The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-11
GEN. JOHNSTON'S SURRENDER
DID 7nE TERMS SHERMAN OFFERED
CARRY OUT LINCOLN's pOLTCYp

senator sherman. In His Euiogy OF MS
brother, said They Ma. and the Hon
Gco.t. Gorham Writes a Letter to Prove
THAT They Did Not-IIe Also shows TIM,
Grant Disapprovcd OF the Agreement he.
fore lie Submitted II to the President.
WASHINGTON, April 10.-George G. Gorham
has wri't"n the following open letter to SEN
alter sherman respecting tho latter's stateme nt
sbout the terms OF Johnston's surrender In his
recent culogy Of Gen. Sherman at New York:
r.. ILl .,isruoa Tinted State. Senate.
lElG Sm: In your recent address in Now
Ior, Oh the character and public services of
yoGr i'lustrious brother Gen. W. Il. Sherman,
you made the following reference to the terms
ed hy him for the surrender Of the forces
OF Gen. Joseph Johnston and other command
ers at the close of the civil war:
.n Sherman believed In and sought to carry out the
r,lcy Of Mr.. Lincoln. The terms OF surrender were
tentative and the conditions entirely subject to
the supervision Of the executive authorities. but in
sc II bong submitted to the generous and ,orgtving
Ih,s,ot who had fallen they were passed upon In the
taiow of great crime BY stern and relentless enc
mics who would not have consented to the conditions
liz posed by Gen Grant upon Gen Lee. and who would
have ed them had rant to
resign upon their refusal to carry out his terms when
tbs arrangement with Gen. Johnston was submitted
to President johnson and Mr. stanton 1t was re-
iected with the insulting intinaou that proceeded
from either cowardice or trcachery. The old cry
against Gen sherman was again started. II was even
imputed that no wonid attempt to play the part OF
Cromwe n military usurpcr. The generous kindness
Of Grant came to his relief. New terms were agreed
upon and the war closed.
You would have 1t understood by this that
while Gen. Sherman was engaged in a praise
worthy and purely military act. which Presi-
dent Lincoln would have desired him TO per-
form had he lived. he was sat upon and in
suited. and his arrangements set aside by
President johnson and Edwin NJ. Stanton.
then Secretary Of War. In mean and narrow
spirit OF revenge. because Of the assassination
Of Mr.. Lincoln. and that at this juncturc tho
generous kindness Of Gen. Grant interposed
between him and these alleged enomies. and
that the two Generals agreed on new terms
and ended the war. You state all this as
though you had approved. Gen. Sherman's
course
Whatever policy Mr.. Lincoln might have
recommended to Congress for the restoration
OF the Confederate States to their relations
with the Union. none knew better than you
that he never would have undertaken to usurp
the powers OF Congress on tho subject. much
him In this work 10y an unauthorized arrange
ment made a S Snder tae supeTyis19n OF Jefferson
following direction to Gen. Grant a fortnight
before the Sherman Johnston negotiations:
The Prssden directs mo say to you tina. he wisne.
you to have no conference with Gen Lee unless /, be
or purely Military lie nsfacts sS
ats aSa 70 b.
holds in his own hands. and WIN subm,. them to no
to press 10 the u.ln9ss your military advantages
EDWIN NJ STANTON Secretary Of War.
THIS ou w that Tp hs m not S
arrangement with Johnston. but it is none the
less absolute proof that he Mr.. Lincoln would
oral needed no such ndmonition to teach him
that discussion OF PUBLIC POLICIES in military
ity and whoiy outside the powers % s and duties
mit,ed this and am; in letter to Secretary Stan.
& Of his terms ' he
said: ! admit my folly, in embracing in
S S6S @ rssr 19 to S se
Ser. Johnston; he , asked him i he could con.
THAT he could procure authority from Davis"
Johns ton. saying that he thouc6t Turing the
night ne could procure authority to act in tho
tn
The two Generals met, again accordingly. and
Johnston then assured Sherman that he had
that they would obey his order to surrender"
:, The Confederate Secretary Of War. John c.
m nsin mn and Tsse
tinue until forty.eight hours after notice Of
crate armies were to dis band. their arms and
munitions OF var to be turned over to the sew
ments of which were to be recognized by tho
President and the inhabitants Of the South
were to be guaranteed all their rights Of nrop,
power they possessed before the rebellion.
and to be relieved from all consequences Of
amnesty. The arrangement concluded with |
Not beinGfnlISy powered by our respective
y and Officially pledge ourselves to 2ttain the
programme.
!, messenger was sent to Washington with
len 7. sherman wr9te tho commanding General
Il have agreed with Gen. Joseph L. John
ston for temporary cessation Of active hos
ington tho agreement made between us. with
the full sanction OF Mr.. Davis and in tho pres
ence Of Mr.. breckenridge Jefferson Davis the
teoe presd 10 ~, ana John {. Breckinridgc. his
. His messenger reached Washington on tho
M A1 4 You af en saa
coming 70 Gen. Shermans relief. from which
those not acauainted with the history oithe
|
ment When you made this statement you
must have known that Con. Grant condemned
Zen SIerman's act before consulting either
President Johnson or Secretary Stanton. He
wrote that very evening to Gen. Sherman
said
4, read it carefully before submitting it to
the PRESIDENT and the Secretary OF War and
proved" N
IN tho same letter he says that upon his sug-
seSlioh Cabinet meeting Was called. tho re-
h huit OF which was the disanpruval by tho
PRESIDENT y the basis laid down and the dis
approval Of the negotiations altogether, en-
fept Tor tho surrender Of the army commanded
y zen. Johnston. and an order for the tcrmi
hhanon Of the arInistice and the resumption Of
tnostlhtie-.' have before mo while | write |
ne ne ORIGINAL OF tho following note from Gen. |
IIant to Gen. Stanton
hAherAEIEHs AKNrs OF THE UNITED STATES |
"m. T. " Sf'nf0n. SsTtf1ry ~ Iiar
hiRi haN. received and lust coupcte reading the
~ "a mes brought BY special enger from Gen. |
,i nan lhty are OF such por lance that think
~" I,h'r action should he taken on them AMI 1t
n"'H re- ions by the President in council with his
,". 'hhhcI. wouH respectfully sug. est wh"i her
60 T'Hiltht 'hHhid lOt he hotiied and all HI, Cabinet,
",, ,,t Ins lahr place tonight Very respectfully
- S~''N"' "'''"i L. : tii.AST |
Lieutenant. icncraI |
fKt