The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-14

officers TO accopt the tetups without regard TO
v~ashingtos- He thus states this fact In Vol.
uAns II. OF his Memoirs, page IS: MANY Of
RS general officers, among whom, I am almost
Dositive. were Gems. Logan and Blair, urged
me 10 accept the terms without reference at
all 10 Washington. but I preferred the latter
COURSE which shows cpnclusiveiy that Gen.
Sherman was more conservative In this matter
than many leading soldiers around him. :
When the collapse Of the Confcdcracy &C.
Cured, II was at once discovered By ell In the
field, and was regarded as a marvellous thing
that the Washington authorities. although for
q year the end had seemed very near and its
result certain, had prepared no plan OF recon.
s~truction to propose the moment the Confcd.
eracy had laid down its arms. II was deemed
o certainty that any plan likely to have been
presented from Washington would have been
at once accepted. This unexpected situation
furnished an excellent foundation for tho
schemcrs to build upon. The essentials of their
project were the thrustina aside, through tho
regular elections, Of radical leaders, and tho
adoption Of most conservative forms of settlo.
mcnt Tho main idea presented to those in.
trusted with II was TO induce tho leading army
men to unite upon . broad, conservative plat.
form, upon which thore should be no room
for tho radicals then most prominent In tho
Administration and Congress. Such q move
on the part Of popular officers, 1t was argued,
would insure the support Of tho rank and file
OF the Northern soldiers, and subsequently. as
q matter OF course, Of the Confederate politi.
clans, and thus q great conservative party
would DO firmly established, which could rulc
the country indefinitely. These were the ideas
which were quietly spreading In influential
military quarters as sherman's forces were
closing down on Johnston.
The acceptance by Gen. Sherman Of the po-
Il a. A.-~.z -...~-.l ~. A. -
eral Of the Confederacy, Mr.. John II. Reagan,
was, in view Of the existing state of political
discussion, q perfectly natural result, and 30
in no sense surprising. In the absence OF the
full explanation which these discussions and
this condition Of affairs furnish, the accep-
lance Of the Reagan terms would remain a mys-
terry. The narrative Of the negotiations BIO.
tween Gems. Sherman and Johnston throws
full light upon the origin and acceptance of
the Reagan terms. While this history Is well
known in its general terms. an examination Of
its details is always interesting, and, besides,
many readers will not have 1t at hand for
ready reference. Tho reproduction of Its ga.
lent points seems. therefore. necessary to a
full appreciation of the subject.
Tho opposing Generals met at o farmhouse at
Durham Station, beyond Raleigh, April II,
1865. Both have published statements of
what occurred, and Gen. Sherman in his ac-
count Endorses that of Gen. Johnston as quite |
accurate and correct" Gen. Johnston sug-
gested that instead Of a surrendering by piece
meal. he might be able to procure authority to
surrender all the remaining Confederate forces.
Gen. Sherman indicated that the terms given
by Grant to Lee would be the basis of negotia.
ton. The conference then ended for the day
to enable Gen. Johnston TO procure authority
for o general surrender. The next day the
two Generals met again. Gen. Johnston
urged that in tho terms his officers and men
should have some assurance of political RIGHTS
after surrender" This causing discussion,
Gen. Johnston suggested that Gen. Breckin.
ridge. Confederate Secretary Of War. be adj
mitted. Sherman at first objected because he
was a civil officer, but consented on the grounds
that he was also q general officer. Breckin.
ridge then confirmed what Johnston had urged
concerning the great uneasiness of the South.
ern officers and soldiers about their political
rights. At this point q messenger entered with
o paper which proved to DO a proposed draft
Of terms prepared by Postmaster-G General
Reagan. This draft had been written as the
result Of o conference between Gen. Johnston,
Gen. Breckinridge, the Confederate Secretary
Of War, and Con. Wade Hampton, held dur
ing the night after the first meeting of Sher-
man and Johnston. While this Confederate
conference was fin progress Gen. Sherman, %
he says in his Memoirs. upon his return to |
Raleigh saw nearly all the general officers of
his army, explained the situation to Thorn, and
was advised TO agree to some terms" which |
should put an end to matters then and there.
Upon the reading of the Reagan draft Gen. |
Breckinridge spoke for six or eight minutes in |
advocacy Of their conditions of peace. Gen. |
Sherman. with this paper before him, then
wrote his noted Memorandum" or basis of |
agreement, which, as Gen. Johnston says in
thu narroffvn tnlnraad hw d1n,,-.- -. slz.t.-
accurate and correct" differed from mine
(Reagan's) only in being fuller"
A fac-simile of the Reagan terms is now in
possession of the War Department Endorsed as
follows in Gen. Sherman's handwriting: Copy
OF q project sent by Gen. Johnston, being the
production of Mr.. Reagan. p. M. General Of
the Confederates." Its text is as follows:
As the avowed motive OF the Government of ths
United States for the prosecution OF the existing war
with the Confederate States Is to secure a reunion of
all the States under one common Government, and as
wisdom and sound policy alike require that q com.
mon Government should rest ON the consent and be
supported by the affections of ali the people who
compose II. now. in order to ascertain whether II 10
practicable TO put an end to the existing war and to
the consequent destruction OF life and property, hav-
ing in view the correspondence and conversation
which has recently taken place between Mator.Gen.
W. T, sherman and myself. I propose the following
points ~ o basis OF qualifications:
l.. The disbanding Of the military forces OF the Con.
federacy; and
.. The recognition Of the Constitution and authority
of the Government of the United States, on the fol.
owing conditions.
g.. Tho preservation and continuance Of the existing
state Governments.
4. The preservation to the people of all the political
rights. and rights OF person and property. secured to
them by the Constitution of the United states and Of
their several States.
b. Freedom from future prosecutions or penalties
for their participation in the present war.
o. Agreement to q general suspension Of h~ostlities
pending these negotiations.
Gen. Johnston will sec that the accompanying
memorandum omits all reference to details and to
the necessary action OF the States. and the prelimi.
nary reference OF the proposition to Gen. Grant for
his consent to the suspension OF hostilities. and to
the Government OF the I'm ted States for its action.
He Will also see that I have modified the first article,
according to his suggestion. by emitting the reference
to the consent OF the President of the Confederate