Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-07-06

In DanVlle Mr.. DAVIS learned of LEE,
surrender. Immediately started for Colds
bOro,' where he met and had a consultation
with Genearl JOHNSTON, thence going or
South. At Lexington he received dispatch
from JOHNSTON, requesting that the Secretary
OF War General BEECKINRIDGEl should re-
pair 10 his headquarters near Raleigh-Gen-
eral SHERMAN having submitted propo-
-ition for LAYING down arms which was TOO
comprehensive in its scope for any mere
military commanders to decide upon.
BREcKISEIDGE and Postmaster General
REAGAS Immediately started for JOHNTsON's
camp, where SHERAIAN submitted the terms
Of surrender on which an armistice was de-
clared-the same terms subsequently disap-
proved by the authorities at Washington
One Of the features Of the proposition sub
mitted 10y General SHERMAN was a declara-
uon Of amnesty to all persons, both civil
and military. Notice being called 10 the
fact particularly, SHEEMAN said, Il mean
just that;" and gave as his reason that it was
the only way TO have perfect peace. He had
previously offered to furnish a vessel and
take away any such persons as Mr.. DAVIS
might select 10 be freighted with whatever
personal property they might want TO take
with them, and 10 60 wherever they pleased
General JOHNSTON told SHERMAN that it
a
stion as The last to him. BREcKINRIDGE
also informed General SHERMAN that his
proposition contemplated the adjustment of
certain matters which evpa Mr.. DAVIS was
not empowered TO control. The terms were
accepted, however, with the understanding
that they should be literally construed
General BREc}UNRIDGE adding that certain
parts Of the terms require 10 be submitted
30 the various State Government Of the Con
federacy for ratification.
These terms Of agreement between JOHN-
sTON and SHERMAN were subsequently dis
approved by the authorities at Washington
and the armistice ordered to cease after a
certain time, Mr. DAVIS waited in Char
lotte until the day and hour the armistice
ended; then mounted his horse, and, with
some cavalry of DUKES brigade, formerly
MoRGAN's,) again started southwark passing
through South Carolina, to Washington
Georgia. At an encampment on the road
he thinks, the cavalry Of his escort probably
heard Of the final surrender Of General
JOHNSTON, though he himself did not until
much later. Being in the advance, he rode
ON, supposing that the escort was coming
after.
As with his party he approached the town
of Washington, he was informed that a regi-
ment supposed 10 belong to the army Of
General THOMAS, was moving on the place
90 capture IT, in violation, as he thought, Of
General SHERAlAN's terms. On this he sent
back word 10 the General commanding the
cavalry escort, 10 move up and cover the
town-an order which probably never
reached lis desiiuation-at least the cavalry
never came; nor did he see them again, nor
any of them. Thinking they were coming,
however, and not apprehending any moles-
tation from the Federal troops, even if occu-
pving the same town, hc entered Washing
ton, and remained there over night no
troops Of the United States appearing
Here he heard Of his wife aud family, not
having seen them since they lce Richmond,
more than month before his own depart
ure. They had Just left the town before his
arrival, moving South in company with his
private Secretary Colonel HARRISON, Of
whose fidelity he spoken in warm terms, and
accompanied by q small party of plr0led
men, who seeing them unprotected, had vol
untecrcd 10 be their escort 10 Florida, from
whence the family. rot Mr.. DAVIS himself
intended TO take ship TO Cuba.
Mr.. DAVIS regarded the section Of ceun-
try hc was now In rs covered bv SHERNAN's |
armistioe, and had no thought that any ex-
pedition could or would be sent for his own
capture, or for any other warlike purpose. lie
believed the terms of JoHNspONs Capitula-
iion still in force over all the country east Of
the Chattahoochie, which had been en-
braccd in JoHSsTON's immediate command;
citing rs an evidence Of this, that while he
was in Washington, General UPrON, Of the
Federal service, with few members Of his
staff, passed unattended over the railroad, a
few miles from the place en- route for Angus
On, 20 receive the muster rolls of the dis
charged troops, and take charge of the inn
monEc military stores there that fell into
General SHEINfNN's hands by the surrender
General UrroN was not intcrierred with, the
country being considered at peace, though
nothing could have been easier than the cap
ture had Mr. DAVIS been so inclined.
At this very time however, a division of
cavalry had been sens into this district which
had been declared az peace and promised eN-
cmption from the dangers and burdens Of
any further military operations within its
limits, for the purpose of capturing himself
and party; and this he could not but regard
as a breach of faith ON the part ofthose who
directed or permitted it 10 be done, though
hc did not wish 10 place himself In the con-
dition of one who had accepted the terms of
JuHNsToN's oapitulaton.or taken advantage
Of the amnesty which SHERMAN had offered.
But the district in which he then found him
further iucursions. and he did not think HIM
self Justly liable 60 capture while within It's
limits-thuugh he expected TO have 10 take
the chances of arrest when once across the
ChattahooChic
Hearing that o -kirmish line or patrol,
had been extended across the country from
Macon % Atlanta and thence 90 Chattanoo-
ga, he thought best 10 go below this line,
hoping 90 Join the forces of has relative.
Lieutenant General DICK TAYLOR, after
crossing the Chattahoochic lie would then
cross the Mississippi, joining TAYLOR, forces
10 those OF kWHy SNUUI-of whom he
spoke with marked acerbity-3ud would
have continued the fight So long rs he c1uld
find any Confederate force 10 strike with
him. This, not in any hope of final SUCCESS,
but 90 secure Tor the South some better terms
than surrender at discretion. "lo this COM
plexiou." said Mr.. DAVIS had the rcputa-
uon Of General SHuNAN's terms, and the
surrenders Of LEE and JoHNSroN, brought
the Southern cause
Mr.. DAVIS le1 Washington accompanied
bv Postmaster ticueral REAGAN, three aids
and an escort oC ten mounted men with one
pack mule Riding along they heard dis
tressiug reports of hands of maraudCrs going
about the country, stealing horses and what
ever else might tempt their cupidIiy-these
rumors finally maturing into information
which caused him 90 change his course and
follow ou 60 ovortake the train containing
his wife and fmily, for whose safety lac be-
g1n 10 feel apprehension.
This object he achieved after riding sew
cuty miles, without halt, in single day,
joining Mr., DAVIS just at daybreak, and in
time 60 prevent a party he had passed ON
the road from stealing her two fine carriage
hor~os, which, formed particular object for
theiI greed, L have heard, he added,
since nay Imprisonment, that II was sup
posed there was a large amount OF specie m
the train. Such was not the fact, Mrs. DA-
vIS carrying with her no money that was
not personal property, and bat very little Of
that."
Having Joined his family he travelled with
them for several days. i'm consequence Of !
finding the region infested with dcserters and /
robbefs engaged ia plundering whatever was
deienseless his intention being to quit his
wife whenever she reached n safe portion Of
the country, and bear west across the Chat I
tahoochie. The very evening before his ar
resi- he Was % have carried os1t this arrange ]