The Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman, Complete

over the matter of the conference at Bennett's house of the day before, and, without exception, all advised me to agree to some terms, for they all dreaded the lo

discussed all the probabilities, among which was, whether, if Johnston made a point of it, I should assent to the escape from the country of Jeff. Davis and his fugitive

nk of colonel, to obtain an absolute pardon, by simply laying down his arms, and taking the common oath of allegiance, and that General Grant, in accepting the surrender of General Lee's army, had extended the same principle to all the officers, General Lee included; such a pardon, I understood, would restore to them all their rights of citizenship. But he insisted that the officers and men of the Confederate army were unnecessarily alarmed about this matter, as a sort of bugbear. He then said that Mr. Breckenridge was near at hand, and he thought that it would be well for him to be present. I objected, on the score that he was then in Davis's cabinet, and our negotiations should be confined strictly to belligerents. He then said Breckenridge was a major-general in the Confederate army, and might sink his character of Secretary of War. I consented, and he sent one of his staff-officers back, who soon returned with Breckenridge, and he entered the room. General Johnston and I then again went over the whole ground, and Breckenridge confirmed what he had said as to the uneasiness of the Southern offi

e word of that paper. I wrote it myself, and announced

member telling Breckenridge that he had better get away, as the feeling of our people was utterly hostile to the political element of the South, and to him especially, because he was the Vice-President of the United States, who had as such announced Mr. Lincoln, of Illinois, duly and properly elected the President of

a messenger to Washington, and sent Major Henry Hitchcock down by rail, bearing the following letters, and agreement with General Johnston, with instructions to be very careful to let nothing escape

tters fully explained that the military situation was such that the delay was an advantage to us. I cared little whether they were approved, modified, or disapproved in toto; only I wanted instructions

DIVISION OF THE MISS

H CAROLINA, A

ECK, Chief of Staf

he man Clark, detailed to assassinate me. He h

down, and can easily be guided. None evinced more feeling than General Johnston, who admitted that the act was calculated to stain his cause with

ion of a set of young men of the South, who are very devils. I want to throw upon the South th

one infinite mischief. Johnston informed me that General Stoneman had been a

Wilson was at Columbia, Georgia, and he wanted

my agreement with Johnston, our i

, if possible, not to vary the terms at all, for I have considered every thing, and believe that,

, Major-Gener

ITARY DIVISION O

IGH, NORTH CAROLIN

GRANT, or Major-General H

e from the Potomac to the Rio Grande. Mr. Breckenridge was present at our conference, in the capacity of major-general, and satisfied me of the ability of General Johnston to carry out to

that the dispersion and disbandment of these armies is done in such a manner as to prevent their breaking up into guerrilla bands. On the other hand, we can retain just as much of an army as we pleas

lieve they will resort to war again during this century. I have no doubt that they will in the future be perfectly subordinate to the laws of the United States. The moment my action in this matter is approved, I can spare five corps, and will ask for orders

ldier and officer not needed should be got home at work. I

action, as it is important to get the Confede

respect, your o

, Major-Gener

State of North Carolina, by and between General Joseph E. JOHNSTON, commanding the Confederate Army, and M

uo until notice is given by the commanding general of any one to

to execute and file an agreement to cease from acts of war, and to abide the action of the State and Federal authority. The number of arms and munitions of war to be reported to the Chief of Ordnance a

egislatures taking the oaths prescribed by the Constitution of the United States, and, where conflicting State gover

several States, with powers as defined by the Constitu

e can, their political rights and franchises, as well as their rights of person sad prop

he people by reason of the late war, so long as they live in peace and quiet, abstain fro

es can command, on condition of the disbandment of the Confederate armies, the distribution of the a

se terms, we individually and officially pledge ourselves to promptly

, Commanding Army of the Uni

HNSTON,

erate States Army

ere pushed with energy, and we also got possession of the railroad and telegraph from Raleigh to Weldon, in the direction of Norfolk. Meantime the troops remained statu quo, our cavalry occupying Durham's Stat

pidly by rail to Baltimore and Washington by General Grant's orders, and thence by sea to North Carolina. Nothing of interest happened at Raleigh till the evening of April 23d, when Major Hitchcock reported by telegraph his return to Morehead City, and that he would come up by rail during the night. He arrived at 6 a.m., April 24th, accompanied by General Grant and one or two officers of his staff, who had not telegraphed the fact of their being on the train, for

E MISSISSIPPI IN THE FIELD, RALEIGH,

ommanding Confedera

reed to between us will cease in forty-eight hours after this is re

RMAN, Maj

other short note to General

to your immediate command, and not to attempt civil negotiations. I therefore demand the surrender of yo

to General Grant at the time, before t

he expiration of the forty-eight hours' truce, and messages were sent to General Gillmore (at Hilton Head) to

me at the same time (as should have been done), would have saved a world of trouble. I did not understand that General Grant had come down to supersede me in command, nor did he intimate it, nor did I receive these communications as a serious reproof, but promptly acted on them, as is already shown; and in this connection I give my an

WASHINGTON CITY,

nt-Gener

having been submitted to the President, they are disapproved. You will give notice of the

by my telegraph of that date, addressed to you, express substantially the views of Presi

ately to the headquarters of Major-General Sh

s tr

ANTON, Secr

2 p.m., City Point, March 4, 1865 (f

IP

STATES MILIT

ARMIES OF THE

nt-Gener

e no conference with General Lee, unless it be for the capitulat

pon any political question; such questions the President holds in his o

ress to the utmost yo

ANTON, Secr

ARMIES OF THE

, D.C. Apr

AN, commanding Military D

he disbandment of the Southern army, and the extension of the authority of the General Governme

y of War, and felt satisfied that it could not possibly be approved. My reaso

that all might give an expression of their opinions upon the matter. The result was a disapproval by the President of the basis laid down; a disapproval of the negotiations altogether except for the surrender of the army commanded by General Johnston, and directions to me to notify you of this decision. I

of the termination of the truce, and resume hostilities agains

ully your obe

T, Lieuten

ITARY DIVISION O

IGH, NORTH CAROLIN

neral U. S. G

esterday, and was well pleased that you came along, as you must have observed tha

you extended to the army of General Lee at Appomattox Court-House on the 9th, and the seeming policy of our Government, as e

ltation with you or any knowledge of Mr. Lincoln, but r

is forced on military commanders not in immediate communication with the proper authority. It is probable that the terms signed by General Johnston and myself were not clear enough on

always define the military status of the surrendered. Thus you stipulated that the officers and men of Lee'

ion of the State governments in actual existence, but will mer

s for a moment the so-called Confederate Gover

ebellion are void, because done without the oath prescribed by our

overnments in actual existence as a means to an end. I do believe we could and can use the present State governments lawfully, constitutionally, an

rbed by our acts; and, so far as I can, I will use my influence that rebels shall suffer all the

which common men may regain the positions

States, we will have to deal with numberless bands of desperadoes, headed by such men as Mosb

respect, your o

, Major-Gener

ITARY DIVISION O

IGH, NORTH CAROLIN

ON, Secretary of

se the insurgents, on condition of amnesty, etc. I admit my folly in embracing in a military convention any civil matters; but, unfortunately, such is the nature of our situation tha

les before me of General Grant's terms to Lee's army, and General Wei

sk; and I had flattered myself that, by four years of patient, unremitting, and successful labor, I deserved no reminder such as is con

, Major-Gener

n, agreeing to meet me again at Bennett's house the next day, April 2

e; and on the 26th I again went up to Durham's Station by rail, and rode out to Bennett's house, where we

ear Durham's Station., North Carolina, between General JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON, commanding the Confed

the troops under General Johnston'

sited at Greensboro', and delivered to an

he other to be given to an officer to be designated by General Sherman. Each officer and man to give his individual obligat

and their private horses and b

their homes, not to be disturbed by the United States authorities, so long a

al, Commanding United Stat

ommanding Confederate Stat

rov

T, Lieuten

ese terms his approval, and then I thought the matter was surely at an end. He took t

reensboro', North Carolina, and on General Wilson the same duties in Georgia; but, thus far, I had been compelled to communicate with the latter through rebel sources, and General Wilson was necessarily confused by the conflict of orders and information. I deemed it of the u

t Bul

WASHINGTON, A

ilities, and a memorandum of what is called a basis for peace, had been entered into on the 18th inst. by Ge

member of the cabinet. General Sherman was ordered to resume hostilities immediately, and was directed that the instructions given by the late President, in the following telegram, which wa

nce, to make an arrangement for terms of peace. The letter of General Lee was published in a letter to Davis and to the rebel Congress. General Grant's telegram was submitted to Mr. Lincoln, who, after pondering a few minutes, to

March 3, 1

nt-Gener

eral Lee's army, or on some minor or purely military matter. He instructs me to say that you are not to decide, discuss, or confer upon an

ress to the utmost yo

ANTON, Secr

obably open the way for Davis to escape to Mexico or Europe with his plunder, which is reported t

isans is very large, including not only the plunder of the Richmond banks, but previous accumulations. They hope, it is said, to make terms with General Sherman, or som

eral Grant started for North Carolina, to

ANTON, Secr

and Mr. Stanton's ten r

to me in advance, as was his duty, the purpose of the Administration to limit our negotiations to purely milit

gave warrant to the impression, which was sown broadcast, that I might be bribed by banker's gold to permit Davis to escape. Under the influence of t

on as a personal and official insult,

ITARY DIVISION O

EIGH, NORTH CAROL

S. GRANT, General-in-C

s grouped in such a way as to give the public very erroneous impressions. It embraces a copy of the basis of agreement between myself and General Johnston, of April 18th, with comments, which it will be

saw, and drawing therefrom inferences wide of the truth. I never saw or had furnished me a copy of President Lincoln's dispatch to you of the 3d of March, nor did Mr. Stanton or any human being ever convey to me its substance, or any thing like it. On the contrary, I had seen General Weitzel's invitation to the V

it is simply impossible for our military power

only possible in a disorganized shape; and as you did not choose to "direct military operations in this quarter," I inferred that you were satisfied with the military situation; at all events, the instant I learned what was proper enough,

." Davis was between us, and therefore Stoneman was beyond him. By turning toward me he was approaching Davis, and, had he joined me as ordered, I would have had a mounted force greatly needed for Davis's capture, and for o

fairly drawn from this singular document the conclusion

th the best officers in this army as to the points involved in this controversy, and, strange to say, they were singularly unanimous in the other conclusion. They will learn with pain and amazement that I am deemed insubordinate, and wanting in commonsense; that I, who for four years have labored day and night, winter and summer, who have brought an army of seventy thousand men in magnificent condition across a country hitherto deemed impassable, and placed it just where it was wanted, on the day appointed, have brought discredit on our Government! I do not wish to boast of this, but I do say that i

War. I will therefore go on to execute your orders to the conclusion, and, when done, will with intense satisfaction leave to the civil authorities the execution of the task of which they see

ncere r

, Major-Gener

demand that this also be made public, though I am in no manner r

, Major-

for the future were completed. Generals Schofield, Terry, and Kilpatrick, were to remain on duty in the Department of North Carolina, already commanded by General Schofield, a

ort Royal and the Savannah River, which we reached on the 1st of May. There Captain Hoses, who had just come from General Wilson at Macon, met us, bearing letters for me and General Grant, in which General Wilson gave a brief summary of his operations up to date. He had marched from Eastp

steamer Jeff. Davis to be loaded with stores, to proceed at once up the Savannah River to Augusta, with a small detachment of troops to occupy the arsenal, and to open communication with General Wilson at Macon; and on the next day, May 2d, this steamer was followed by another with a fall cargo of clothing, sugar, coffee, and bread, sent from Hilton Head by the department commander, General Gillmore, with a stronger guard commanded by General Molineux. Leaving to General Gillmore, who was present, and in whose department General Wilson was, to keep up the supplies at Augusta, and to facilitate as far as possible General Wilson's ope

efell her. Resuming our voyage, we passed into Cape Fear River by its mouth at Fort Caswell and Smithville, and out by the new channel at Fort Fisher, and reached Morehead City on the 4th of May. We found there the revenue-cutter Wayanda, on board of which were the Chief-Justice, Mr. Chase, and his daughter Nettie, now Mrs. Hoyt. The Chief-Justice at that moment was absent on a visit to Newbern, but came back the next day. Meantime, by means of the telegraph, I was again in correspondence with General Schof

VENTION OF A

MENTAL

h to their homes, and for subsequent use in their industrial pursuits

h of its effective strength, which, when the troops reach the capitals of their

ivate property of both officers

, Major-General Canby, will be requested to give transportation by wat

s and soldiers to be signed b

General Johnston's command to be incl

FIELD, Maj

d States Forces

HNSTON,

rate States Forces

of prisoners of

d, at Greensboro

cially reported,

umber who surre

reported by Gene

52

ndered under th

. E. John

I also received from Gener

TH CAROLINA,

l W: T. SHERMAN

been extended to embrace this and other States south. The order, it seems, has been modified so as to inc

ement. "What is to be done with the freedmen?" is the question of all, and it is the all important question. It requires prompt and wise notion to prevent the negroes from becoming a huge elephant on our hands. If I am to govern this State, it is important for

FIELD, Maj

comments that assumed that I was a common traitor and a public enemy; and high officials had even instructed my own subordinates to disobey my lawful orders. General Halleck, who had so long been in Washington as the chief of staff, had been sent on the 21st of April to Richmond

d Bull

WASHINGTON, Ap

r-Gener

of the James. Generals Canby and Thomas were instructed some days ago that Sherman's arrangements with Johnsto

TON, Secre

RGINIA, Apri

TANTON, Secr

ard to any truce or orders of General Sherman respecting hostilities, on th

ess of orders from any one except from Gen

ment has been made with Sherman, and that the advance of

no orders of Sherman, but to pus

at Jeff. Davis's specie is moving south fro

no orders from Sherman, and notifying him and Canby, and all commanders on th

s estimated here at from six

, Major-Gener

h as he was supposed to possess. The assertion that Jeff. Davis's specie-train, of six to thirteen million dollars, was reported to be moving south from Goldsboro' in wagons as fast as possible, found plenty of willing ears, though my army of eighty thousand men had been at Goldsboro' from March 22d to the date of his dispatch, April 26th; and such a train would have been composed of from fifteen to thirty-two six-mule teams to hav

. Davis was to corrupt our armies and buy his esca

urging him to recognize the freedmen as equal in all respects to the whites. He was the first man, of any authority or station, who ever informed me that the Government of the United States would insist on extending to the former slaves of the South the elective franchise, and he gave as a reason the fact that the slaves, grateful for their freedom, for which they were indebted to the armies and Government of the North, would, by their votes, offset the disaffected and rebel element of the white population of the South. At that time quite a storm was prevailing at sea, outside, and our two vessels lay snug at the wharf at Morehead City. I saw a good deal of Mr. Chase, and several notes passed between us, of which I have the originals yet. Always claiming that the South had herself freed all her slaves by re

aced in the second bulletin, which I regarded as insulting, declined his hospitality, and added that I preferred we should not meet as I passed through Richmond. I thence proceeded to City Point in the Russia, and on to Manchester, opposite Richmond, via Petersburg, by rail. I found that both wings of the army had arrived from Raleigh, and were in camp in and around Manchester, whence I again telegraphed General Grant, an the 9th of May, for orders, and also reported my arrival to General Hal

omac as I could, and therefore shifted from one column to the other, visiting en route Hanover Court-House, Spotsylvania, Fredericksburg, Dumfries, etc., reaching Alexandria during the afternoon of May 19th, and pitched my camp by the road side, about half-way between Alexandria and the Long Bridge. During the same and next day the whole army reached Alexandria, and camped round about it; General Meade's Army of the Potomac had possession of the camps above, opposite Washington and Georgetown. The next day (by invitation) I went over to Washington and met many friends--among them General Grant and President Johnson. The latter occupied rooms in the house on the corner of Fifteenth and H Streets, belonging to Mr. Hooper. He was extremely cordial to me, and knowing that I was chafing under the censures of the War Department, especially of the two war bulletins of Mr. Stanton, he volunteered to say that he knew o

ral Meade's to occur on Tuesday, May 23d, mine on Wednesday, the 24th; and on the 20th I made the necessary orders for my part. Meantime I had also arranged (with General Grant's approval) to remove after the r

e pageant was superb. Washington was full of strangers, who filled the streets in holiday-dress, and every house was decorated with flags. The army marched by divisions in close

arrived that day, accompanied by her father, the Ho

se opposite the lower corner of Lafayette Square, some one asked me to notice Mr. Seward, who, still feeble and bandaged for his wounds, had been removed there that he might behold the troops. I moved in that direction and took off my hat to Mr. Seward, who sat at an upper window. He recognized the salute, returned it, and then we rode on steadily past the President, saluting with our swords. All on his stand arose and acknowledged the salute. Then, turning into the gate of the presidential grounds, we left our horses with orderlies, and went upon the stand, where I found Mrs. Sherman, with her father and son. Passing them, I shook hands with the President, General Grant, and each member of the cabinet. As I approached Mr. Stanton, he offered me his hand, but I declined it publicly, and the fact was universally noticed. I then took my post on the left of the President, and for six hours and a half stood, while the army passed in the order of the Fifteenth, Seventeenth, Twentieth, and Fourteenth Corps. It was, in my judgment, the most magnificent army in existence--sixty-five thousand men, in splendid physique, who had just completed a march of nearly two thousand miles in a hostile country, in good

ilch-cows, and pack-mules, whose loads consisted of game-cocks, poultry, hams, etc., and some of them had the families of freed slaves along, with the women leading their children. Each division was preceded by its corps of black pioneers, armed wit

ich ended my connection with the war, though I afterward visited and took a mor

FIELD ORD

OF THE MISSISSIPPI, IN THE FIEL

as come for us to part. Our work is done, and armed enemies no longer defy us. Some of you

to recall to mind the situation of national affairs when, but little more than a year ago, we were g

union of our country, and the perpetuation of the Government of our inheritance. There is no need to recall to

e, far from home, and dependent on a single road for supplies. Again we were not to be held back by any obstacle, and crossed over and fought four hard battles for the possession of the citadel of Atlanta. That was the crisis

ods and rains, in the face of an accumulating enemy; and, after the battles of Averysboro' and Bentonsville, we once more came out of the wilderness, to meet our friends at Goldsboro'. Even then we paused only long enough to get new clothing, to reload our wagons, again pushed on to Raleigh and beyond, until we met our enemy suing for peace, instead of war, and offerin

by us; but that you have done all that men could do has been admitted by those in authority, and we have a right to join in the universal joy that fills our

o home, he will only say that our favored country is so grand, so extensive, so diversified in climate, soil, and productions, that every man may find a home and occupation suited to his taste; none should yield to th

e you will make good citizens; and if, unfortunately, new war should arise in our country, "Sherman's army" will

ajor-General