. W. H. HALLEck Chief Of staff. Wash.
ington D. C.
Lest confusion should result to the
mind of the committee by the latter part
of the above letter, l will state that it
was addressed to Gen. Halleck as chief-of-
staff, when he was the "proper maker of
orders ITO the commander-in-chief The
whole case was changed when, on the 22d
| of April, he became the commander of
the separate division of the James.
HEAD'oRs DIV. OF THE MISS. IN THE FIELD,l
RALEIGH, N. c., April Is, 1865.
GENERAL-I had the honor to receive your
letter of April 81, with Enclosures, yesterday,
and was well pleased that you came along, as
you must have observed that held the mill
case might assume.
1t is but Just should record the fact that I
made my terms with Gen. Johnston under the
influence of the liberal terms you extended to
the army of Gen. Lee, at Appomatox Court
House of the 9th, and the seeming policy of
our government, as evinced by the call OF the
Virginia legislature and Governor back to
Richmond under yours and President Lincolns
very eyes. 1t now appears this last act was
done without any consultation with you, or
any knowledge of Mr.. Lincoln, but rather in
opposition to a previous policy well consid-
cred.
have not the least desire to interfere with
the civil policy of our government but would
shun it as something not to my liking; but
occasions do arise when prompt seizure of
results is forced on military commanders not in
immediate communication with the proper
authority. 1t is probable that the terms sign
ed by Gen. Johnston and myself were not clear
enough on the point we'll understood between
us-that our negotiations did not apply to any
parties outside the officers and men of the con.
tederate armies, which could easily have been
remedied.
No surrender of any army not actually at the
mercy of an antagonist was ever made without
"terms" and these always define the military
status of the surrender. Thus, you stipulated
that the officers and men of Lees army should
not tie molested at their homes so long as they
Obeyed the laws of the place of their residence
do not wish to discuss these points involved
in the recognition of the State governments in
actual existence, but will merely state my con-
illusions, to await the solution Of the future.
Such action on our part In no manner recog-
nizes for moment the so-called Confederate
government, or makes US liable for its debts or
acts.
: The laws and acts done by the several States
during the period of rebellion are void, because
, done without the oath prescribed by our con-
) sttution of the United States, which is ''con-
ditiOn precedent"
1--WE have right to use any sort of machinery
to produce military results, and it is the COM
mOnest thing for military commanders to use
| the civil governments in actual existence as q
J means to an end. I do believe we could and
can use the present State government lawfully,
means to produce the object desired, Wis En-.
tire and complete submission to the lawful au-
, thority of the United States.
As to punishment for past crimes, that is for
the Judiciary, and can in no manner of way be
disturbed by our acts; and, 60 far as can, !
will use my influence that the rebels shall suffer
all the personal punishment prescribed by law,
as also the civil liabilities arising from past acts.
What we now want is the new forms of law
by which common men may regain the posi-
: tons of industry so long disturbed by the war.
, now apprehend that the rebel armies will
disperse, and, instead Of dealing with six OF
!, seven States, we have to deal with numberless
! bands of desperadoes, headed by such men as
Mosby, Forrest, Red Jacket and others, who
know not nor care for danger and its conse.
| quences.
have the honor to remain very respectfully
W. T. sAERMAN,
Major General.
Lieut.. Gen. U. s. GRANT, present.
On the same day, I wrote and mailed
to the Secretary of War the following:
HEADo's. Nil. DIV. OF Miss. IN THE FIELD,(
Raleigh, N. c., April 25, 1865.
DEAR SIR have been furnished copy of
ycur letter of April 81, to Gen. Grant, signify.
ing your disapproval of the terms on which
Gen. Johnston proposed to disarm and dis
perse the insurgents, on condition of amnesty,
&c. l admit my folly in embracing in a mill.
tary convention any civil matters; but, unfor-
tunately, such is the nature of our situation,
that they seem inextricably united and un.
/ derstood from you at Savannah that the finan-
cial state OF the country demanded military
( success, and would warrant little bending to
. | policy