Arizona republican., 1891-02-15

almost deienceless, he moved upon Nashville, where he was disastrously de- ieated by Thomas. sherman had sent Thomas to that city purposely to resist his advance, and with the diminished army he moved upon Savannah, threat ening Augusta and Macon, but finding little to oppose him in
 HIS MARCH TO THE SEA.
 sherman moved steadily forward until he reached the defensive works that covered Savannah and blocked Sa- vannah River. These were promptly taken by assault, and communications were opened with the fleet, which fur nished ample supplies to his army. Sa- vannah thus became a marine base for future operations. sherman announced in brief note to President Lincoln the evacuation of the city. "I beg to pre- sent you" he writes, ''as Christmas gift the city of Savannah, with l50 heavy guns, plenty of ammunition and 25,00O bales of cotton" His army had marched 30J miles in twenty-four days, through the heart of Georgia, and had lived in plenty all the way.
 The value of this splendid achieve ment cannot be over-estimated. On August l2 he had been appointed major general in the United States army, and on January 10 he received the thanks of | Congress for his 'triumphal march" !" | After the occupation of Savannah the question arose whether sherman should come north by sea or march with his army through the Atlantic States. He ! nrnfarraA thn lnttnr plan SnhnHall leaving Thomas in Tennessee, was sent by rail and steamer to the coast of North Carolina with his corps to march upon Goldsboro', N. o., to cooperate with him. sherman left Savannah in February, moved through the Salkchatchie swamp, ,tianked Charles | ton, compelled its evacuation, and en- tered Columbia on February l7. Thence | he moved on Goldsboro by way of Winnsb ITO. Cheraw and Fayetteville, opening communication by Cape Fear river with Schotield on March l2, fight ing at Averysboro and Bentonville, where the enemy resisted his advance vigorously. At Averysboro on March l6, General Henry w. Slocum with four divisions attacked the entrenched po- sition of Gen. William J. Hardee, and, turning his left flank compelled him to | tall back, while the cavalry under Gen. Hugh Judson Fitzpatrick, were attacked and driven back by Confederate infantry ot Gen. Lafayette McLaws on the road | to BentOnville. At the latter point Gen eral Johnston's force was attacked in a strongly intrenched position on March l9, by the left wing O! General Sherman's army, under General Slocum, whose right flank mad been broken and driven back. Alter an obstinate combat, the Conled- crates withdrew in the night. sherman and Schotield met at Goldsboro on March 23 and 24, as originally planned.
 Leaving his troops there, he visited President Lincoln and General Grant at City Point, returning to GoldsboIo on March 30. 1t was at this interview on board the ocean Queen" that Sher- man said to President Lincoln; If Lee will only remain in Richmond till 1 can reach Gainesville, we will have him between our thumb and finger" sulting the action to the word.
 tie was ready to strike Danville road, break Lees communications, cut off his retreat or to reinforce Grant in front of Richmond for final attack. lie would be ready to move on April 10. Johnston at Greensboro received news of Lees surrender on April l2, and on April IA sent a flag of truce to sherman to know upon what terms he would receive his surrender. "I am fully empowered" sherman wrote to him, Ito arrange with you any terms for the suspension ol hostilities, and am willing to confer with you to that end. That base of action may be had, undertake to abide by the same conditions entered into by
 fenerals Grant and Lee at Appomattox Court House, Na., on the 9th inst"
 A LENIENT VICTOR.
 After considerable correspondence and a long interview with General Johnston, having in view an immediate and com plete peace, sherman made a memo randum or basis of agreement between the armies, which was considered by the Government as at once too lenient and exceeding his powers. It included
 in terms of equalization not only the army of Johnson, but all the Confederate troops remaining in the field. By the seventh articl le 1t was announced in general terms that the war is to cease general amnesty so far as the Execu- tive of the United States can command, on condition of the disbandment of the Confederate army, the distribution of arms and the resumption of peaceful pursuits by officers and men hitherto composing said armies" In order to secure himself against the assumption of power, the article is thus concluded Not being fully empowered by our re- spectiye principals to fulfil these terms, we individually and officially pledge our selves to promptly obtain authority and will endeavor to carry out the above program"
 It was an honest effort on the part of humane commander to put an end to the strife at once. Perhaps affairs were somewhat complicated by the assassina- tion of President Lincoln on April IA, which createo great indignation and sorrow. It not only affected the terms between Johnston and sherman, but it caused the latter to fall under the suspi- clon of the Secretary of War. On their arrival in Washington they were prompt ly and curtly disapproved by a dispatch sent, not to sherman, but to General irant, on the morning of April 24, di- recting him to go at once to North Caro- lima, by order of Secretary Stanton, to repudiate the terms and to negotiate the whole matter as in the case of Lee. General sherman considered himself re- buked for his conduct. It was supposed that in the terms of agreement there was an acknowledgment of the Confed- crate government and proposed reGs- tablishment of the State authorities, and that it might furnish ground of claim for the payment of the Confederate debt in the future. Such certainly was not | it's purpose, nor does it now appear that | such could have been its effect Sher-