Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-19

which | have ever since held that it was the
greatest calamity that could have befallen the
south.
DISCUSSING MILITARY PRECEDENTs.
After the conversation which the introduc-
ton OF this subject provoked. the object of orr
meeting was brought up by General Sherman's
remarking that he offered me the same terms
Grant mad accorded to General Lee l called
MS attention to the tenor of my note, and sug-
5ested that it did not contemplate conference
Tor surrender. but simply an armistice to per-
mt the civil authorities of the two countries to
negotiate terms of peace. He replied that the
government OF the United States did not recog-
nize the existence of the Southern COnfederacy
an tflat he could not receive. or transmit any
pr position addressed to the Government of
th Cnlted States by those claiming to be the civil
authorities of the Confederacy. He. however.
expressed himself as exceedingly anxious to di-
vert from the South such calamitIeS as the con-
linuation OF the war would inevitably bring and
reiterated his offer of such terms as Grant gave to
Lee. reminded him that the position of orr
ar nies was vastly different from those of Cen
erii Lee and General Grant: that mine was four
days march from him. and that the distance
could not be lessened. therefore l would not be
justified in making capitulatiOn. After some
further conversation suggested that there were
eminent presidents to justify us i'm going further
than mere suspension of hOstilties | cited
several of them. and called his attention to the
offers OF Napoleon to the Arch Duke Charles
and again 10 other eminent military authorities
who had negotiated terms of peace Here be-
gan what 10 ME was a very interesting part of
the conference. General Sherman entered into
the discussion OF these military precedents with
great interest He evnced an earnest desire to
prevent further blOOdshed and to rest ore the
Union When the question OfauthOrity to conduct
negotiations to that end had been settled. we
began to consider the terms which might be ac-
corded TO the southern states i'm the event of
their SUBMISSION to the authority of the United
states. General Sherman had had long con-
versation with Mr.. Lincoln upon this subject
out q very short time before our meeting
which, believe, furnished him the basis for the
terms OF peace which we afterward agreed to.
have never had any doubt but that they were
entirely in accord with MIR. Lncolns views and
would have been accepted and ratified by him
had he llyed 1t did not take us long to agree
upon the terms as expressed in the memOran-
dunn which We signed at our second meeting.
with the exception of Ole clause: that was the
one relating to amnesty for Mr.. Davis and his
Cabinet. We spent most of the afternoon dis
cusslng this question, and at shutdown had not
reached conclusion General Sherman's idea
seemed to be to dispose of this question in some
manner that would not jeOpardiZe the ratifica-
ton by his government of the terms of peace
agreed upon by US.
AFTER THE FIRST DAY
." 1t was after sunset before our first confer
ence was concluded, and we parted to meet the
next morning at 10 o'clock. Immediately after
we separated, telegraphed for Mr.. Breckin-
ridge. the secretary of war. whose confidential
relations with Mr.. Davis thought would ena-
ole MIN TO represent his position upon the am
nesty question under consideration. Mr.
breckenridge came, and. at Mr. Davis request,
Mr.. Reagan, the postmaster general accom-
panied him. They joined me at General Hamp-
tons headquarters shortly before daybreak on
the 18TH gave him very full account of the
first days discussion between General Sherman
and myself. and the terms as far as agreed upon
MI Reagan sat down and reduced them to
writing, to facilitate the business of the second
meeting. He included the articles for amnesty,
without excepting Mr.. Davis or the cabinet
When General Sherman and l met that
morning suggested to General Sherman the
presence OF General Breckenridge and his close
personal relations to the president of the con-
1edracy. anu proposed that he be admitted to
the conference. General Sherman assented
Gen Breckenridge was admitted. Not, how
ever as secretary Of war, bnt as major-ge
in the confederate army
when the memorandum, as prepared by Mr.
Reagan, was handed me read it to General
Sherman. who took it and Immediately sat down
at the table and began writing, holding the
paper had given him directly in front of him
with his left hand. He had been writing but
moment when General Breckenridge interrupted
him and began making a speech upOn the bless
hNediy until he had finished. when he instantly
dropped his eyes upon the paper without even
d sign Oh fesi'0Ilse and began writing as raDidiy
as before When the memorandum he had been
writing was finished / found that it differed
from mine only in being more in detail. The
conference was not continued long after the
terms were agreed upon. Colonel DAYTON of
General oherinans staff, was called to make
Tour copies of the agreement, one for each q
the presidents, one for General Sherman ana
one for myself. When they were finished and
signed We separated. l transmitted a COPY to
Mr.. Davis at once. and General Sherman sent a.
copy To PRESIDENT johnson. Mr.. Davis received
MS copy within a few hours. 1t took General
sherman about four or five days to commune
cate with the civil authorities of the United
STATES. ana geta reply, but did not receive Mr..
DAVIS approval OF the terms of peace until the
54th OF April. and within an hour of the time L
received General ShermanS announcement that
his government disapprOved of the agreement.
anu that the arInstice would terminate i'm forty
eight hours. Mr.. Davis had evidently been con-
siderln@ Tor all those five six days whether or
not he would accept the terms of peace which
the United States government rejected as too
liberal.
when the agreement between Gen. Sherman
ana myself had been signed. every one who
knew OF it felt elated Rreckinridre was i'm
great glee, and riding back to Gen. HamptOn's
took it for granted that the war
was ended He made several business prOpOsi-
tons to me. some of them Of considerable mag
nitude. Before we had got three miles from
the Bennett House on our return. he proposed
that We buy the Greenbrier White SULPHUR
Springs in Virginia. That seemed to be his pet
scheme aud he insisted that it would be a great
mOney-lnaking venture. l suggested that we
had no money.
''.Not bit Of trouble about that he said.
not a bit of trouble about getting the money.
We can borrow it,
''Where and OF whom2' asked
Ion, most any capitalist would be willing to
back US, he replied. There will be no trouble
about the money. We will buy the springs
MI Reagan was also pleased with the set
and almost every one else except Nj
AN IMPORTANT DISPATCH.
Immediately upon receipt of the dispatches
from General Sherman announcing the rejection
by his government Of the agreement and the
ending of the armistice within forty-eight hours.
communicated the fact to Mr.. Davis 1t was
about six O'Clock in the evening of the Gath when
sent the dispatch, and in addition to giving
he information, l asked for instructions. and
that the army be disbanded at once
to prevent further devastation and boodshed.
received dispatch in reply, dated II D. m, of
the 9th, and signed by General Breckinridre as
Of War. 1t ordered me to disbapd the
with instructions to meet aoain at