The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-05-05
the AGREEMENT BETWEEN
SHERMAN AND JOHNSTON.
The Interviews Between those
Generals.
Remarks OF Rebel Omcers-.rhe Nevv.
Of the Assassination of M. LIncoI,,
..Je6. Davis.

Remarks OF Rebel Omcers..Tn. -.
OF the Assassination of M. L,n.oI.
..Jeff: Davis.
KALRIeH. N. c., April %,
(via WASHINGTON. April 24,)
peace from the Potomac to the kio cr.nao
and I hope soon to lead you to your homes )
were the cheering words in which Gen, She,.
man announced to his proud army the resnit
of his two days conference with Gen. Johns.
ton. The terms as they were understood in
the army,-unconditional submission to the
laws as they win be interpreted by the civil
ceived with perfect satisfaction.
Strange as it may seem, the actual terms, "a
they are this morning published by authority
from the War Department, were not known,
even to those very high in authority, at the
time your correspondent left that army. The
terms. as understood, were believed to be of
Gen. Sherman's own choosing and declared by
him to De conquered army, and their accep-
lance by the government was not question.
So firm was the belief that absolute peace
would be proclaimed at Washington that Gen.
Sherman's announcement that he hoped soon
to march his army hOmeward was accepted as
certainty, and preparations were accordingly
made. The real conditions upon which the
surrender was made, when known, will pro-
baby be as promptly rejected by the army as
BY President Johnston, his cabinet ana Gen.
Grant. Gen. Sherman, we fear, has made
very grave mistake, and been fairly beaten by
by that cunning traitor, the rebel Secretary Of
At the first meeting, at which Gen. Johnston
only was present. no terms were finally agreed
upon. At the second meeting, however. at
which Breckinridge officiated, conditions were
finally accepted and papers signed. Johnston.
on the first day, probably learned what Sher.
mans terms were, and, after full consultation.
With JET. Davis, who was at Hillsboro. con-
cluded to accept them, taking Breckenridge
with MIN, however, to draw up the papers.
This important conference was held at the 60.
hcitation OF the rebel general, who, on the 18th
inst, sent BY flag of truce request for o cessa.
ton of hostilities till Grant could be sent for.
Sherman answered Immediately by saying that,
1t the surrender of his (Johnson) army was the
object of such truce, he was competent to at
tend to such want; but, If anything else was
desired, he wished to know it, when he would
decide whether or not It would be necessary
to send for the Lieutenant General Johnston
was further informed that he (Gen. Shermau)
was ready to meet him at any time, to confer
on the subject of his wants. The offer was
promptly accepted, and the point of meeting
was agreed upon at Mr.. James Benefits. q
little hut on the left of Chapel Hill road, five
miles from Dunhams station, and thirty from
Raleigh. # s:.,-...Il = - -~-
The memorable meeting. took place, Gen.
Sherman, accompanied by his right hand man man.
bis able chief engineer, Col. O. NJ. Poe, and
Gen. Barry, with others of his staff, met Gen,
Johnston, with Major Johnston and Captain
Champion, Of his staff. Both generals were
accompanied BY their cavalry generals, Kilpat-
rick and Wade Hampton. Your correspon.
dent. ". H" send forward lengthy and de.
tailed account Of this meeting, he being the
only correspondent actually present during this
memorable interview a ="
After the more important questions had been
settled, Gems. Sherman and Johnston con.
versed freely and frankly. General Johnston
fairly admitted that the grand army of the
Mississippi was the best that ever marched,
officers and the people of South Carolina ali
insisted upon 1t that no army could ever pene.
trate the Salkehatchie swamps, and you not
only marched your army through them, but
corduroyed and bringed them for miles, and
then drew after you your immense supply
train. The like could never have been done
by any other army" -, s|,t' - /"
Gen. Wade Hamptons action and conduct,
Ia the light Of such manly and candid admis.
sion. are doubly disgusting. He denied that
the South was conquered or even wOrsted. and
fully announced the theory that q Southern
man could whip three Northern men. We be.
lieve that four years of war have at least re-
duced the odds, even In his opinion, from five
to three.
During the interview of the two Generals.
Col Poe and Maj. Johnston, Chief Engineers
of the two armies, had long and friendly in
terview. Maj. Johnston expressed his admi-
ration for the engineering ability manifested BY
our army in its march through South Carolina.
The two officers questioned each other about
request, Poe showed him our plan of building
pontoons. MAJ. Johnston proved himself o
thorough gentleman, and as he parted from
Maj. Hitchcock, expressed the hope that they
would would coon meet under more favorable crcum
In speaking Of the armies of the southwest,
Sherman inquired where Gen. Wilson, with his
cavalry. was. He is az Columbus, Ga. re-
piled Johnston. aud ! wish. for Gods sake.
that you would stop him. for he il raidipp ali
through that country, tearing everything to
the devil.
Gen. Sherman then showed Johnston dis
patch he had just received from Gilmore saw.
ing that Potter, with force of infantry and
cavalry, was finishing the work OF devastation
In South Carolina. Sherman forestalled Sher-
mans request to have that stopped By saying
1t would not hurt the people to bear stili
heavier burden Let Potter hurn a little
longer" said he.
Gen. Breckinridye was more reticent.s He
showed plainly how deep was his humiliation.
1AS SousCicSu. to"cScT, WIFI LlOE0 VINO dQ-
dressed him, and to Gen. Sherman in dis.
cussion as to the slavery question, made this
remarkable confession" The discussion of the
slavery question Is at an end. The amendment
TO the constitution forever fOrbiddiDg slavery
is perfectly fair, and will be accepted In that
spirit by the people of the South"
Tie news of the assassination of Mr.. Lincoln
was received by Gen. Sherman while at XII.
patrcks headquarters, on the way to his first
days meeting. We have 1t from Gen. Sherman
himself that Johnston was shocked, and mani
tested as much feeling and concern as an inti-
mate friend would have done; and well he
might, for the exasperated soldiery OF the
Union army would have desolated the land
from the right to the left. The rebel chieftaip,
expressing himself deeply panied at the unfor-
tunate event, was told that it would be polite
in him to publish disclaimer OF all connection
or knowledge of the deed, or the conduct Of
our army could not be answered for.
JEFF. Davis. it is confidently believed, will
attempt to leave the country, and it was cur
~, Jo Ia tn no i0inpd nv the HamptOra