The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-09-30
First Bnllctin. !
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, !
April %, 1865. {

Yesterday evening q bearer of dispatches
arrived from Gen. Sherman An agreement
for a suspension Of hostilities, and a memo
randum Of what is called a basis for peace.
had been entered into on the 18th inst by
Gen Sherman, with the rebel Gen. Johnston.
| Brig. Gen. Brecklnridgc was present at the
conference.
A Cabinet meeting was held at O'Clock in
the evening, at which the action of Gen.
Sherman was disapproved by the President.
By the Secretary Of War. by Gen Grant. and
by every member of the Cabinet Gen. Sher-
man was ordered to resume hostilities i'm
mediately, and was directed that the instruc-
tions given by the late President, in the fol-
lowing telegram, which was penned by Mr..
Lincoln himself, at the Capitol, on the night
OF the Sd Of March, were approved by Presi-
dent Andrew Johnson, and were reiterated to
govern the action of military commanders.
On the night Of the Sd of March while
! President Lincoln and his cabinet were at
| the Capitol, telegram from Gen Grant was
! brought to the Secretary of War, informing
| him that Gen. Ice had requested an inter
view or conference, to make an arrangement
| for terms OF peace. The letter of Gen Lee
was published IN a letter TO Davis and TO the
! rebel Congress. Gen. Grants telegram was
! submitted TO Mr.. Lincoln, who, after ponder
! inc few minutes, took up his pen and wrote
with his own hand the following reply. which
! he submitted TO the Secretary of State and
1 Secretary Of War. II was then dated. ad-
| dressed and signed, by the Secretary of War,
and telegTaphed TO Gen. Grant:
WAsIINGToY, March 3, 1865; IL p. m.
/ Lieut.. Gen. GRANT:
The President directs me to say to Won that
! he wishes you TO have no conference with
/ Gen. Lee, unless it be for the capitulation
/ of Gen. Lees army, or on some minor or
! purely military matter. He instructs me to
say that y0u are not TO decide. discuss. or
confer upon any political questions Such
| questions the President holds IN his own
/ hands, and VIII submit them to no military
/ conferences or conventions.
Meantime you are TO press TO the utmost
/ your military advantages.
EDWIN ". STANTON, Secretary of War.
The orders OF Gen Sherman to Gen. Stone
man to withdraw from Salisbury and ioin
him viii probably open the way for Davis TO
| escape 10 Mexico or Europe with his plunder
which is reported 10 be very large, including
not only the plunder OF the Richmond banks
bat previous accumulations.
y dispatch received by this Department
says 1T is stated here, by respectable
parties. that the amount OF specie taken
south by JEFF. Davis and his partisans is verv
'.rge, including not only the plunder of the
l2ichmonG banks. but previous accumula-
ions. They hope, it IS said, to make terms
with Gen. Sherman or some other com
mander by which they will be permitted,
IL ,helr effects, in uding this gold plumber,
20 so IL Mexico or Europe. Jol,nstons ne
! u.tiafip,,e lnpL, n this ,.,,d
After the abinet meeting last night, Gen.
Graft st; led for North C: ina, to direct
ore tons against Jolns.a IS army
EDp ii. SAN On, Secretary of War.
Here followed the terrls, and Mr..
stantop's 10 reasons for rejecting them.
| The Publication of this bulletin by