New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-31

had also set in making tho resort 10 oormuIy aouo
~ necessary 10 PASS even ambulapces Ine enemy nnu
byned ,he rjdre at Smithfed and as soon "a possible
MaiorGen slocum got his pontoons anu orosseo ''ef
division of tie Fourteenth Cotps.
,o,na,ox CourtHouse, Va, which was announced to
Sa ermios in orders and created universal Joy Not
one officer soldier OF my army nu. e1Pirssea plias
I satisfaction that ii fell TO tho lot OF The armies OF
Il. iot,noc and james goriOusly to oyerw helm ana
.ntre the entire army that had held them IN check so
lone ard their success gave new Impulse 10 nnsn up
our fnsk.
Without moments Hesitation we dropped our trains
al rauidlv In pursuit. TO and through Rnieigh
reaching that place OF 1850 a. m on Tue i5 10 heasy
,aia The day the cavalry pushed on through Tue
rein to Duhams Station the Fifteenth Corps following
as lar Us orisyie Station and the Seventeenth Corps
10 johns station. On the suppostionthat Johnson was
lied 10 lis railroad as lie Of retreat by Hsbolough
Peterborough. Salisbury and Charlotte. ETC.. L hsd
turned the other columns across The bend IN thal rs1
io~sld Ashbcrough (see Special FIELD OdeE H% s
manding was ordered TO keep up show oil pursuit to
xa;d the Company Shops" in Aa%aneeT county
Cross Roads, Pittsburgh ST. Lawrence and Asbbo ougn;
falorGen. ii. w. Sloeum to GROSS Cape Fear River at
Ayon's Ferry and move rapidly by Caraags GAIA Gala
donna, and Cox's Mills. MaorGen. D. ~. Schohem
was to hold Ruleigb and the road back, win
spare force to follow by an intermediate route
by the 18th, though she rains were NECESSITY snI
The Fourteenth Corps, Breyet Major Gen Davis com.
mandng near NaIihss Vineyard with Pontoon
bridge laid across Cape Fear River at Ayohs IerIyi
mandng. in support: and Mojor.Gen Howard had the
Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps stretched out on tne
roads toward PitsboIougb, while Con: hllpalroh nea
Durham Staion and Capitol Hill Um.ersit!. joan
s,nns army was retreating rapidly on the roads from
nisborough TO GreensboIough. no himself at Greens
borough. IL. II
military critics who study the problems OF war; 10 takc
heir maps and con pare the position oi ny army on wy
l5:h and 10th Of April with that oi Gen. nnn ~,
about urkesvle and burg. Virginia orthc s0h
of April when according TO his telegram ~ secretary
stanton he offered ~ relieve Of the task Of cutting
off Johnston, retreat. Major Gen. Stoncman. az III.
time of retreat, was by Salisbury and Charlotte. IL
may be that Gen. Hslecks troops can outInarcn mic
but there is nothing in their past history 70 SNOW Nv
or II NAV be that Gen. Halcck inspire bis troops
with more clergy OF action; doubt that Also save
and except in this single instance. when he knew lao
enemy wa; ready 70 surrender aS Or 10 Sm when
chief Of staff at Washington City, and delivered Into
his hands by Major Hitchcock Of my army; w.
Thus matters stood at the tine received Cen. John
s,ons rst letter and made my of April IL copies
of which were with all expedition to Lieutenant
Ger Grant and the Secretary OF War. with my letters
in person at point intermediate between our picles
on tie 18th AZ noon provided the position Of the troops
remained stau quo. was both willing and anxious 10
Consume a few days as it would enable Col Wright TO
finish our -ailroad to Raleigh Two bridges had 10 be
built aud 10 miles OF few road made. We had no iron
EXCEPT by taking up the branch from Goldsbor"ugh
70 Weldon Instead Of losing by time gained III every
way for every hour Of delay possible was required to
reconstruct the railroad to our rear and improve We
condition Of wagon road to the 'front.' 40 desraOe
in the negotiations failed. and we be forced 10
make the Of 900 miles to head of or catch
Johnston, then rereating toward Chnlotte. AT noon
VI the day appointed met Gen Johnston for the INST
time in my e although We had been exchanging shots
continually since May. 1863 Our interview was frank
and sodier.lke. and he gave me to understand that
folly; that the "cause" lost. and that every life
sacrificed after the surrender Of Lees Army was the
highest possible crime. He admitted the terms con-
ceded TO Gen. Lee magnanimons and all be could
ask; but he did want some general concessions
that would enable him to sllay the
natural fears and anXieties OF his followers aud
could be got back to the neghborhoOd Of their homes.
thereby saving the State OF North Carolina the
tion inevitably 30 result from turning his loose and
unprovded the spot and pursuit the state
He also wanted TO embrace In the same general PROPOSE
ton the fate Of all the Confederate armies that remained
in existence. never made any concession a. TO his
own army assumed to deal finally and authOritatvey
regard to any other. but did seem TO that there
presented chance for peace that might be deemed
valuable to the Government Of the United States and
was at least worthy the few days that would he con
sumed in reference TO push an enemy whose com
INABILITY TO cope with me- were oowardiy and unworthy
the brave men led Inasmuch General Johnston did
in Texas adjourned to the next day at noon.
Ireurned to Raleigh and conferred freely with all my
general officers srry ons OF whom urged me To con.
cude terms that might accomplish complete and de-
sirable end. All dreaded the necessary labofious
march after fugitive and dssoyiDg army back towards
Georgia over the very country where we bad toied 80
long. There was but opinion expressed. and. II
contrary were entertained. they we're withheld or
INDUCED only by that class who s5un the fight and
the march, but arr loudes braveet and nerCest when
danger is past.
again met Gen Johnston on the 18th and we 70.
sumed the conversation: He satisfied mo then Of his
pore, 20 disband the Rebel armies in Alabama Misss-
sippi Louisiana and Texas. well those in lis i'm
mediate command viz: North Carolina, Georgia and
Florida. The points on which hs expressed especial
sOlicitude were lest their States TO be dismem
bered and denied representation IN Congress any
separate political existence whatever and the absolute
exposed deprepations BY wicked bands Of assassn
and robbers The Presidents 0.incon) Message Of
le64 his Amnesty Proclamation Gen. Grants terms TO
Gen. Lee substantially extending the benefit Of that
Proclamation to all officers above the rank Of Colonel
the invitation to the Virginia Legislature to re-as
semble in Richmond, by Gen. Wsitxe, with tho sup
on the spot firm belief that had been fighting to
restablsh the Constitution Of the United States and
last but not least tie general and universal desire TO
were the leading facts that induced me TO pen the
memorandum" Of April H. signed by myself and Gen.
Johnston 1t was designed TO be. and so expressed on
its face. mere "basis for reference 10 the Prcsi
dent Of the United States and constitutional Com
msndern Chief enable him. II he chose at one blow
the s. for
modification alteration aud change. 1t had appear
ance OF an ntmaum. and BY no false reasoning
be construed into On psurpaton OF power on my part
have my OPTION on the questions involved, "but this
forms no part Of military report"
one Of my STAFF Major Hitchccok to %sshinston' en-
joining lin to be most prudent and carfl TO avoid the
spies and infomers that would be infest him by
the way and to say nothing TO anybody until the Presi
dent could make known to me bis feelings and wishes
In tbe matter
The news Of President Linoolns assassination on
as having occurred on the iitSJ reached me on the
18th, and was announced to my command the same
its horrible atroci,y and probable effects the
XXI Su wesn tine and Interest," s OF %S s
IN nh tuf nh To