The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-09-09

understood eacn 0tner per1eclIE, ana
that the terms given TO Lee after his sur
render were authorized by Mr.. Lincoln.
q know that the latter was delighted
when he heard that they had been given,
and exclaimed, dozen times, Good :
ii right Exactly the thing! and
other similar expressions. Indeed, the
President more than once told me what
he supposed the terms would be: if
Lee and Johnston surrendered, he con-
sidered the war ended, and that all the
other rebel forces would lay down their
arms at once. In this he proved to be
right. Grant and Sherman were both
of the same opinion, and so was every
one else who knew anything about the
matter. What signifed the terms to
them, so long as we obtained the actual
surrender of people who only wanted a
good opportunity to give up gracefully?
The rebels had fought to the last dItch,
and all that they had left them was the
hope of being handed down in history
rs having received honorable terms.
SHERMANS THOROUGH WORK.
After hearing Gen Sherman's ac-
count Of hrs own position, and that OF
Johnston, at that time, the President
expressed fears that the rebel General
would escape south again by the rail-
roads, and that Gen. Sherman would
have to chase him anew, over the same
ground but the General pronounced
this to be impracticable. He remarked:
( / have him where he cannot move
without breaking up his army, which,
once disbanded, can never again be got
together; and / have destroyed the
Southern railroads, so that they cannot
be used again for a long time Gen.
Grant remarked: What is to prevent
then laying the rails again?' Why
said Gen. Sherman, my "bummers "
don't do things by halves. Every rail,
after having been placed over hot fire,
has been twisted as crooked as rams
horn, and they never can be used again.
This was the only remark made by
Gen. Grant during the interview, us he
sat smoking a short distance from the
President, intent, no doubt, on his own
plans, which were being brought to a
successful termination.
4" The conversation between the Presi-
dent and Gen. Sherman, about the terms
of surrender to be allowed Jos John
ston, continued. Sherman energetieally
insisted that he could command his own
terms, and that Johnston would have to
Weld to his demands but the President
was very decided about the matter, and
insisted that the surrender of Joinston's
army must be obtained on any terms.
Gen. Grant WIS evidently of the same
way Of thinking, for, although he did
not join IN the conversation TO any ex-
tent, yet he made no objections, and /
presume had made up his mind to allow
the best terms himself.
He was also anxious that Johnston
should not be driven into Richmond, to
reinforce the rebels there, who, from be-
hind their strong intrenchments, would
have given US incalculable trouble.
DEFENSE OF SHERMAN.
Sherman, as subordinate officer,
yielded his views TO those Of the Presi-
dent, and the terms Of capitulation be-
tween himself and Johnston were exactly
in accordance with Mr. Lincoln's wishes.
He could not have done anything which
would have pleased the President better.
Mr.. Lincoln did, in fact, arrange the
$50 considered) liberal terms offered
Gen. Jos Johnston, and, whatever may
have been Gen. Sherman's private
views, | feel sure that he yielded to the
wishes Of the President in every respect.
1t was Mr.. Lincoin's policy that was
carried out, and, had he lived long
enough, he would have been but too
glad to have acknowledged it. Had
Mr.. Lincoln lived, Secretary Stanton
would have issued no false telegraphic
dispatches, in the hope Of killing off
another General in the Regular Army,
one who by his success had placed him
self in the way Of his own succession.
The disbanding Of Jos Johnston's
army was so complete, that the pens and
ink used in the discussion of the matter
were all wasted.
1t was asserted, by the rabid ones,
that Gen. Sherman had given up all
that we had been fighting for. had con-
ceded everything to JOS. Johnston, and
had, as the boys say, knocked the fat
into the fire = but sober reflection soon
oyeruled these harsh expressions, and,
with those who knew Gen. Sherman,
and appreciated him, he was still the
great soldier patriot, and gentleman.
In future times this matter will be
looked at more calmly and dispassion-
ately. The bitter animosities that have
been engendcred during the rebellion
viii have died out for want of food on
which to live, and the very course Grant,
Sherman, and others pursued, in grant
ing liberal terms to the defeated rebels,
viii be applauded. The fact is, they
met an old beggar in the road, whose
crutchcs bad broken from under him !;
they let him have only the broken
crutches to get home with!