The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-16
General Joe Johnston's Recollections.


Gen. Joseph E. Johnston was seen at his
home, on Connecticut avenue, by the Globe
Democrat correspondent He expressed his
willingness to give such information as he pos
sessed, touching the origin of the terms and the
manner in which they were agreed upon by Gen.
Sherman and himself. Many years ago, when al
these events were quite fresh in his mind, Gen.
Johnston wrote his narrative, as he calls it.
Almost the first inquiry as to the closing scenes
of the war brought reference to the narrative,
which supplements and confirms Judge Reagans
statement perfectly After referring to the call
to Greensboro, and the trip there, GENERAL John
ston tells of the information respecting his
forces, which he laid before Mr.. Davis and his
Cabinet He says:
II represented that, under such circumstances
it would be the greatest of human crimes for US
to attempt to continue the war, for having Meth
er money, nor credit, nor arms but those IN the
hands of our soldiers, nor ammunition but that
in their cartrid ge boxes shops for repairing
arms or fixing ammunition, the effect of our
keeping the field would be not to harm the enc
my, but to complete the devastation of our coun-
try, and the ruin of its people, therefore
urged that the President should exercise at once
the only function of government still in his pos
session. and open negotiations for peace"
Referring to the discussion out of which grew
the proposition to make terms with Sherman,
General Johnston says
'The members of the Cabinet were then de-
sired by the President to express their opinions
on the important question General Breckin
ridge, Mr. Mallory and Mr. Reagan thought that
the was decidedly against us, and that it
was absolutely necessary to make peace. Mr.
Benjamin expressed the contrary opinion. The
latter made speech for war much like that of
Sempronius in A6disons play The President
replied to our suggestion as ii somewhat annoyed
by it. He said it was idle to suggest that he
should attempt to negotiate, when it was certain
from the attempt previously made that his au-
thority to treat would not be recognized nor any
terms that he might offer considered by the gov
eminent of the United STATES. ] reminded him
that it had not been unusual in such cases for
military commanders to initiate negotiations
upon which treaties of peace were founded. and
proposed that he should allow to address
General Sherman on the subject. After few
words in opposition to that idea, Mr.
Davis reverted to the first suggestion that he
should offer to the United States government
terms which he had put aside, and sketched a
letter appropriate to be sent by me to General
Sherman, proposing meeting to arrange the
terms of an armistice to enable the civil author-
ties to agree upon terms Of peace. Believing
that this course ought to be adopted at once, /
proposed that he should dictate the letter then
to Mr.. Mallory, who was good penman, and
that should sign and send it to the federal COM
mauder Immediately. The letter prepared In
acknowledgement Hampton near Hillsboro, to
be forwarded by him to General Sherman. It
was delivered to the latter next day, the 14th"
The letter was in these words
1.-THE results of the recent campaign in Vir
ginia have changed the relative military condi-
ton of the belligerents. 1 am, therefore,
induced to address you in this form the inquiry
whether, in order to stop further effusion of
blood and devastation OF property, you are will
ing to make temporary suspension of active
operations. and to communicate to Lieutenant
general Grant commanding the armies of the
United States, the request that he will take like
action in regard to other armies; the object being
to permit the civil authorities to enter into the
needful arrangements to terminate'the existing
war"
meeting between the generals was brought
about. General Johnston's account of how they
argued the situation, and how an understanding
was finally reached, is as follows:
when General Sherman understood, what
seemed to have escaped him in reading my let
ter, that my object was to make such an arms
tice as would give opportunity for negotiations
between the civil authorities of the two couu-
tries. he said such negotiations were impossible,
because the government of the United States did
not acknowledge the existence of a Southern
Confederacy. nor consequently, its civil autnori-
ties as such. Therefore, he could not receive for
transmission any proposition addressed to the
government of the United States by those claim
ing to be the civil authorities of Southern Con-
federacy He added. in a manner that carried
conviction OF sincerity, expressions of wish to
divert from the South such devastation as the
continuance of the war would make inevitable,
and as means Of accomplishing the OBJ
ject. so far as the armies were
concerned, he offered me such terms
as those given to General Lee. / replied
that our relative positions were too different
from those of the armies in Virginia to justify
such o capitulation, but suggested that we do
more than he proposed; that instead of a partial
suspension of hostilites we might, as other gen.
erals had done. arrange the terms of perma
pant nsace- and among other presidents remind