Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-03


same terms that had given Gen. Lee. cent
sherman TO do this himself. ] did not wish the
knowledge Of my presence to be known TO the
army generally SO left il with sherman to
negotiate the terms OF surrender by himself
aud without the enemy knowing that was
anywhere near the field. As soon a. possible /
started to get away to leave Gen. Sherman quite
free and untrammeled. At Goldsborough, on my
way back, met a mail containing the last news
papers, and l found in them indications of
great excitement in the north over the terms
sherman had given Johnston, and harsh orders
that had been promulgated by the President
and Secretary Of War. l knew that sherman
must see these papers, and fully realized
what great Indignation they would cause him,
though I do think his feelings would have
been mort excited than were nv own. But
like the true and loyal soldier that he was he
carried out the instructions that l had given
him, obtained the surrender of Johnston's
army and settled down into his camp about
Raleigh to await final orders"
CLOSING THE WAR.
Mr.. Stanton made no mistake in sending
Gen. Gran: with orders and instructions TO
direct the military movements against Gen.
Johnston instead of sending them to Gen.
sherman direct and he made no mistake in a9-
vising the people what had been done with the
terms. Having closed the war on the Missis-
sippi Gen. Grant was summoned 10 Gen.
Meade to close the war on the Potomac. and
having done this. il was then considered safest
by Mr.. Stanton that he should 60 TO Gen. Sher-
man, as that was the last point of danger in
the ending Of the war
Gen. sherman, referring TO the coming Of
Gen. Grant TO Raleigh. said: "Gen. Grant had
orders from the President to direct military
movements, and explained to him the exact
position of the troops, and be approved of it
la"st emphatically, but he did not relieve me
or express wish to assume command"
GEN. sHERMAS's DISPATCHES AND LETTERS.
In dispatch to Mr.. Stanton dated Raleigh.
April Is, 1865, before the surrender, Gen. Sher-
man SAYS: 81 will give the same terms Gen
Grant gave Gen. Lee and be careful not to
complicate any points of civil policy"
In another letter to Mr.. Stanton. dated Ra-
leigh, April %, 1865, after Gen. Grant had left
him. he SAYS: Il admit my folly in embracing.
IN a military convention. any civil matter" At
that time Gen. sherman had not seen the ''Nine
Reasons and Mr.. Stantons bulletins in the
newspapers. bnt after he had, he was over
whemed with anger at Mr.. Stanton and stated:
Had President Lineol lived know he would
have sustained me; that the terms were not ca
pable OF the construction and meaning given
them IN the Nine Reasons and he would stand
by the memorandum
Mr.. Stanton was not responsible for and could
not control the severe tone Of the press against
Gen. Sherman's terms. Senator sherman wrote
n, 1865: II am distressed beyond measure at
the terms granted Johnston by Gen. Sherman.
They are inadmissible."
80 PREVIOUS CAUSE OF COMPLAINT
Before this MIR. Stanton never had the least
cause of complaint against Gen. Sherman. and
/ remember how glad he Was when he read the
details of Gen. Sherman's long telegram of his
proposed march to the sea with his great army
through the enemys country. Mr.. Stanton was
delighted at this bold conception because 1t
meant grim war in its most devastating FORM
and because for this reason it meant peace the
sooner.
The conditional terms of surrender were
made April 10, and in transmitting them Gen.
sherman wrote that day to Gen. Grant and to
Gen. Halleck and TO the latter he said referring
to the sanction of his terms by the President:
Influence him, if possible, not to vary the
terms at all, for have considered everything"
To Gen. Grant be wrote: If You will get the
President to simply indorse and commission
me TO carry out the terms viii follow them to
the conclusion"
GEN. HALLEcK's ADVICE.
At the time the terms were set aside Mr.
Stanton sent bulletins to Gen. Dix. giving in
formation from Gen. Halleck. then command
ing at Richmond. which information was that
Gen. Sherman. acting upon his truce had given
orders stopping other commanders from push
ing forward, and that such orders would open
the way for the escape of Davis with a great
treasure of gold. which. it Was stated. he had
taken from Richmond. OF this truce Gen. Hal
leek advised Mr.. Stanton that it could only bind
Gen. Shcrmans own command. Subsequently
Gen. Grant, referring to Gen. Sherman's re-
port of the whole matter, advised him OF the
same military law. 1t was under this advice of
Gen. Halleck that Mr.. Stantons bulletins were
sert to Gen. Dix that Halleck had sent to GER
tain commanders not to obey orders from Gen.
Sherman and to pay no attention to his truce
In his bulletin giving the Mine Reasons Mr.
Stanton gave the telegram President Lincoln
sent to Gen. Grant to govern his actions in
any conference looking TO peace.
LINCoLN's TELEGRAM TO GRANT
As that telegram was inspired by Mr.. stanton
IT is important to give it here and the circun,-
stances under which it was written in order
that Mr.. Stanton's actions may be fully under
stood. 1t was written on the night Of March 8,
1865, at the Capitol. where the President and
his cabinet were awaiting the passage of the
final bills Of Congress. A telegram from Gen.
Grant was brought to the Secretary OF War in
forming him that Gen. Lee had asked an inter-
view for terms OF peace. President Lincoln
was much delighted and his feelings were mani
Tested in intimations of favorable terms to be
granted to the conquered rebels. Mr.. Stanton.
grave and stern, answering raid: .'Mr. Presi-
dent, tomorrow is Inauguration day. If YOU
are not to be President of a united and obedi-
ent people you had better not be inaugurated.
Your work is already done if any other author
ity than yours is for one moment to be recos-
nized, or any terms made that do not sisr,ity
that you are the supreme head of the nation.
II generals in the field are to negotiate peace or
any other chief magistrate is to be acknowl-
edged on this continent then YOU are not needed
and you had better not take the oath of Office ~
stanton, you are right, said the President,
his whole tone changing. "Let me have a pen"
and he wrote the following telegram:
1.-The President directs me to say to you that
he wishes you to have no conference with Gen.
Lee. unless it be for the capitulation of Lee q
army or on some minor or purely military mat
ter. He instructs me to say that you are not to
decide. discuss or confer upon any political
question. Such questions the President holds
in his own hands and will submit them to no
military conferences or conventions. In the
meantime you are to press to the utmost your
military advantages"
The President submitting the paper to Mr.
Stanton, asked him to address, date and sign it.
This telegram was published in the newspapers
at the time, but Gen. Sherman complains that
he was not advised Of it and never saw it until
he read Mr.. Stantons bulletin headed "Officiai-
Sherman's Truce Disregarded.'' l think Mr.
Stanton afterward regretted the harsh implica-
tons in his bulletins against Gen. Sherman. and
do not think Gen. Sherman deserved them
but he could not be communicated with, excite
ment Was great. and Mr.. Stanton was SO stirred
up by Gen. Halleck's kilograms that he deemed
it best to give the people the information he
received from Richmond and the probable con-
sequences Of Gen. Sherman's orders based upon
his truce, the terms Of which had been set
aside.