The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-18
THE CONFEDERATE sUERENDEE-
Why Davis Was Excluded from the Amnesty
How Sherman Utilized Reagan,s Draft.

Why Davis Was Excluded from the Amnesty
How Sherman Utilized Reagan's DratE
Washington Special to st. Louis Globe Democrat.
Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's recollections of the
convention between himself and General Sher-
man were telegraphed quite fully to the Globe
Democrat last night He was seen again to-day,
and readily consented to add, so far as lay in his
power, to the information already furnished. In
speaking of his recollections of those events,
General Johnston dropped a remark incidental
ly which will interest the public, and give addi-
tional weight to his statements. The conven-
ton, he says. took place in the spring, and in
the summer months following he wrote ont his
narrative of the events. afterwards taking ocea-
sion to verify his own memory and memoranda.
General Johnston was asked if, in the discussion
of the terms, anything was said by himself or
by General Sherman about the bearing they
would have upon slavery and the confederate
war debt.
Nothing, he said d6ite promptly and en-
phatically, mot a word. These subjects We're
not mentioned
''Tne substance of these articles continued
General Johnston. placing his hand upon the
agreement signed by himself and General SEer-
ran, that was the subject of discussion. moth
ing beyond. We met about noon, on the 18th. [
think it was, and discussed the terms through
almost the entire afternoon. The question of
including Mr. Davis was almost the only subject
of discussion. All the rest of the terms were
agreed to between us with very slight contro-
versy. General Sherman was unwilling to in
clude Mr.. Davis in the terms of the general am
nesty. for fear that would cause the rejection OF
the whole agreement. He was a great deal too
sagacious to want to capture Mr.. Davis. He
knew the government, with Mr.. Davis as a pris-
oner, would feel like that celebrated individual
who won an elephant at a rattle"
In reply to q question as to what seemed to be
the moving impulse with General Sherman in
making the terms, General johnson said: ,
The feeling dominant with Sherman was to
restore peace. That sentiment was the one
III. - TT---.l ~ II 49, e
the North was to bring about peace as speedily
as possible. TO restore prosperity in the South
would add greatly to the prosperity in the North.
He was moved by what he considered to be the
mutual interest of the two sections
Speaking of Stantons declaration that Sher-
| man exceeded his powers in offering such terms.
General Johnston said, quite warmly:
THAT was absurd. 1t is part of the power of
n general to make a skeleton of peace with an
armistice to last until the settlement by his
| government upon the question. There are
many presidents for such action as we took.
Now. | emember in proposing to General Sher-
man that we should treat for an armistice, / re-
| ferred to some of these presidents. L reminded
| him Of the preliminaries of Loeben, and the
terms in which Napoleon, then victorious, pro-
posed negotiations to the Arehduke Charles"
''In the course of the discussion" continued
| General Johnston. General Sherman said:
| We and by that he included all the soldiers of
his army. have been fighting to restore the
Union. That has been the only object of the
war, as has been declared repeatedly in resolu-
tions by Congress, and repeatedly in proclama-
| tions by the government That was the way he
talked, and it was with that feeling he ap-
| preached the agreement. General Sherman had
Just as much right to make those terms as Gen.
Grant had to make the terms ne did at the capt.
| ulation at Vicksburg."
To the inquiry If at the time he made these
terms with General Sherman he felt s~anguine
| they would be ratified by the Federal govern
ment, General Johnston replied:
Il should have been very confident Of Mr..
Lincoln accepting these terms, but we had just
heard of his assassination. Sherman thought
| that Mr.. Lincoln's Cabinet would be gov
erned very much by Mr.. Lincoln's opinions,
and he was very sanguine OF the acceptance of
the terms.
A question as to the use made of Judge Rea-
can's draft of the terms at the convention,
| prompted General Johnston to describe the
scene. An aide had brought writing material
when General Breckenridge had made a few re-
marks in a general way on the advantages Of
| peace. General Sherman took pen and paper,
| and, putting the draft made by Judge Reagan
before him, wrote rapidly the famous memo
randa, glancing from the Reagan paper to his
own and back again, like one rewriting from a
rough draft.
General Johnston, in talking informally of the
convention, related a little reminlscence which
is interesting in itself, aside from the connection.
He said that when President Davis received his
telegram asking that the Secretary of War
breckenridge be sent back to aid in the nego-
~tiations for terms. there was a hasty consulta-
ton in Mr.. Davis's tent. Something was sug-
| gested about Judge Reagan going also.
''Yes," spoke up Mr.. Davis. Reagan must go,
| too. He's got more sense than all of u.s."
THAT, I thought" said General Johnston.
smiling, "was quite an admission, coming from
the source it did,"
Judge Reagan, in relating his "reminiscences
| yesterday, said that from an order issued by Gen.
Sherman, shortly after the agreement was
signed. Mr.. Davis and cabinet inferred the terms
were receiving the approval of the federal au-
thorities. That order was hunted up to-day.
General Sherman opens up by saying:
1.-The General commanding announces to the
army 3 suspension of hostilities, and an agree
| ment with General Johnston and high officials,
which, when formally ratified, will make peace
from the Potomac to the Rio Grande."