Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-19
UNION AND AMERICAN.
SHERMAN ON THE SURRENDER
AND HIS QUARREL WITH STAN

ShEhMAN IN hE 81 hhENDEhi
AND HIS QUARREL WITH STAN
TON.
One Of the most interesting chapters
of Gen. Sherman's recently published
memoirs is devoted to events which
followed the surrender Of Lee and the
assassination Of Lincoln, intelligence
Of which reached him IN a private dis
patch on the morning Of April II. He
kept the news quiet until he had Occa-
sion to see Gen. Joseph Johnston, 10
discuss the surrender AS soon as
we were alone together" says Sher-
man, speaking Of his visit to Gen.
Johnston, q showed him the dispatch
announcing Mr.. LincOln's assassina-
ton, and watched him closely. The
perspTatiOn came out IN large drops on
his forehead, and he did not attempt to
conceal his distress. He denounced
the act as a disgrace to the age, and
hoped l did not charge 1t to the Con-
federate Government. l told him ]
could not believe that be or Gen. Lee
or the officers of the Confederate army
could possibly be privy to acts Of
assassination, but l would not say as
much for Jefferson Davis, George San
ders and men Of that tribe. We
talked about the effect Of this act on
the country at large and the armies,
and he realized that 1t made my situa-
ton extremely delicate Sherman
urged upon Johnston the propriety Of
surrender. This the Confederate Gen
eral admitted, saying that any further
fighting would be murder. Out of
this conversation arose a cartel signed
between Johnston and Sherman, Gen.
Breckenridge being present and con-
senting thereto. The cartel or basis
Of agreement agreed to recommended
the restoration Of the States to their
old rights and privileges. Sherman
contended that he, in doing this, had
followed out the advice Of Mr.. Lin.
coin, and certainly his information on
that subject justifes this conclusion.
But johnson was President and the
country was maddened at the assassin
alton Of the President. There was no
cry so loud as that Of revenge. Stan
ton, who, with all his great qualities
as an organizer and Secretary, had an
approved Sherman's cartel and virtual
" disgraced him by sending Grant
to supercede him. He issued orders to
General Sheridan, SchOheld and VIII
son, and other commanders, MOTTO obey
Sherman's orders. Itwas thought that
Sherman had been a traitor, and a dis
patch was put IN circulation, IN
der the apparent sanction Of the
Secretary IF War, to the effect that
Jefferson Davis had escaped with a
million Of specie from Richmond banks,
with which they hoped TO make terms
with Sherman or some other commander
for an escape to Mexico. Gen. Grant
went to North Carolina, but behaved
with great delicacy toward Sherman,
not even appearing IN the
army, but allowing Sherman to
complete his surrender with
Johnston. The millions Of specie
which Jefferson Davis was carrying
South In wagons, turned out to be a
few thousand dollars that could have
been carried IN a valise. Sherman went
North with his army boiling with rage.
s'To say" he says, that l was merely
angry at the tone and substance Of the
public proceeding of the War Depart
ment could hardly express the state Of
my feelings. / was outraged beyond
measure and was resolved to resent the
insult. cost what it would" He de-
clned Halleck's proffers Of friendship
because he had repeated the orders Of
Stanton over his own signature. On
reaching Washington he called on
President johnson, who took pains to
disavow Stanton's war bulletin. Gen.
Grant endeavored to effect a reconclha-
ton between Sherman and Stanton,
but as the Secretary made no friendly
advances Sherman resolved to resent
what he considered an insult as public
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