The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-06-30

y
when l finished / vent to the hotel. Just
after walking into the corridor Colonel
Of one of the regiments came up and
said, General, these people say waving
his hand toward the crowd, sthst The
Cabinet have been discussing with you
all day the reasons for your faill 20 Ia
capture Washington after the ba;clc vi
Bull Run.' This early experience, rcf.
haps, illustrates the loason why did not
always 80 promptly disclose to Mr. Davis
by telegraph my plans, as he seems I'd
have desired"
"Mr. Davis says in his book that your
answer TO his telegram whether you
would surrender Atlanta without fight
was not only evasive, but indicated fhe
contingency Of the surrender of Allan
on the ground that the Governor of t. q
State had not furnished, as expected,
sufficient State troops to defend the city
eide,o .i ,ir -
"This Is absurd and utterly without
truth. / never had any Intention of sur.
rendering Atlanta without iigh., as all
my statements to General Hood will
g ow."
IN THE LAST DITCH.
"When were you called to the com.
mand of the army Of which you were
relieved again?" 3. ,Fia '3,Taa
"Not until-the war was rtually over
and after Columbia, Soutr. Carolina, had
been captured"
"Mr. Davis claims that you did not
after again assuming command Of the
army, retreat to some portion of the
South, gathering reinforcements as YOU
progressed and making stapd some.
where in tho Southwest, and thus pro.
long the war;
General Johnston seemed very much
amused at this proposition, aud said with
much spirit: "That is ridiculous. The
idea Of falling back through the country
to Texas is absurd. The war was really
ended before General Grant compelled
the surrender Of General Lee, and there
was nothing left for US but 20 accept the
best terms that we could get. Mr. Davis
was not in position to understand or
appreciate the situation. was satisfied
that the war was virtually ended when
Hood vacated Atlanta and was afterward
destroyed near Nashville.
THE SURRENDER. fti
"Wheu 1 took command of the army
after Columbia fell all that was to be
done was to confer with General Eher.
man upon some military basis of peace
that would be equitable to both contend-
ir2 forces. IL was not alone the surren-
der of the army, but the basis of peace
that was most important"
"Where did you first meet General
Sherman to treat for peace ?" ,a7
"About twenty-five miles west of Raj
eigh, North Carolina. We were alone,
in little room in wretched hoyei,
when we talked over che basis of surren.
der. l never shall forget that meeting,
Before we proceeded to the discussion OF
the terms of capitulation General Sher.
man handed me q dispatch from Mr.
Stanton, then Secretary of War, stating
that Mr. Lincoln had been assassinated
was greatly shocked ct the announce.
ment, as was General Sherman, for il
seemed to us both to bear with great force
upon the important events that called he
and l together. General Sherman al
that time told me that he had been called
to City Point not many days before tc
confer with Mr.. Lincoln upon the terms
of surrender which should be offered te
me.n ~ s6 =
OUR TALK WAS FULL AND FREE.
'iEhe basis of surrender and peace
which we're agreed apon between General
Sherman and myself at the time were
such that general Sherman understood
Mr.. Lincoln himself had suggested to
him. The question how his death would
affect them was discussed, and both
thought, as President johnson retained
Mr. Lincoln's Cabicet. that it wnn!.d
carry out Mr.. Lincoln's plans lor my
surrender, as stated by Mr.. Lincoln him.
self"