The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-11-19
SHERMAN AND JOHNSON.
General Howard Expresses His Opinion OF
the Much Criticised Capitulation.

ST. Louis, Nov. 1s.-At the reunion
Of the Army of the Tennessee here today
General Howard was the orator of the
day. His Grafton was devoted to de-
scription of the battle of Bentonville.
In the conclusion of the address he
spoke as follows of 5herman's much criti-
cized action in dealing with Johnson:
The 18th of April, Sherman made
another visit to Durham Station. Gen
eral Blair and myself, accompanied him
thither. Taking with him his pei sonal
staff. he went again to the Same place Of
station to meet the Confederetes. It was
at that interview that the first terms of
Johnston g capitalization were drawn up.
Speaking of the paper, Sherman says:
81 wrote it myself, and announced it as
the best / could do, and they (the Con-
federate oficers) readily asserted."
There were clauses in the agreement
which recognized existing State govern
ments, whose legitimacy was to be de-
termined by the Supreme Court, and
others that define political rights and
franchises. These clauses caused u fnror
of opposition from Washington, ms soon
as Sherman had submitted them for
approval. President johnson disap-
proved the agreement, and Grant was
ordered to resume hostilities, and further
to increase the sting of disspproval
Grant was instructed to proceed at once
to Sherman's army and direct operations
against the enemy.
We all remember how Grant came. and
how wisely he allayed every asperity;
but his strong friendship could not re-
move Sherman's chagrin. 1t WAS not be-
cause his terms were disapprovsd, bat
because he had been SO publicly and
cruelty denounced TO the whole country
| by the War Department. Sherman was
| encouraged by the friendship of Grant
| to go back to Johnston where new terms,
without political reference, were ar-
ranged. AS soon as Sherman had return
to him at Raleigh, Grant carefully read
over the memoradum of agreement,
put his own approval upon it, and then,
leaving us the next day, took the same
to Washington. That day, the 26th OF
April. Halleck promulgated from Rich
mond his startling order for the 9th
Corps to proceed southwark, wherein
he advised 'to push forward as rapidly
as possible and obey no orders of Sher.
man. His instructions also to General
Wilson, commanding the cavalry, who
was hurrying southwark, were: "Te
obey no orders from Sherman" Gin the
light of these dispatches a great com
mander like Sherman, having three ar
mics at his disposal, and not even re-
lieyed from duty, was deeply stung by
such gratuitous insult. ! wrote at the
time to friend ~ am deeply sorry al
the abuse General Sherman ia getting 81
the hands of the press He meant
, right, and the reasons for offering. gener
GUS terms are not rightly set forth by
the press. How easy it is to imputs
wrong niotivesi"
After years of experience and reading
and with a deep-seated antipathy nj
eighty, / am still of the opinion tina
SherIpan's terms ought to have beer
quietly received by the President and tn,
! Secretary of War and returned to him fo
modification. Had they gone originally
to General Grant, at that time so full O
sympathy and wisdom, he (Grant) woul,
quietly, without parade, have brough
about the essential changes, as he subse
quently did, and so secured the magnifi
cent results attained.
One can hardly help believing that tn
desire at Washington at the time was Il
great measure to reprees Sherman's ex
sraordinsry popularity with the countr
ct large, and probably give greater celia
to the last blow aimed through Sherma
= against the shrawd Confederate leader
f who were attempting, in Johnston 'sgca
: pitulation to save a part of the dire caus
.. for which they had been in rebellion 70
i four years.
Comrades, these last two battles an
!. tho surrender Of Johnston's army constj
tute tale, am aware, hundre
q times told. But when / look upon til
old flag, or rather the new one with fol
ty-fve stars in 1t, and think of all who
It it emblsmizes. and when l think of til
political struggle through which "
n have just passed, where II appeared
NE that the honor Of that fisg was Aeai