Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-04-25
WAR DEPARTMENT,l
WASHINGTON, April %. (

mans Action Disapprovcd by the
Administration. it
'f t'|' WAR DEPARTMENT,l
rri. WASHINGTON, April ~. -
Yesterday evening bearer of dispatches
arrived from General Sherman. An agree
ment for a suspension of hostilities, and a
memorandum of what is called abasis for
peace, had been entered into on the 18th
inst, by General Sherman with the rebel
General Johnston. Brigadier General
Breckenridge was present at the conference.
A Cabinet meeting was held at 8 O'clock
In the evening, at which the action OF Gen.
Sherman was disapproved by the President,
by the Secretary of War, by Gen.. Grant,
and by every member of the Cabinet. Gen.
Sherman was ordered to resume hostilities
Immediately, and was directed that the in
structions given by the late President, In
the following telegram, which was penned
by Mr.. Lincoln himself, at the Capitol, on
the night of the Sd of March, were approved
by President Andrew johnson, and were
reiterated to govern the action of military
commanders.
On the night of the Sd of March, while
President Lincoln and his Cabinet were at
the Capitol, telegram from General Grant
was brought to the Secretary of War, in
forming him that General Lee had request
ed an interview, or conference, to make an
arrangement for terms OF peace. The letter
of General Lee was published in letter to
Davis and to the rebel Congress. General
Grants telegram was submitted to Mr..
Lincoln, Who, after pondering a few min
utes, took up his pen and wrote with
his own hand, the following reply, which he
submitted to the Secretary of State and
Secretary of War. 1t was then dated, adj
dressed and signed by the Secretary of War,
and telegraphed to General Grant: raT
q WASHINGTON, March 3, 1S65-12 P. M.
Lieutenant General Grant: M .r.. B
The President directs me to say to you
that he wishes you to have no conference
with General Lee, unless it be for the capit-
ulation of General Lees army, or on some
minor or purely military matter. He in
structs me to say that you are not to decide,
discuss or confer upon any political ques-
tions. Such questions the President holds
in his own hands, and will submit them to
no military conferences or conventions
Meantime, you are to press to the utmost
your military advantages. +" . gsr
[Signedl L. M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
The orders of General Sherman to Cen
eral Stoneman to withdraw from Salisbury
and join him, will probably open the way
for Davis to escape to Mexico or Europe
with his plunder, which is reported to be
very large, including not only the plumber
of the Richmond banks, but previous accuL
mutations. '.
A dispatch received by this Department,
from Richmond, says: 1t is stated here, by
respectable parties, that the amount Of
specie taken South by jeff. Davis and his
partisans is very large, including not only
the plumber of the Richmond banks, but
previous accumulations. They hope, it is
said, to make terms with General Sherman,
or some other commander, by which they
will he permitted, with their effects, in
cluding this gold plunder, to go to Mexico
or Europe. Johnston's negotiations look
to this end. -.'it r"ni rcJ FE
After the Cabinet meeting, last night,
General Grant started for North Carolina
to direct operations against Johnston's
army. a..l -.I" Jug. 1''
(Signedl E. M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.