Thepapersweredulysigned;wepartedaboutdark，andmypartyreturnedtoRaleigh。Earlythenextmorning，April19th，I
dispatchedbytelegraphtoMoreheadCitytoprepareafleet—steamertocarryamessengertoWashington，andsentMajorHenryHitchcockdownbyrail，bearingthefollowingletters，andagreementwithGeneralJohnston，withinstructionstobeverycarefultoletnothingescapehimtothegreedynewspapercorrespondents，buttosubmithispaperstoGeneralHalleck，GeneralGrant，ortheSecretaryofWar，andtobringmebackwithallexpeditiontheirordersandinstructions。
OntheirfacetheyrecitedthatIhadnoauthoritytomakefinaltermsinvolvingcivilorpoliticalquestions，butthatIsubmittedthemtotheproperquarterinWashingtonfortheiraction;andthelettersfullyexplainedthatthemilitarysituationwassuchthatthedelaywasanadvantagetous。Icaredlittlewhethertheywereapproved，modified，ordisapprovedintoto;onlyIwantedinstructions。Manyofmygeneralofficers，amongwhom，Iamalmostpositive，wereGeneralsLoganandBlair，urgedmetoacceptthe\"terms，\"withoutreferenceatalltoWashington，butIpreferredthelattercourse:
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVIBIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPI，INTHEFIELD，RALEIGH，NORTHCAROLINA，April18，1886。
GeneralH。W。HALLECK，ChiefofStaff，Washington，D。C。
GENERAL:IreceivedyourdispatchdescribingthemanClark，detailedtoassassinateme。Hehadbetterbeinahurry，orhewillbetoolate。
ThenewsofMr。Lincoln’sdeathproducedamostintenseeffectonourtroops。AtfirstIfeareditwouldleadtoexcesses;butnowithassofteneddown，andcaneasilybeguided。NoneevincedmorefeelingthanGeneralJohnston，whoadmittedthattheactwascalculatedtostainhiscausewithadarkhue;andhecontendedthatthelosswasmostserioustotheSouth，whohadbeguntorealizethatMr。Lincolnwasthebeatfriendtheyhad。
IcannotbelievethatevenMr。Daviswasprivytothediabolicalplot，butthinkittheemanationofasetofyoungmenoftheSouth，whoareverydevils。IwanttothrowupontheSouththecareofthisclassofmen，whowillsoonbeasobnoxioustotheirindustrialclassesastous。
HadIpushedJohnston’sarmytoanextremity，itwouldhavedispersed，anddoneinfinitemischief。JohnstoninformedmethatGeneralStonemanhadbeenatSalisbury，andwasnowatStatesville。
Ihavesenthimorderstocometome。
GeneralJohnstonalsoinformedmethatGeneralWilsonwasatColmbia，Georgia，andhewantedmetoarresthisprogress。Ileavethattoyou。
Indeed，ifthePresidentsanctionsmyagreementwithJohnston，ourinterestistoceasealldestruction。
PleasegiveallordersnecessaryaccordingtotheviewstheExecutivemaytake，andinfluencehim，ifpossible，nottovarythetermsatall，forIhaveconsideredeverything，andbelievethat，theConfederatearmiesoncedispersed，wecanadjustallelsefairlyandwell。Iam，yours，etc。，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—Generalcommanding。
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPI
INTHEFIELD，RALEIGH，NORTHCAROLINA，April18，1865。
Lieutenant—GeneralU。S。GRANT，orMajor—GeneralHALLECK，Washington，D。C。
GENERAL:IincloseherewithacopyofanagreementmadethisdaybetweenGeneralJosephE。Johnstonandmyself，which，ifapprovedbythePresidentoftheUnitedStates，willproducepeacefromthePotomactotheRioGrande。Mr。Breckenridgewaspresentatourconference，inthecapacityofmajor—general，andsatisfiedmeoftheabilityofGeneralJohnstontocarryouttotheirfullextentthetermsofthisagreement;andifyouwillgetthePresidenttosimplyindorsethecopy，andcommissionmetocarryouttheterms，Iwillfollowthemtotheconclusion。
YouwillobservethatitisanabsolutesubmissionoftheenemytothelawfulauthorityoftheUnitedStates，anddisperseshisarmiesabsolutely;andthepointtowhichIattachmostimportanceis，thatthedispersionanddisbandmentofthesearmiesisdoneinsuchamannerastopreventtheirbreakingupintoguerrillabands。Ontheotherhand，wecanretainjustasmuchofanarmyasweplease。
Iagreedtothemodeandmannerofthesurrenderofarmssetforth，asitgivestheStatesthemeansofrepressingguerrillas，whichwecouldnotexpectthemtodoifwestrippedthemofallarms。
BothGeneralsJohnstonandBreckenridgeadmittedthatslaverywasdead，andIcouldnotinsistonembracingitinsuchapaper，becauseitcanbemadewiththeStatesindetail。IknowthatallthemenofsubstanceSouthsincerelywantpeace，andIdonotbelievetheywillresorttowaragainduringthiscentury。IhavenodoubtthattheywillinthefuturebeperfectlysubordinatetothelawsoftheUnitedStates。Themomentmyactioninthismatterisapproved，Icansparefivecorps，andwillaskfororderstoleaveGeneralSchofieldherewiththeTenthCorps，andtomarchmyselfwiththeFourteenth，Fifteenth，Seventeenth，Twentieth，andTwenty—thirdCorpsviaBnrkesvilleandGordonsvilletoFrederickorHagerstown，Maryland，theretobepaidandmusteredout。
Thequestionoffinanceisnowthechiefone，andeverysoldierandofficernotneededshouldbegothomeatwork。IwouldliketobeabletobeginthemarchnorthbyMay1st。
Iurge，onthepartofthePresident，speedyaction，asitisimportanttogettheConfederatearmiestotheirhomesaswellasourown。
Iam，withgreatrespect，yourobedientservant，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—Generalcommanding。
Memorandum，orBasisofagreement，madethis18thdayofApril，A。
D。1865，nearDurham’sStation，intheStateofNorthCarolina，byandbetweenGeneralJosephE。JOHNSTON，commandingtheConfederateArmy，andMajor—GeneralWilliamT。SHERMAN，commandingthearmyoftheUnitedStatesinNorthCarolina，bothpresent:
1。Thecontendingarmiesnowinthefieldtomaintainthestatuquountilnoticeisgivenbythecommandinggeneralofanyonetoitsopponent，andreasonabletime——say，forty—eighthours——allowed。
2。TheConfederatearmiesnowinexistencetobedisbandedandconductedtotheirseveralStatecapitals，theretodeposittheirarmsandpublicpropertyintheStateArsenal;andeachofficerandmantoexecuteandfileanagreementtoceasefromactsofwar，andtoabidetheactionoftheStateandFederalauthority。ThenumberofarmsandmunitionsofwartobereportedtotheChiefofOrdnanceatWashingtonCity，subjecttothefutureactionoftheCongressoftheUnitedStates，and，inthemeantime，tobeneededsolelytomaintainpeaceandorderwithinthebordersoftheStatesrespectively。
3。Therecognition，bytheExecutiveoftheUnitedStates，oftheseveralStategovernments，ontheirofficersandLegislaturestakingtheoathsprescribedbytheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates，and，whereconflictingStategovernmentshaveresultedfromthewar，thelegitimacyofallshallbesubmittedtotheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStates。
4。ThereestablishmentofalltheFederalCourtsintheseveralStates，withpowersasdefinedbytheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesandoftheStatesrespectively。
5。ThepeopleandinhabitantsofalltheStatestobeguaranteed，sofarastheExecutivecan，theirpoliticalrightsandfranchises，aswellastheirrightsofpersonsadproperty，asdefinedbytheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesandoftheStatesrespectively。
6。TheExecutiveauthorityoftheGovernmentoftheUnitedStatesnottodisturbanyofthepeoplebyreasonofthelatewar，solongastheyliveinpeaceandquiet，abstainfromactsofarmedhostility，andobeythelawsinexistenceattheplaceoftheirresidence。
7。Ingeneralterms——thewartocease;ageneralamnesty，sofarastheExecutiveoftheUnitedStatescancommand，onconditionofthedisbandmentoftheConfederatearmies，thedistributionofthearms，andtheresumptionofpeacefulpursuitsbytheofficersandmenhithertocomposingsaidarmies。
Notbeingfullyempoweredbyourrespectiveprincipalstofulfilltheseterms，weindividuallyandofficiallypledgeourselvestopromptlyobtainthenecessaryauthority，andtocarryouttheaboveprogramme。
W。T。SHERMAN，Major—General，CommandingArmyoftheUnitedStatesinNorthCarolina。
J。E。JOHNSTON，General，CommandingConfederateStatesArmyinNorthCarolina。
MajorHitchcockgotoffonthemorningofthe20th，andIreckonedthatitwouldtakehimfourorfivedaystogotoWashingtonandback。Duringthattimetherepairsonalltherailroadsandtelegraph—lineswerepushedwithenergy，andwealsogotpossessionoftherailroadandtelegraphfromRaleightoWeldon，inthedirectionofNorfolk。Meantimethetroopsremainedstatuquo，ourcavalryoccupyingDurham’sStationandChapelHill。GeneralSlocum’sheadofcolumnwasatAven’sFerryonCapeFearRiver，andGeneralHoward’swasstrungalongtherailroadtowardHillsboro’;
therestofthearmywasinandaboutRaleigh。
Onthe20thIreviewedtheTenthCorps，andwasmuchpleasedattheappearanceofGeneralPaines’sdivisionofblacktroops，thefirstIhadeverseenasapartofanorganizedarmy;andonthe21stI
reviewedtheTwenty—thirdCorps，whichhadbeenwithmetoAtlanta，buthadreturnedtoNashvillehadformedanessentialpartofthearmywhichfoughtatFranklin，andwithwhichGeneralThomashaddefeatedGeneralHoodinTennessee。IthadthenbeentransferredrapidlybyrailtoBaltimoreandWashingtonbyGeneralGrant’sorders，andthencebyseatoNorthCarolina。NothingofinteresthappenedatRaleightilltheeveningofApril23d，whenMajorHitchcockreportedbytelegraphhisreturntoMoreheadCity，andthathewouldcomeupbyrailduringthenight。Hearrivedat6
a。m。，April24th，accompaniedbyGeneralGrantandoneortwoofficersofhisstaff，whohadnottelegraphedthefactoftheirbeingonthetrain，forprudentialreasons。Ofcourse，Iwasbothsurprisedandpleasedtoseethegeneral，soonlearnedthatmytermswithJohnstonhadbeendisapproved，wasinstructedbyhimtogivetheforty—eighthours’noticerequiredbythetermsofthetruce，andafterwardtoproceedtoattackorfollowhim。I
immediatelytelegraphedtoGeneralKilpatrick，atDurham’s，tohaveamountedcourierreadytocarrythefollowingmessage，thenonitswayupbyrail，totherebellines:
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPI
INTHEFIELD，RALEIGH，NORTHCAROLINA，April24，18656A。M。
GeneralJOHNSTON，commandingConfederateArmy，Greensboro’:
Youwilltakenoticethatthetruceorsuspensionofhostilitiesagreedtobetweenuswillceaseinforty—eighthoursafterthisisreceivedatyourlines，underthefirstofthearticlesofagreement。
W。T。SHERMAN，Major—General。
AtthesametimeIwroteanothershortnotetoGeneralJohnston，ofthesamedate:
IhaverepliesfromWashingtontomycommunicationsofApril18th。
Iaminstructedtolimitmyoperationstoyourimmediatecommand，andnottoattemptcivilnegotiations。IthereforedemandthesurrenderofyourarmyonthesametermsasweregiventoGeneralLeeatAppomattox，April9thinstant，purelyandsimply。
Ofcourse，boththesepaperswereshowntoGeneralGrantatthetime，beforetheyweresent，andheapprovedofthem。
Atthesametimeordersweresenttoallpartsofthearmytobereadytoresumethepursuitoftheenemyontheexpirationoftheforty—eighthours’truce，andmessagesweresenttoGeneralGillmore（atHiltonHead）tothesameeffect，withinstructionstogetasimilarmessagethroughtoGeneralWilson，atMacon，bysomemeans。
GeneralGranthadbroughtwithhim，fromWashington，writtenanswersfromtheSecretaryofWar，andofhimself，tomycommunicationsofthe18th，whichIstillpossess，andheregivetheoriginals。TheyembracethecopyofadispatchmadebyMr。
StantontoGeneralGrant，whenhewaspressingLeeatAppomattox，whichdispatch，ifsentmeatthesametime（asshouldhavebeendone），wouldhavesavedaworldoftrouble。IdidnotunderstandthatGeneralGranthadcomedowntosupersedemeincommand，nordidheintimateit，nordidIreceivethesecommunicationsasaseriousreproof，butpromptlyactedonthem，asisalreadyshown;
andinthisconnectionIgivemyanswermadetoGeneralGrant，atRaleigh，beforeIhadreceivedanyanswerfromGeneralJohnstontothedemandfarthesurrenderofhisownarmy，aswellasmyanswertoMr。Stanton’sletter，ofthesamedate，bothwrittenonthesuppositionthatImighthavetostartsuddenlyinpursuitofJohnston，andhavenootherchancetoexplain。
WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTONCITY，April21，1865。
Lieutenant—GeneralGRANT。
GENERAL:ThememorandumorbasisagreeduponbetweenGeneralShermanandGeneralJohnstonhavingbeensubmittedtothePresident，theyaredisapproved。YouwillgivenoticeofthedisapprovaltoGeneralSherman，anddirecthimtoresumehostilitiesattheearliestmoment。
TheinstructionsgiventoyoubythelatePresident，AbrahamLincoln，onthe3dofMarch，bymytelegraphofthatdate，addressedtoyou，expresssubstantiallytheviewsofPresidentAndrewJohnson，andwillbeobservedbyGeneralSherman。Acopyisherewithappended。
ThePresidentdesiresthatyouproceedimmediatelytotheheadquartersofMajor—GeneralSherman，anddirectoperationsagainsttheenemy。
Yourstruly，EDWINM。STANTON，SecretaryofWar。
Thefollowingtelegramwasreceived2p。m。，CityPoint，March4，1865（fromWashington，12M。，March3，1865）
[CIPHER]
OFFICEUNITEDSTATESMILITARYTELEGRAPH，HEADQUARTERSARMIESOFTHEUNITEDSTATES
Lieutenant—GeneralGRANT:
ThePresidentdirectsmetosaytoyouthathewishesyoutohavenoconferencewithGeneralLee，unlessitbeforthecapitulationofLee’sarmyoronsolelyminorandpurelymilitarymatters。
Heinstructsmetosaythatyouarenottodecide，discuss，orconferuponanypoliticalquestion;suchquestionsthePresidentholdsinhisownhands，andwillsubmitthemtonomilitaryconferencesorconventions。
Meantimeyouaretopresstotheutmostyourmilitaryadvantages。
EDWINM。STANTON，，SecretaryofWar。
HEADQUARTERSARMIESOFTHEUNITEDSTATES
WASHINGTON，D。C。April21，1865。
Major—GeneralW。T。SHERMAN，commandingMilitaryDivisionoftheMississippi。
GENERAL:ThebasisofagreemententeredintobetweenyourselfandGeneralJ。E。Johnston，forthedisbandmentoftheSouthernarmy，andtheextensionoftheauthorityoftheGeneralGovernmentoveralltheterritorybelongingtoit，sentfortheapprovalofthePresident，isreceived。
IreaditcarefullymyselfbeforesubmittingittothePresidentandSecretaryofWar，andfeltsatisfiedthatitcouldnotpossiblybeapproved。MyreasonfortheseviewsIwillgiveyouatanothertime，inamoreextendedletter。
Youragreementtouchesuponquestionsofsuchvitalimportancethat，assoonasread，IaddressedanotetotheSecretaryofWar，notifyinghimoftheirreceipt，andtheimportanceofimmediateactionbythePresident;andsuggested，inviewoftheirimportance，thattheentireCabinetbecalledtogether，thatallmightgiveanexpressionoftheiropinionsuponthematter。TheresultwasadisapprovalbythePresidentofthebasislaiddown;adisapprovalofthenegotiationsaltogetherexceptforthesurrenderofthearmycommandedbyGeneralJohnston，anddirectionstometonotifyyouofthisdecision。Icannotdonobetterthanbysendingyoutheinclosedcopyofadispatch（pennedbythelatePresident，thoughsignedbytheSecretaryofWar）inanswertome，onsendingaletterreceivedfromGeneralLee，proposingtomeetmeforthepurposeofsubmittingthequestionofpeacetoaconventionofofficers。
PleasenotifyGeneralJohnston，，immediatelyonreceiptofthis，oftheterminationofthetruce，andresumehostilitiesagainsthisarmyattheearliestmomentyoucan，actingingoodfaith。
Veryrespectfullyyourobedientservant，U。S。GRANT，Lieutenant—General。
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPI
INTHEFIELD，RALEIGH，NORTHCAROLINA，April25，1865。
Lieutenant—GeneralU。S。GRANT，present。
GENERAL:IhadthehonortoreceiveyourletterofApril21st，withinclosures，yesterday，andwaswellpleasedthatyoucamealong，asyoumusthaveobservedthatIheldthemilitarycontrolsoastoadaptittoanyphasethecasemightassume。
ItisbutjustIshouldrecordthefactthatImademytermswithGeneralJohnstonundertheinfluenceoftheliberaltermsyouextendedtothearmyofGeneralLeeatAppomattoxCourt—Houseonthe9th，andtheseemingpolicyofourGovernment，asevincedbythecalloftheVirginiaLegislatureandGovernorbacktoRichmond，underyoursandPresidentLincoln’sveryeyes。
ItnowappearsthislastactwasdonewithoutanyconsultationwithyouoranyknowledgeofMr。Lincoln，butratherinoppositiontoapreviouspolicywellconsidered。
IhavenottheleastdesiretointerfereinthecivilpolicyofourGovernment，butwouldshunitassomethingnottomyliking;butoccasionsdoarisewhenapromptseizureofresultsisforcedonmilitarycommandersnotinimmediatecommunicationwiththeproperauthority。ItisprobablethatthetermssignedbyGeneralJohnstonandmyselfwerenotclearenoughonthepoint，wellunderstoodbetweenus，thatournegotiationsdidnotapplytoanypartiesoutsidetheofficersandmenoftheConfederatearmies，whichcouldeasilyhavebeenremedied。
Nosurrenderofanyarmynotactuallyatthemercyofanantagonistwasevermadewithout\"terms，\"andthesealwaysdefinethemilitarystatusofthesurrendered。ThusyoustipulatedthattheofficersandmenofLee’sarmyshouldnotbemolestedattheirhomessolongastheyobeyedthelawsattheplaceoftheirresidence。
IdonotwishtodiscussthesepointsinvolvedinourrecognitionoftheStategovernmentsinactualexistence，butwillmerelystatemyconclusions，toawaitthesolutionofthefuture。
Suchactiononourpartinnomannerrecognizesforamomenttheso—calledConfederateGovernment，ormakesusliableforitsdebtsoracts。
ThelawsandactsdonebytheseveralStatesduringtheperiodofrebellionarevoid，becausedonewithouttheoathprescribedbyourConstitutionoftheUnitedStates，whichisa\"conditionprecedent。\"
Wehavearightto，useanysortofmachinerytoproducemilitaryresults;anditisthecommonestthingformilitarycommanderstousethecivilgovernmentsinactualexistenceasameanstoanend。
IdobelievewecouldandcanusethepresentStategovernmentslawfully，constitutionally，andastheverybestpossiblemeanstoproducetheobjectdesired，viz。，entireandcompletesubmissiontothelawfulauthorityoftheUnitedStates。
Astopunishmentforpastcrimes，thatisforthejudiciary，andcaninnomannerofwaybedisturbedbyouracts;and，sofarasI
can，Iwillusemyinfluencethatrebelsshallsufferallthepersonalpunishmentprescribedbylaw，asalsothecivilliabilitiesarisingfromtheirpastacts。
Whatwenowwantisthenewformoflawbywhichcommonmenmayregainthepositionsofindustry，solongdisturbedbythewar。
Inowapprehendthattherebelarmieswilldisperse;and，insteadofdealingwithsixorsevenStates，wewillhavetodealwithnumberlessbandsofdesperadoes，headedbysuchmenasMosby，Forrest，RedJackson，andothers，whoknownotandcarenotfordangeranditsconsequences。
Iam，withgreatrespect，yourobedientservant，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—Generalcommanding。
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPI
INTHEFIELD，RALEIGH，NORTHCAROLINA，April25，1865。
Hon。E。M。STANTON，SecretaryofWar，Washington。
DEARSIR:IhavebeenfurnishedacopyofyourletterofApril21sttoGeneralGrant，signifyingyourdisapprovalofthetermsonwhichGeneralJohnstonproposedtodisarmanddispersetheinsurgents，onconditionofamnesty，etc。Iadmitmyfollyinembracinginamilitaryconventionanycivilmatters;but，unfortunately，suchisthenatureofoursituationthattheyseeminextricablyunited，andIunderstoodfromyouatSavannahthatthefinancialstateofthecountrydemandedmilitarysuccess，andwouldwarrantalittlebendingtopolicy。
WhenIhadmyconferencewithGeneralJohnstonIhadthepublicexamplesbeforemeofGeneralGrant’stermstoLee’sarmy，andGeneralWeitzel’sinvitationtotheVirginiaLegislaturetoassembleatRichmond。
IstillbelievetheGeneralGovernmentoftheUnitedStateshasmadeamistake;butthatisnoneofmybusiness——mineisadifferenttask;andIhadflatteredmyselfthat，byfouryearsofpatient，unremitting，andsuccessfullabor，IdeservednoremindersuchasiscontainedinthelastparagraphofyourlettertoGeneralGrant。YoumayassurethePresidentthatIheedhissuggestion。Iamtruly，etc。，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—Generalcommanding。
Onthesameday，butlater，IreceivedananswerfromGeneralJohnston，agreeingtomeetmeagainatBennett’shousethenextday，April26th，atnoon。HedidnotevenknowthatGeneralGrantwasinRaleigh。
GeneralGrantadvisedmetomeethim，andtoaccepthissurrenderonthesametermsashiswithGeneralLee;andonthe26thIagainwentuptoDurham’sStationbyrail，androdeouttoBennett’shouse，whereweagainmet，andGeneralJohneton，withouthesitation，agreedto，andweexecuted，thefollowingfinalterms:
TermsofaMilitaryConvention，enteredintothis26thdayofApril，1865，atBennett’sHouse，nearDurham’sStation。，NorthCarolina，betweenGeneralJOSEPHE。JOHNSTON，commandingtheConfederateArmy，andMajor—GeneralW。T。SHERMAN，commandingtheUnitedStatesArmyinNorthCarolina:
1。AllactsofwaronthepartofthetroopsunderGeneralJohnston’scommandtoceasefromthisdate。
2。AllarmsandpublicpropertytobedepositedatGreensboro’，anddeliveredtoanordnance—officeroftheUnitedStatesArmy。
3。Rollsofalltheofficersandmentobemadeinduplicate;onecopytoberetainedbythecommanderofthetroops，andtheothertobegiventoanofficertobedesignatedbyGeneralSherman。
EachofficerandmantogivehisindividualobligationinwritingnottotakeuparmsagainsttheGovernmentoftheUnitedStates，untilproperlyreleasedfromthisobligation。
4。Theside—armsofofficers，andtheirprivatehorsesandbaggage，toberetainedbythem。
5。Thisbeingdone，alltheofficersandmenwillbepermittedtoreturntotheirhomes，nottobedisturbedbytheUnitedStatesauthorities，solongastheyobservetheirobligationandthelawsinforcewheretheymayreside。
W。T。SHERMAN，Major—General，CommandingUnitedStatesForcesinNorthCarolina。
J。E。JOHNSTON，General，CommandingConfederateStatesForcesinNorthCarolina。
Approved:
U。S。GRANT，Lieutenant—General。
IreturnedtoRaleighthesameevening，and，atmyrequest，GeneralGrantwroteonthesetermshisapproval，andthenIthoughtthematterwassurelyatanend。Hetooktheoriginalcopy，onthe27threturnedtoNewbern，andthencewentbacktoWashington。
Iimmediatelymadealltheordersnecessarytocarryintoeffectthetermsofthisconvention，devolvingonGeneralSchofieldthedetailsofgrantingtheparoleandmakingthemuster—rollsofprisoners，inventoriesofproperty，etc。，ofGeneralJohnston’sarmyatandaboutGreensboro’，NorthCarolina，andonGeneralWilsonthesamedutiesinGeorgia;but，thusfar，Ihadbeencompelledtocommunicatewiththelatterthroughrebelsources，andGeneralWilsonwasnecessarilyconfusedbytheconflictofordersandinformation。Ideemeditoftheutmostimportancetoestablishforhimamorereliablebaseofinformationandsupply，andaccordinglyresolvedtogoinpersontoSavannahforthatpurpose。
But，beforestarting，IreceivedaNewYorkTimes，ofApril24th，containingthefollowingextraordinarycommunications:
[FirstBulletin]
WARDEPARTMENTWASHINGTON，April22，1885。
YesterdayeveningabearerofdispatchesarrivedfromGeneralSherman。Anagreementforasuspensionofhostilities，andamemorandumofwhatiscalledabasiSforpeace，hadbeenenteredintoonthe18thinSt。byGeneralSherman，withtherebelGeneralJohnston。Brigadier—GeneralBreckenridgewaspresentattheconference。
Acabinetmeetingwasheldateighto’clockintheevening，atwhichtheactionofGeneralShermanwasdisapprovedbythePresident，bytheSecretaryofWar，byGeneralGrant，andbyeverymemberofthecabinet。GeneralShermanwasorderedtoresumehostilitiesimmediately，andwasdirectedthattheinstructionsgivenbythelatePresident，inthefollowingtelegram，whichwaspennedbyMr。Lincolnhimself，attheCapitol，onthenightofthe3dofMarch，wereapprovedbyPresidentAndrewJohnson，andwerereiteratedtogoverntheactionofmilitarycommanders。
Onthenightofthe3dofMarch，whilePresidentLincolnandhiscabinetwereattheCapitol，atelegramfromGeneralGrantwasbroughttotheSecretaryofWar，informinghimthatGeneralLeehadrequestedanintervieworconference，tomakeanarrangementfortermsofpeace。TheletterofGeneralLeewaspublishedinalettertoDavisandtotherebelCongress。GeneralGrant’stelegramwassubmittedtoMr。Lincoln，who，afterponderingafewminutes，tookuphispenandwrotewithhisownhandthefollowingreply，whichhesubmittedtotheSecretaryofStateandSecretaryofWar。Itwasthendated，addressed，andsigned，bytheSecretaryofWar，andtelegraphedtoGeneralGrant:
WASHINGTON，March3，1865—12P。M。
Lieutenant—GeneralGRANT:
ThePresidentdirectsmetosaytoyouthathewishesyoutohavenoconferencewithGeneralLee，unlessitbeforthecapitulationofGeneralLee’sarmy，oronsomeminororpurelymilitarymatter。
Heinstructsmetosaythatyouarenottodecide，discuss，orconferuponanypoliticalquestions。SuchquestionsthePresidentholdsinhisownhands，andwillsubmitthemtonomilitaryconferencesorconventions。
Meantimeyouaretopresstotheutmostyourmilitaryadvantages。
EDWINM。STANTON，SecretaryofWar。
TheordersofGeneralShermantoGeneralStonemantowithdrawfromSalisburyandjoinhimwillprobablyopenthewayforDavistoescapetoMexicoorEuropewithhisplunder，whichisreportedtobeverylarge，includingnotonlytheplunderoftheRichmondbanks，butpreviousaccumulations。
AdispatchreceivedbythisdepartmentfromRichmondsays:\"Itisstatedhere，byrespectableparties，thattheamountofspecietakensouthbyJeff。Davisandhispartisansisverylarge，includingnotonlytheplunderoftheRichmondbanks，butpreviousaccumulations。Theyhope，itissaid，tomaketermswithGeneralSherman，orsomeothercommander，bywhichtheywillbepermitted，withtheireffects，includingthisgoldplunder，togotoMexicoorEurope。Johnaton’Snegotiationslooktothisend。\"
Afterthecabinetmeetinglastnight，GeneralGrantstartedforNorthCarolina，todirectoperationsagainstJohnston’sarmy。
EDWINM。STANTON，SecretaryofWar。
Herefollowedtheterms，andMr。Stanton’stenreasonsforrejectingthem。
Thepublicationofthisbulletinbyauthoritywasanoutrageonme，forMr。Stantonhadfailedtocommunicatetomeinadvance，aswashisduty，thepurposeoftheAdministrationtolimitournegotiationstopurelymilitarymatters;but，onthecontrary，atSavannahhehadauthorizedmetocontrolallmatters，civilandmilitary。
Bythisbulletin，heimpliedthatIhadpreviouslybeenfurnishedwithacopyofhisdispatchofMarch3dtoGeneralGrant，whichwasnotso;andhegavewarranttotheimpression，whichwassownbroadcast，thatImightbebribedbybanker’sgoldtopermitDavistoescape。Undertheinfluenceofthis，IwroteGeneralGrantthefollowingletterofApril28th，whichhasbeenpublishedintheProceedingsoftheCommitteeontheConductoftheWar。
IregardedthisbulletinpfMr。Stantonasapersona）andofficialinsult，whichIafterwardpubliclyresented。
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPI
INTHEFIELD，RALEIGH，NORTHCAROLINA，April28，1865。
Lieutenant—GeneralU。S。GRANT，General—in—Chief，Washington，D。C。