The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-03

In tue west. mat were uOt less tudu
10000 troops to oppose which l had
not one-twentieth that force"
Mr.. DAvIss ALLEGED PLAN.
Gen. Johnston read again from Mr..
Davis's interview:
"Gen. Johnston had these matters
fully placed before him, and the de-
tails Of plan for his proposed move
ment placed before him, with orders
to execute it. He disobeyed the or
der" etc.
The only plan. )" be said, proposed
to me on the 25th amounted TO dis.
banding the army, except so much as
could be mounted, which was to be
sent to Mr.. Davis, evidently for his
personal protection. / objected, say
ing that we had three hign duties TO
perform-to provide as we could for
the safety OF the people, OF the army
and Of the high executive officers, and
this order provided for the last only.
"In my narrative" said the General,
picking up the volume, "the circum-
stances OF this disobedience OF orders
to which Mr.. Davis refers are presented
lublO lully W AAAib ShCONs
"In the afternoon OF the oath OF
April, the President OF the Confed-
eracy, then in Charlotte, communi.
Gated to me, by telegraph, his approval
OF the terms OF the convention Of the
l7.h and 18th, and within an hour a
special messenger from Gen. Hampton
brought me two dispatches from Gen.
Sherman. In one OF them he in
formed me that the government of the
United States rejected the terms OF
peace agreed upon by us and in the
other he gave notice OF the teTmir a.
ton OF the armistice in forty.eight
hours from noon that day.
"Ihe substance OF these dispatches
was imme diately communicated TO the
administration by telegraph lat 9
o'clock PM, instructions asked for,
aud the disbanding of the army Hug-
gested, 10 prevent further invasion aud
devastation OF the country by the
armies OF the United States. The re-
ply, dated at IL o'clock pm, was re-
Ceived early on the morning of the
25th. 1t suggested that the iniautry
might be diBbanded, with instructions
TO meet at some appointed place, and
directed me to BRING of the cavalry
and all other soldiers who could be
mounted, taking serviceable beasts
from the trains, and few light field
pieces. ! objected, Immediately, that
this order provided for the perform
ance OF but one OF the three great
duties then devolving uron us-that
OF securing the safety OF the high civil
officers OF the Confederate government.
but neglected the other two-the
safety OF the people and that of the
army. also advised the immediate
flight OF the high civil functionaries
under proper escort"
THE so. cALLED DIsoBEDIENCE.
Gen. Johnston laid down the book
and picking up the clip from the
Globe Democrat, read again, from the
comments of DIR. Davis:
"He obeyed the order, and surren-
dered the army, and put everything at
the mercy of the conquerers without
making movement to secure terms
that might have availed to protect the
political rights Of the people and pre-
serve their property from pillage when
II was in their power"
"Mr. Davis, said the General, talks
as II he had forgotten that the attempt
TO secure these political rights had Just
been made and had been frustrated by
the refusal of the United States execu-
tive to confirm the terms Of the con-
vention between Gen. Sherman and
myself. The belief that impelled me
to urge the civil authorities OF the
Confederacy to make peace, that IL
would be great crime to prolong the
the war, prompted me to disobey these
charlottesville last that received
from the Confederate government.
My reasons for disregarding the plan,
as Mr.. Davis now calls it, Igave in the
narrative. The instructions II carried
out would have given the President
an escoit too heavy for flight, and not
strong enough to force way for him,
and would have spread ruin over ali
the South, by leading the three great
invading armies in pursuit. In that
behalf l determined to do all
in my power to bring about termina.
ton OF hostilities. / therefore pro-
posed TO Gen. Sherman another ar.
mistice aud conference for that pur-
pose, suggesting as basis the clause
Of the recent convention relating to
the army. This was reported to the
Confederate government at once. Gen.
Shermsn's reply, expressing his sgree-
ment to conference, was received
soon after sunrise on the E6,h, and |
set out for the former place of meet
ing as soon RS practicable after an
nouncing to the administration that l
was about to do so. We met at noon
in MIR. Benefits house, as before.
found Gen. Sherman, as he appeared
in our previous conversation, anxious
to prevent further bloodshed, so we
agreed without difficulty upon terms
putting an end 10 the war within the
limits OF our commands, which hap.
pened to be observation-disclosures which
weeXpected to produce general pacifi-
cation"
HOW THE TERMS ORIGINATED.
After a slight pause Gen, Johnston
picked up the Globe Democrat of the
l4th instant, containing the opinions
of Mr.. Davis's Cabinet upon the first
terms Of peace agreed upon between
the generals. ~ eee," he remarked,
"the statement is made in relation 70
the new light on the convention be-
tween Gems. Sherman and Johnston
that the agreement into which Gen.
Sherman entered with Gen. Johnston
bad before its presentation to him
(Sherman) been considered at full
meeting OF those officials 1.-THE Presi-
dent and Cabinet),
"The only question OF the kind that
was considered by those officials be-
fore the meeting Of Gen Sherman and
myself on the 18th OF April was
whether or not Mr.. Davis should in
itiate negotiations for peace with Mr..
Lincoln. That was at Greensboro,
April 18th. After discussion Mr..
Davis consented, aud l was directed to
propose TO Gen. Sherman an armistice,
the objsct being to permit the civil
authorities TO enter into the neediul
arrangements 10 terminate the exist
/ ING war