Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-05-12

his finger beckoned US to come to
him. We left the ranks and rushed
into a great crowd close up TO his
horse. When we had got into a solid
mass-he in the center-we quieted
down and stood expectant. He looked
about into our face, smiled and said,
Boys, General Johnson has sent in
word that he would like to meet Gen
eral Sherman and agree upon terms of
surrender: and so we have been halt
ed here. 1t is very likely, boys, that
our chase after General Joe Johnson
is now at an end
Did we shout? Well, | should say.
We whooped and hurrahed and did
everything else We could to make a
noise to show our joy. Surely there
was a rift in the cloud The rain
ceased; the sky cleared: the sun
shone out; we went into camp in the
big field: the war seemed to us prac-
tically at an end.
Generals Sherman and Johnson met
that very day under the flag of truce,
and arranged for conference on the
18th, when details OF the proposed
surrender We're to be presented, and
if agreeable to both, signed. During
these days of cessation of hostilities
we rested in camp. The time for
which we had so long fought and en-
dured and hoped and prayed seemed
just at hand, and we were too happy
for full expression. Though we made
much noise at first, we could not keep
at it all the time, so we settled down
to a quiet enjoyment of the glad pros
pect. Yet we could hardly realize
the truth of what was coming to pass
Alas! there is in the world no great
joy wholly unmixed with grief. The
nations great grief of that month of
April came to us on the 18th. Abra-
ham Lincoln, our beloved president
had been assassinated! l cannot tell
how we were shocked by the sad mes
sage. How well / recall Maurice
Macaulay's coming back to camp from
up town that day with look of dis
tress upon his usually cheerful coun-
tenance.
news, terrible news! Too bad, il seems
to me, to be true. President Lin.
coin has been shot by an assassin
and is dead!'
We knew neither what to think,
nor say, nor do. Ny good bunk-mate,
Eddy Cole a dignihed man approach
ing middle age, went into our little
shelter tent, sat upon his knapsack
put his face between his hands and
| went honest, manly tears of sorrow
and there he sat for an hour in grief
so ceep that ! did not dare speak to
him. Dear old Eddy! 1t was indeed
a sad day in camp, and now, forty-four
years after. we have not yet ceased to
mourn for him so ruthlessly torn from
us by the hand of traitor assassin.
When General Sherman was about
to go that morning to meet General
Johnson, a telegraph operator whis-
rered to him how sad a message had
jrst come TO him. He babe the OPP
orator to keep the matter secret till
his return. When Sherman met John
son the first thing he had to say TO
him was that good President Lincoln
had been assassinated. And so it was
that General Johnson was the next
man after General Sherman TO know
of the terrible tragedy at Washing
ton, and he, too, confederate that he
was, was gTiefstricken. He thought
then. as he knew later. that in Abra-
ham Lincoln not only the north but
the south had lost its best friend.
That day General Sherman told
Johnson that he felt justified in Of
fering him the same terms of surren-
der Grant had given Lee. Johnson
was satisfied, yet thought some other
articles of agreement necessary that
his men might get back to the states
where they belonged and not break
up into disorganized mobs of guerril-
las. The two generals then made men,
| orandas of several such articles, some
of them being of a civil rather than
military nature. These memoranda
were sent to Washington for approval
or disapproval A truce was in the
meantime agreed upon, to be ended,
after forty-eight hours notice. by
either general
These articles of agreement be-
tween Sherman and Johnson were
read in Washington before the new
president, Andrew Johnson. and his
full cabinet, Gen eral Grant also be-
ing present. None # them believed
General Sherman was empowered to
treat In the least concerning civil
matters, and all we're opposed to the
plans sent up hy him.
It may truthfully be said, no doubt,
that some of those present at that
meeting were angry because Sherman
ever presumed to make any such
articles of agreement; and one OF
them, Secretary Of War Stanton.
seemed then to become an enemy Of
the brave general who mad. during the
four years Of war just closing rem
dered service so interesting. skilifui
and heroic Stanton's criticisms
we're severe. ungenerous and utirely
uncalled for: and his unkiBd action ~
the matter Influenced many others
not acquainted with the facts in the
case almost 20 doubt the loyalty Of the
nan who had Ter a 'most a year been
conducting a campaign agains. the re-
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