The sun., 1896-10-18

I
| nest request Of Gen. Lee. "Johnston's Nara
tive" printed nine years after the war. gives
! n clrcumstantial account OF these conferences
| nf the Confcdt rate leaders at Greensboro, on
| tho 18th, 18th, and 18th Of April. 1865.
DAVIS DICTATED TnE PROPOSITIONS.
Johnston says that BeaurcGnrd, Breckin-
! ridge, and himself after carefully comparing
| the relative military forces and resources OF
the two telligcrents. arrived Mt tho conclusion
that tho Southern Confcderacy was over
thrown. Johnston frankly said to Breckin-
ridge, who was Secretary of War, that the
only power of government left In tho Presi-
dents hands is that OF terminating tho war. "
Most OF tho civilian officials, including Post.
master General Reagan and Mr.. Mallory, Sec
retary OF tho Navy. coincided in the necessity
of laving down tho Confederate arms. Tbs
President and the Secretary OF State, Mr.. Judah
J.. Benjamin, expressed confidence that the
var could be prolonged. Johnston says Ben
jamin made speech for war at the final con-
ference much like that of Sempronius in Ad.
dison's play" Mr.. Davis characterized the
suggestion that he open negotiations as idle,
when IL was certain, from tho failure Of pre-
vlous attempts, that his authority to treat
would not be recognized. Finally, however.
he reluctantly consented that negotiations
should be opened through tho military chan
mel, on the tacit understanding that the civil
authorities should take up and conduct them.
Johnston distinctly states that Davis then and
there dictated to Mr.. MALLORY the foregoing
letter to Sherman, which, thus prepared, he
signed and Immediately transmitted to the
Union commander He then rcjoined his army
and that was the last time. he saw the head of
the Confederate Government.
In all this comforting 1t is of moment to note
AZ. N
Johnston's army appeared to have been dis.
cussed. Everything related to the one subject
of Opening negotiations for peace" securing
nm "armistice preliminary to negotiations" ="
&c. All the Confederate accounts agree upon
this ono essential point. Having been con-
quercd in the field. they were willing to re-
sumo peaceful negotiations. Their only re-
naming resource was to secure through diplo.
macy not only personal immunity, but impor-
tant political CONCESSIONS: Tho tenor Of tho
sion to the civil authorities" leaves doubt
OF the design and hopes Oh the Confederates,
civil and military. who participated in tho
!, President Davis in his Rise and Fall Of
tive" appeared. with which II largely deals,
o
deny having dictated the Sherman letter, yet
for some reason he does not wish to emphasize
the fact, for ho passes II by in silence. Davis
treaty. but says in Tie rise and FSiI that
tho United States authorities. he at once or
dered Johnston to retreat into the interior with
such mounted % men IL, and artillery as he could
try to reassemble at a. fixed rendezvous. He
saws Johnston disobeyed this order. and with
ma man " on new 1 basis. Keturnins ~ to JoSnstons JOIN % 3
account,we find that he immediately objected
S s9 9has il or .a sG
ance OF but one OF the three great duties devoly-
ing upon usathat OF securing the safety OF the
mant, but neglected the other two-the safety
of the people and that OF the army" These were
Johnston from the the Confederate e EIScutiye tive
The belief that 1t would be a great crime TO
prolong I he , war . prompted me-" says John
vised the immediate flight of the high civil
functionaries u; der proper escort: AS might
a. has snd
holding that "the show Of continued resist
ad1,s, anes would have oversoms tho depression"
ally secured from tho North almost any terms
TO bring the war to close. So much for the
Confederate side 50 far as 1t relates to the
Sherman-Johnston convention.
SHERMAN MEETS JOHNSTON.
shon On the 18th the same day i was received.
ston letter. He Informed Johnston that he
was empowered 10 suspend hostiiities. and,
unlike Grant. Ignoring or overlooking the po.
Rssfe and
action to accent The surrender of Johnston s
army on the same terms granted to Lees.
took place at farm house. Mr.. Bennstt's.
ward Hillsboro. April II. only eight days
after Lees surrender. Just as he was leav-
ing Raleigh TO meet Johnston, n cipher tele-
graphic despatch from Mr.. Stanton was placed
in Shorman's hand. Announcing the assRssi-
nation of Lincoln, tho murderous assault on
been designed Tor Grant. Sherman says that,
dreading the effect of such news at that time.
der ringing in his cars, Sherman went to BEN
nett's house with no other idea than that il
Of Johnston's surrender. Johnston came TO
the meeting fresh from the Greensboro con-
As soon as the two were alone. Sherman in
formed Johnston Of Lipcoln's murder, and he
says thar the Confederate was visibly distu, bed
by the intelligence. Johnston at once said the
event was the greatest possible calamity TO the
South. When presently sherman came to
definitely understand that Johnstons object
was 10 secure such an armistico as would give
opportunity for negotiation between the civil
once, what Grant wrote Lee, and what he
should have written in answer to the Davis.
Johnston letter. that such political negotia.
stand upon the ground that the United States
did nor acknowledge tine existence Of a South.
for him to receive for Transmission To his
Government any proposition from the so-called
Confederate authorities. Thereupon he Of
fered Johnston the same terms granted Leo
Johnbton pointed out that his army was not
hemmed In nor obliged TO surrender like Lee.
JoHSsToNs CLEVER scnEME.
Then II was that the crafty Confederate
leader. with one detnita object always in
view, sprung the seductive proposal of a mill
tary conventi lion fer general surrender and a
permanent peace. In the succeeding conver-
sation he continually required to this project
sherman. forgetting his positive objection Of an
hour before to being tho channel for political
idea, tho Accomplishmsnt Of which would hand
him Gown the corridorA of time as the great
pacifcator OF the war. The two Generals then
foil To discussing terms. and q general amnesty,
including Jefferson Davis was the only rCck on
which they SPLIT. Without concluding any
thing. tho meeting was adjourned to the fol-
lowing day. On the 18th they met at Ben.
netts again. and on this day. by Sherman g
consent, Breckinriuge the Confederate Score
tary Of War, was present In his capacity OF
Major. General. Johnston submitted the draft
Of an agreement which had been prepared by
Postma,terGenera Reagan. This Sherman re-
tected. though hc listened to BrecknridCe in iIs
advocacy a .tew minutes. Then he sat down
and rapidly wrote out IN terms q proposition
which was instantly accepted by johnston
without the change of word. and IL was
thereupon signed in triplicat9 by both subloc