The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-06-03
sherman's ATe1noirs.
SHERMAN or TEE stRRENDRR AND HIS
QUARREr WITH srkNfoN.

SHERMAN on TEE stTRRENDER AND. HIS
QUARREL WITH sTkN1oN.
One of She most interesting chapters
OF Gen. ShefnlG5'a recently palished
memoirs is devoted to esienss vhieh fol-
lowed the surrender Of Lee and the
assassination Of LdBeolE, intelligence
of which reached him IN priva'e dis
patch on the morning of April II. he
kept the news quiet until he had occa-
sion TO see Gen. Joseph Johnston, to
discuss the surrender. " As soon as we
were alone together, says Sherman,
speaking of his visit to Gen. Johnston,
"showed him the dispatch announcing
Mr.. Lincoln's assassination. and watch
ed him closely. The perspiratiOn came
out 10 lerge drops on his forehead, and
he did not attempt to conceal his dis
tress. He denounced the act as a dis
grace to the sge, and hoped 1 did not
charge it to the confederate government.
told him l could not believe that he
or Gen. Lee or the officers OF the con-
fe9erate army cOuld possibly be privy
TO acts of assassination, but / would
not say as much for Jefferson Davis,
George Sanders and men of that tribe.
We talked about the effect of this act
on the county at large and the armies,
and he realized that it made my situa-
tiOn extremely delicate" Sherman urged
upon Johnston the propriety of sur
render. This the confederate gene raj
admitted, saying that any further fight
ing would be murder. Out of this con-
versation arose a cartel signed between
Johnston and Sherman, Gen. Breckin-
ridge being present and cOnsenting
thereto. The cartel or basis of agree
ment agreed to recommended the resto-
ration of the states to their old rights
and privileges. Sherman contended
that he, in doing this, had followed out
the advice of Mr.. Lincoln, and certainly
his information on that subject iustifies
this conclusion. But johnson was
president and the country was maddened
at the assassination of the president.
There was no cry so loud as that of re-
venge. Stanton, who, with ali his great
qualities as an organizer and secretary,
had an imperious, ungovernable temper,
disapproved Sherman's cartel and virtu.
ally dlsgraced him by sending Grant
to supercede him. He issued orders to
Gen. Sheridan, Schofield and Wilson,
and other commanders, not to obey
Sherman's orders. 1t was thought that
Sherman had been a traitor, aud a dis
| patch was put IN circulation, under the
apparent sanction of the secretary of
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 Car
/ olina, but behaved with great delicacy
/ toward Sherman, not even appearing in
] the army, but 0liewing Sherman to COM
! plete his surrender with Johnston. The
millions of specie which Jefferson Da-
Wis 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. ''ro say" he says,
-" that l was merely angry at the tone
and substance of the public proceeding
/ Of the war department could hardly ex-
/ press the state of my feelings. Twas
! outraged beyond measure and was
resolved to resent the insult, cost what
/ it would" BE declined Halleck's prof
! fers of friendship because he had re-
! eated the orders of Stanton over his
/ own signature. On reachiug Washing
/ ton he called on President Johnson. who
! took pains to disavow Stanton's war
/ bulletin. Gen. Grant endeayored to
effect a reconciliation between Sherman
and Stanton, but rs the secretary made
no friendly advances Sherman "resolv-
ed to resent what he considered an in
suit as public as it was made. F."