Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-12-08
President Lincoln's Responsibility for the
sherman-Johnston Treaty.

=
/. sherman-Johnston Treaty.
From Wilkes Spirit.l
1t falls to our lot to show that the re-
sponsible author of the Shermsn-J ohnston
agreement was not Gen. Sherman, but
President Lincoln. The facts which we
are about to relate were brought to our
knowledge during this last summer, and
were committed to paper at the time.
There were obvious reasons why they
should be withheld until after the cleo
ton but there is no objection now to
their being laid before the public, and we
are especially glad to have the opportu-
nifty Of doing so, because this journal,
among others, was unjust to Sherman at
the time of the surrender.
On the 9th of March, 1865, two or
three days before the final movement
upon Richmond, General Sherman, fresh
from his march to the SEQ, arrived at
City Point for the purpose of comforting
with the President and the General-in-
Chief Mr.. Lincoln was then on board
the gunboat Qucen, and on that day an
interview took place on the boat between
the President, General Grant. General
Sherman and Admiral David d. Porter.
From one of the parties of this interview,
a gentleman connected with the Spirit
of the Times obtained verbal narrative
of what took place. There was no pledge
of secrecy, and we feel that we violate no
obligation in making public the substance
of it. "Mr. Lincoln" said the narrator,
I" had come down to City Point with the
most liberal views toward the rebels, and
was willing that they should capitu-
late on almost any terms. His heart
was tenderness throughout, and as long
as the enemy laid down their arms, he
did not care how it was done. After
hearing from Sherman description of
his position, he proposed that the same
terms should be offered to Johnston that
would have been given to Lee. To this
Gen. Sherman strenuously objected, de-
claring that he had Johnston cooped up
where he could not get away, and that
he would be compelled to surrender at all
hazards, whatever terms we proposed.
/ never saw him more energetic in my
life than while he was arguing this point;
but Mr.. Lincoln loaned toward milder
measures, fearing that the Confederate
General would escape South by the rail-
roads, and have to be chased again. l
have Johnston, said he, where he can
not move without breaking up his army,
which, once disbanded, can never be got
together again. The Southern railroads
are all broken up. / have destroyed
them so that they cannot be used for q
long time
"Genersl Grant asked What is to
prevent their laying the rails again ?
"'Why,' said Sherman, my bummers
don't do things by halves. Every rail
has been placed over a hot fire, and
twisted as crooked as rams horn. They !
never can be used again till they have
been through rolling mill
The President, however, was very de-
eided about the matter, and insisted that
Johnston should be induced Immediately
10 surrender by granting him most lib
sral terms Grant, too, was anxious
hat Johnston should not try to get into
where he might give us q
.reat deal of trouble; and Sherman was
to yield, though be did it
very unwillingly. The terms of capitu-
alton which afterward made such dis
urbance were, in fact, substantially ar
'anged by Mr.. Lincoln himself, and if he
lad lived he never would have allowed
Sherman to bear the responsibility of
hem.
This narrative is conclusive. Mr..
1t is now clear, virtually dio-
ated the terms to Lee; and had it not
,een for bis kindness of heart, we have
10 doubt that Grant would have exacted
unconditional surrender" in the one
ase, and Sherman have been equally
in the other. Had the Pres
dent not been assassinated before john
toms capitulation, it is probable that the
celebrated memorandum would have
cen acceptable to the majority Of the
Northern people. 1t is certain, at all
vents, that Sherman would not have
cen TO blame for it. The patience with
Ihioh be has borne undeserved obloquy
o long will be appreciated by his coun-
-ymen, and they will not fail TO honor
be elevated sentiment through which,
hen a single word would have vindioated
i'm, he refrained ffo@ speaking it.