The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-04-18
COLUJMBIA s. G.
=. y . q ktFL.t o
Sunday Morning, April 18. 1859.
Aa Unexplained Chapter Ia the I. Late I'm
pIcnsan ntn. ssD


The extraordinary character of which justi-
fes, we believe, in surrendering our editorial
columns to its reproduction.
TO lie Editor Of Tie New York Tribune.
In your issue Of yesterday is q notice of
Mr.. Healy g picture representing the inter
view between Mr.. Lincoln, General Grant,
Admiral Porter and myself, which repeats
substantially the account published some
time ago in WfAes' Spirit Of The Times ex
planatory Of that interview, and attributing
TO Mr.. Lincoln himself The paternity of the
terms to General Johnston's s army at Dur
.i,au, in April, 1865.
am glad you have called public attention
to the picture itself, because feel per-
sonal interest that Mr.. Healy should be ap-
rpfeclated as one Of our very best American
artists. But some friends here think by
ssaance may be construed as willing to
bhSOw off on Mr.. Lincoln the odium of
those terms. If there be any odium, which
L doubt, I surely would not be willing that
r the least'show of it should go to Mr.. Lin
cold 8 anemory, which / hold in too much
venerafion to be stained by anything done
or said by me. / understand that the sub
stance OF MIR. Wilkes original article was
\ compiled by him after railroad conversa-
tion with Admiral Porter who was present
at that interview, as represented in the pic
ture, and who made 81 note of the conversa-
= ton Immediately after we separated. He
would be more likely to have preserved the
exact words used on the occasion, than I
Who made no notes then or since Icannot
now. even pretend to recall more than the
subjects touched upon by the several par
ties, and the impression left on my mind
after we parted.
1aoush before the final catastrophe; and it
wats my part of the plan of operations to
move my army, reinforced by Schofield,
6a1en at Goldsboro, N. c., to Burkesville,
Va, when Lee would have been forced to
$ surrender in Richmond. The true move
/. LETT to him was hasty abandonment of
Richmond, join his force to Johnston's s and
strike me In the open country. The only
question was, could / sustain this Joint at
tack till General Grant came up in pursuit?
Il was confident could; but at the very
moment of our conversation General Grant
was moving General Sheridan's heavy force
of cavalry to his extreme left, to prevent
shis very contingency. Mr. Lincoln, in
hearing u.s. speak of n final bloody battle,
winch L then Thought would fall on me near
Raleigh, did exclain more than once that
aiood enough had already been shed, and
9he hoped that the war would end without
any more. We spoke of what was to be
done with Davis, other party leaders and the
Eeoel army; and he left me under the i'm
Nreasioh that all he asked of MS was to dis
sipate these armies, and get the soldiers
Back to their homes anyhow, the quicker
'the better, leaving him free to apply the
remedy and inc rcSto ration of civil law. He
(Mr. Lincoln) surely left upon nv mind
the impression warranted by Admiral
Porter's account, that he had long thought
of his course of action when the rebel
arntss were out of his way, and that he
wanted to get civil governments re.orpan-
lied nt the South, the quicker the better.
and strictly conforming with our general
system. 'H
had been absent so long that 1 pre-
sumed, OF course, chat Congress had enacted
all the laws necessary to meet the event of
peace, SO long expected, and the near an.
sproaeh OF which must then have BEEN seen
5y the most obtuse; and all aimed to do
Tas to remit the rebel army surrendering to
me to the conditions of the laws of the
country as they then existed At the time
OF Johnstons surrender at Durham drew
ap the terms with my own hand Breckin-
ridge mad nothing at all to do with them,
more than to discuss their effect, and he
knew they only applied to the military: and
he ferth with proceeded to make his escane
from the country, n course that T believe
Ar Lincoln wished that Mr.. Davis should
nave succeeded in effecting, as we'll as all
the other leading Southern politicians
against whom public indignation ALWAYS
Surned with feeling far more intense than
against Generals Lee, Johnston, and other
purely military men.
repeat that. according to my memory.
Mr.. Lincoln did not expressly name anv
specific terms of surrender, bnt he was in
that kindly and gentle frame Of mind that
>wcald have induced him to approve fully
~~hat ! did, excepting probably he would
nave lnter!!ned some notifications, such ms
recognizing his several proclamations ante.
cedent. as we'll as the laws of Congress
which would have been perfectly right and