WARDEPARTMENT,ADJUTANT—GENERAL’SOFFICE
WASHINGTON,March27,1865
Ordered——1。Thatatthehourofnoon,onthe14thdayofApril,1885,BrevetMajor—GeneralAndersonwillraiseandplantupontheruinsofFortSumter,inCharlestonHarbor,thesameUnitedStatesflagwhichfloatedoverthebattlementsofthatfortduringtherebelassault,andwhichwasloweredandsalutedbyhimandthesmallforceofhiscommandwhentheworkswereevacuatedonthe14thdayofApril,1861。
2。Thattheflag,whenraised,besalutedbyonehundredgunsfromFortSumter,andbyanationalsalutefromeveryfortandrebelbatterythatfireduponFortSumter。
3。Thatsuitableceremoniesbehadupontheoccasion,underthedirectionofMajor—GeneralWilliamT。Sherman,whosemilitaryoperationscompelledtherebelstoevacuateCharleston,or,inhisabsence,underthechargeofMajor—GeneralQ。A。Gilmore,commandingthedepartment。AmongtheceremonieswillbethedeliveryofapublicaddressbytheRev。HenryWardBeecher。
4。ThatthenavalforcesatCharleston,andtheircommanderonthatstation,beinvitedtoparticipateintheceremoniesoftheoccasion。
ByorderofthePresidentoftheUnitedStates,EDWINM。STANTON,SecretaryofWar。
[GeneralOrderNo。41。]
HEADQUARTERSDEPARTMENTOFTHESOUTH
HILTONHEAD,SOUTHCAROLINA,April10,1865
Fridaynext,the14thinst。,willbethefourthanniversaryofthecaptureofFortSumterbytherebels。Abefittingcelebrationonthatday,inhonorofitsreoccupationbythenationalforces,hasbeenorderedbythePresident,inpursuanceofwhichBrevetMajor—
GeneralRobertAnderson,UnitedStatesArmy,willrestoretoitsoriginalplaceontheforttheidenticalflagwhich,afteranhonorableandgallantdefense,hewascompelledtolowertotheinsurgentsinSouthCarolina,inApril,1861。
Theceremoniesfortheoccasionwillcommencewithprayer,atthirtyminutespasteleveno’clocka。m。
Atnoonprecisely,theflagwillberaisedandsalutedwithonehundredgunsfromFortSumter,andwithanationalsalutefromFortMoultrieandBatteryBeeonSullivan’sIsland,FortPutnamonMorrisIsland,andFortJohnsononJames’sIsland;itbeingeminentlyappropriatethattheplaceswhichweresoconspicuousintheinaugurationoftherebellionshouldtakeapartnotlessprominentinthisnationalrejoicingovertherestorationofthenationalauthority。
Afterthesalutes,theRev。HenryWardBeecherwilldeliveranaddress。
Theceremonieswillclosewithprayerandabenediction。
ColonelStewartL。Woodford,chiefofstaff,undersuchverbalinstructionsashemayreceive,isherebychargedwiththedetailsofthecelebration,comprisingallthearrangementsthatitmaybenecessarytomakefortheaccommodationoftheoratoroftheday,andthecomfortandsafetyoftheinvitedguestsfromthearmyandnavy,andfromcivillife。
BycommandofMajor—GeneralQ。A。Gillmore,W。L。M。BURGER,AssistantAdjutant—General。
CopyofMajorANDERSON’sDispatch,announcingtheSurrenderofFortSumter,April14,1861。
STEAMSHIPBALTIC,OFFSANDYHOOK
April10,1861,10。30a。m。viaNewYorkHonorableS。Cameron,SecretaryofWar,WashingtonHavingdefendedFortSumterforthirty—fourhours,untilthequarterswereentirelyburned,themaingatesdestroyedbyfire,thegorge—wallsseriouslyinjured,themagazinesurroundedbyflames,anditsdoorclosedfromtheeffectofheat,fourbarrelsandthreecartridgesofpowderonlybeingavailable,andnoprovisionsremainingbutpork,IacceptedtermsofevacuationofferedbyGeneralBeauregard,beingthesameofferedbyhimonthe11thinst。,priortothecommencementofhostilities,andmarchedoutofthefort,Sundayafternoon,the14thinst。,withcolorsflyinganddrumsbeating,bringingawaycompanyandprivateproperty,andsalutingmyflagwithfiftyguns。
ROBERTANDERSON,MajorFirstArtillery,commanding。
CHAPTERXXIV。
ENDOFTHEWAR——FROMGOLDSBORO’TORALEIGHANDWASHINGTON。
APRILANDMAY,1865。
Asbeforedescribed,thearmiescommandedrespectivelybyGeneralsJ。M。Schofield,A。H。Terry,andmyself,effectedajunctioninandaboutGoldsboro’,NorthCarolina,duringthe22dand23dofMarch,1865,butitrequiredafewdaysforallthetroopsandtrainsofwagonstoreachtheirrespectivecamps。InpersonI
reachedGoldsboro’onthe23d,andmetGeneralSchofield,whodescribedfullyhisoperationsinNorthCarolinauptothatdate;
andIalsofoundLieutenantDunn,aide—de—camptoGeneralGrant,withaletterfromhimofMarch16th,givingageneraldescriptionofthestateoffactsaboutCityPoint。ThenextdayIreceivedanotherletter,morefull,datedthe22d,whichIgiveherewith。
Nevertheless,IdeemeditofgreatimportancethatIshouldhaveapersonalinterviewwiththegeneral,anddeterminedtogoinpersontoCityPointassoonastherepairsoftherailroad,theninprogressunderthepersonaldirectionofColonelW。W。Wright,wouldpermit:
HEADQUARTERSOFTHEARMIESOFTHEUNITEDSTATES
CITYPOINT,VIRGINIA,March22,1865
Major—GeneralSHERMAN,CommandingMilitaryDivisionoftheMississippi。
GENERAL:AlthoughtheRichmondpapersdonotcommunicatethefact,yetIsawenoughinthemtosatisfymethatyouoccupiedGoldsboro’
onthe19thinst。IcongratnlateyouandthearmyonwhatmayberegardedasthesuccessfulterminationofthethirdcampaignsinceleavingtheTennesseeRiver,lessthanoneyearago。
SinceSheridan’sverysuccessfulraidnorthoftheJames,theenemyareleftdependentontheSouthsideandDanvilleroadsforalltheirsupplies。TheseIhopetocutnextweek。Sheridanisat°°
WhiteHouse,\"shoeingup\"andrestinghiscavalry。IexpecthimtofinishbyFridaynightandtostartthefollowingmorning,raidLongBridge,Newmarket,BermudaHundred,andtheextremeleftofthearmyaroundPetersburg。Hewillmakenohaltwiththearmiesoperatinghere,butwillbejoinedbyadivisionofcavalry,fivethousandfivehundredstrong,fromtheArmyofthePotomac,andwillproceeddirectlytotheSouthsideandDanvilleroads。HisinstructionswillbetostriketheSouthsideroadasnearPetersburgashecan,anddestroyitsothatitcannotberepairedforthreeorfourdays,andpushontotheDanvilleroad,asneartotheAppomattoxashecanget。ThenIwanthimtodestroytheroadtowardBurkesvilleasfarashecan;thenpushontotheSouthsideroad,westofBurkesville,anddestroyiteffectually。
>FromthatpointIshallprobablyleaveittohisdiscretioneithertoreturntothisarmy,crossingtheDanvilleroadsouthofBurkesville,orgoandjoinyou,passingbetweenDanvilleandGreensboro’。WhenthismovementcommencesIshallmoveoutbymyleft,withalltheforceIcan,holdingpresentintrenchedlines。
Ishallstartwithnodistinctview,furtherthanholdingLee’sforcesfromfollowingSheridan。ButIshallbealongmyself,andwilltakeadvantageofanythingthatturnsup。IfLeedetaches,I
willattack;orifhecomesoutofhislinesIwillendeavortorepulsehim,andfollowituptothebestadvantage。
Itismostdifficulttounderstandwhattherebelsintendtodo;sofarbutfewtroopshavebeendetachedfromLee’sarmy。Muchmachineryhasbeenremoved,andmaterialhasbeensenttoLynchburg,showingsdispositiontogothere。Points,too,havebeenfortifiedontheDanvilleroad。
Lee’sarmyismuchdemoralized,andgreatnumbersaredeserting。
Probably,fromreturnedprisoners,andsuchconscriptsascanbepickedup,hisnumbersmaybekeptup。Iestimatehisforcenowataboutsixty—fivethousandmen。
WilsonstartedonMonday,withtwelvethousandcavalry,fromEastport。Stonemanstartedonthesameday,fromEastTennessee,towardLynchburg。ThomasismovingtheFourthCorpstoBull’sGap。
CanbyismovingwithaformidableforceonMobileandtheinteriorofAlabama。
IorderedGilmore,assoonasthefallofCharlestonwasknown,toholdallimportantpostsonthesea—coast,andtosendtoWilmingtonallsurplusforces。ThomaswasalsodirectedtoforwardtoNewbernalltroopsbelongingtothecorpswithyou。I
understandthiswillgiveyouaboutfivethousandmen,besidesthosebroughteastbyMeagher。
IhavebeentelegraphingGeneralMeigstohastenuplocomotivesandcarsforyou。GeneralMcCallum,heinformsme,isattendingtoit。
IfeartheyarenotgoingforwardasfastasIworldlike。
Letmeknowifyouwantmoretroops,oranythingelse。
Veryrespectfully,yourobedientservant,U。S。GRANT,Lieutenant—General。
TherailroadwasrepairedtoGoldsboro’bytheeveningofMarch25th,when,leavingGeneralSchofieldinchiefcommand,withacoupleofstaff—officersIstartedforCityPoint,Virginia,inalocomotive,incompanywithColonelWright,theconstructingengineer。WereachedNewbernthatevening,whichwaspassedinthecompanyofGeneralPalmerandhisaccomplishedlady,andearlythenextmorningwecontinuedontoMoreheadCity,whereGeneralEastonhadprovidedforusthesmallcapturedsteamerRussia,CaptainSmith。Weputtoseaatonceandsteamedupthecoast,reachingFortressMonroeonthemorningofthe27th,whereIlandedandtelegraphedtomybrother,SenatorSherman,atWashington,invitinghimtocomedownandreturnwithmetoGoldsboro。WeproceededonupJamesRivertoCityPoint,whichwereachedthesameafternoon。
IfoundGeneralGrant,withhisfamilyandstaff,occupyingaprettygroupofhutsonthebankofJamesRiver,overlookingtheharbor,whichwasfullofvesselsofallclasses,bothwarandmerchant,withwharvesandwarehousesonanextensivescale。Thegeneralreceivedmemostheartily,andwetalkedovermattersveryfully。AfterIhadbeenwithhimanhourorso,heremarkedthatthePresident,Mr。Lincoln,wasthenonboardthesteamerRiverQueen,lyingatthewharf,andheproposedthatweshouldcallandseehim。Wewalkeddowntothewharf,wentonboard,andfoundMr。
Lincolnalone,intheafter—cabin。Herememberedmeperfectly,andatonceengagedinamostinterestingconversation。Hewasfullofcuriosityaboutthemanyincidentsofourgreatmarch,whichhadreachedhimofficiallyandthroughthenewspapers,andseemedtoenjoyverymuchthemoreludicrousparts—aboutthe\"bummers,\"andtheirdevicestocollectfoodandforagewhentheoutsideworldsupposedustobestarving;butatthesametimeheexpressedagooddealofanxietylestsomeaccidentmighthappentothearmyinNorthCarolinaduringmyabsence。Iexplainedtohimthatthatarmywassnugandcomfortable,ingoodcamps,atGoldsboro’;thatitwouldrequiresomedaystocollectforageandfoodforanothermarch;andthatGeneralSchofieldwasfullycompetenttocommanditinmyabsence。Havingmadeagood,long,socialvisit,wetookourleaveandreturnedtoGeneralGrant’squarters,whereMrs,Granthadprovidedtea。Whileatthetable,Mrs。GrantinquiredifwehadseenMrs。Lincoln。\"No,\"saidthegeneral,\"Ididnotaskforher;\"andIaddedthatIdidnotevenknowthatshewasonboard。
Mrs。Grantthenexclaimed,\"Well,youareaprettypair!\"andaddedthatourneglectwasunpardonable;whenthegeneralsaidwewouldcallagainthenextday,andmakeamendsfortheunintendedslight。
Earlythenextday,March28th,alltheprincipalofficersofthearmyandnavycalledtoseeme,GeneralsMeade,Ord,Ingalls,etc。,andAdmiralPorter。AtthistimetheRiverQueenwasatanchoroutintheriver,abreastofthewharf,andweagainstartedtovisitMr。andMrs。Lincoln。AdmiralPorteraccompaniedus。Wetookasmall,tugatthewharf,whichconveyedusonboard,wherewewereagainreceivedmostcourteouslybythePresident,whoconductedustotheafter—cabin。Afterthegeneralcompliments,GeneralGrantinquiredafterMrs。Lincoln,whenthePresidentwenttoherstate—
room,returned,andbeggedustoexcuseher,asshewasnotwell。
Wethenagainentereduponageneralconversation,duringwhichGeneralGrantexplainedtothePresidentthatatthatveryinstantoftimeGeneralSheridanwascrossingJamesRiverfromthenorth,byapontoon—bridgebelowCityPoint;thathehadalarge,wellappointedforceofcavalry,withwhichheproposedtostriketheSouthsideandDanvilleRailroads,bywhichaloneGeneralLee,inRichmond,suppliedhisarmy;andthat,inhisjudgment,mattersweredrawingtoacrisis,hisonlyapprehensionbeingthatGeneralLeewouldnotwaitlongenough。IalsoexplainedthatmyarmyatGoldsboro’wasstrongenoughtofightLee’sarmyandJohnston’scombined,providedthatGeneralGrantcouldcomeupwithinadayorso;thatifLeewouldonlyremaininRichmondanotherfortnight,I
couldmarchuptoBurkesville,whenLeewouldhavetostarveinsideofhislines,orcomeoutfromhisintrenchmentsandfightusonequalterms。
BothGeneralGrantandmyselfsupposedthatoneortheotherofuswouldhavetofightonemorebloodybattle,andthatitwouldbethelast。Mr。Lincolnexclaimed,morethanonce,thattherehadbeenbloodenoughshed,andaskedusifanotherbattlecouldnotbeavoided。Irememberwelltohavesaidthatwecouldnotcontrolthatevent;thatthisnecessarilyrestedwithourenemy;andI
inferredthatbothJeff。DavisandGeneralLeewouldbeforcedtofightonemoredesperateandbloodybattle。Irathersupposeditwouldfallonme,somewherenearRaleigh;andGeneralGrantaddedthat,ifLeewouldonlywaitafewmoredays,hewouldhavehisarmysodisposedthatiftheenemyshouldabandonRichmond,andattempttomakejunctionwithGeneralJos。JohnstoninNorthCarolina,he(GeneralGrant)wouldbeonhisheels。Mr。LincolnmorethanonceexpresseduneasinessthatIwasnotwithmyarmyatGoldsboro’,whenIagainassuredhimthatGeneralSchofieldwasfullycompetenttocommandinmyabsence;thatIwasgoingtostartbackthatveryday,andthatAdmiralPorterhadkindlyprovidedformethesteamerBat,whichhesaidwasmuchswifterthanmyownvessel,theRussia。DuringthisinterviewIinquiredofthePresidentifhewasallreadyfortheendofthewar。Whatwastobedonewiththerebelarmieswhendefeated?Andwhatshouldbedonewiththepoliticalleaders,suchasJeff。Davis,etc。?Shouldweallowthemtoescape,etc。?Hesaidhewasallready;allhewantedofuswastodefeattheopposingarmies,andtogetthemencomposingtheConfederatearmiesbacktotheirhomes,atworkontheirfarmsandintheirshops。AstoJeff。Davis,hewashardlyatlibertytospeakhismindfully,butintimatedthatheoughttoclearout,\"escapethecountry,\"onlyitwouldnotdoforhimtosaysoopenly。Asusual,heillustratedhismeaningbyastory:
Amanoncehadtakenthetotal—abstinencepledge。Whenvisitingafriend,hewasinvitedtotakeadrink,butdeclined,onthescoreofhispledge;whenhisfriendsuggestedlemonade,whichwasaccepted。Inpreparingthelemonade,thefriendpointedtothebrandy—bottle,andsaidthelemonadewouldbemorepalatableifheweretopourinalittlebrandy;whenhisguestsaid,ifhecoulddosoIunbeknown’tohim,hewouldnotobject。\"FromwhichillustrationIinferredthatMr。LincolnwantedDavistoescape,\"unbeknown\"tohim。
Imadenonotesofthisconversationatthetime,butAdmiralPorter,whowaspresent,did,andin1866hefurnishedmeanaccountthereof,whichIinsertbelow,buttheadmiraldescribesthefirstvisit,ofthe27th,whereasmymemoryputsAdmiralPorter’spresenceonthefollowingday。Stillhemayberight,andhemayhavebeenwithusthedaybefore,asIwritethischieflyfrommemory。Thereweretwodistinctinterviews;thefirstwaslateintheafternoonofMarch27th,andtheotheraboutnoonofthe28th,bothintheafter—cabinofthesteamerRiverQueen;onbothoccasionsMr。Lincolnwasfullandfrankinhisconversation,assuringmethatinhismindhewasallreadyforthecivilreorganizationofaffairsattheSouthassoonasthewarwasover;
andhedistinctlyauthorizedmetoassureGovernorVanceandthepeopleofNorthCarolinathat,assoonastherebelarmieslaiddowntheirarms,andresumedtheircivilpursuits,theywouldatoncebeguaranteedalltheirrightsascitizensofacommoncountry;andthattoavoidanarchytheStategovernmentstheninexistence,withtheircivilfunctionaries,wouldberecognizedbyhimasthegovernmentdefactotillCongresscouldprovideothers。
Iknow,whenIlefthim,thatIwasmorethaneverimpressedbyhiskindlynature,hisdeepandearnestsympathywiththeafflictionsofthewholepeople,resultingfromthewar,andbythemarchofhostilearmiesthroughtheSouth;andthathisearnestdesireseemedtobetoendthewarspeedily,withoutmorebloodshedordevastation,andtorestoreallthemenofbothsectionstotheirhomes。Inthelanguageofhissecondinauguraladdress,heseemedtohave\"charityforall,malicetowardnone,\"and,aboveall,anabsolutefaithinthecourage,manliness,andintegrityofthearmiesinthefield。Whenatrestorlistening,hislegsandarmsseemedtohangalmostlifeless,andhisfacewascare—wornandhaggard;but,themomenthebegantotalk,hisfacelightenedup,histallform,asitwere,unfolded,andhewastheveryimpersonationofgood—humorandfellowship。ThelastwordsI
recallasaddressedtomewerethathewouldfeelbetterwhenIwasbackatGoldsboro’。WepartedatthegangwayoftheRiverQueen,aboutnoonofMarch28th,andIneversawhimagain。OfallthemenIevermet,heseemedtopossessmoreoftheelementsofgreatness,combinedwithgoodness,thananyother。
ADMIRALPORTER’SACCOUNTOFTHEINTERVIEWWITH
Mr。LINCOLN。
ThedayofGeneralSherman’sarrivalatCityPoint(Ithinkthe27thofMarsh,186G),IaccompaniedhimandGeneralGrantonboardthePresident’sflagship,theQueen,wherethePresidentreceivedusintheuppersaloon,noonebutourselvesbeingpresent。
ThePresidentwasinanexceedinglypleasantmood,anddelightedtomeetGeneralSherman,whomhecordiallygreeted。
ItseemsthatthiswasthefirsttimehehadmetSherman,torememberhim,sincethebeginningofthewar,anddidnotrememberwhenhehadseenhimbefore,untilthegeneralremindedhimofthecircumstancesoftheirfirstmeeting。
ThiswasrathersingularonthepartofMr。Lincoln,whowas,I
think,remarkableforrememberingpeople,havingthatkinglyqualityinaneminentdegree。Indeed,suchwasthepowerofhismemory,thatheseemednevertoforgetthemoatminutecircumstance。
TheconversationsoonturnedontheeventsofSherman’scampaignthroughtheSouth,witheverymovementofwhichthePresidentseemedfamiliar。
HelaughedoversomeofthestoriesShermantoldofhis\"bummers,\"
andtoldothersinreturn,whichillustratedinastrikingmannertheideashewantedtoconvey。Forexample,bewouldoftenexpresshiswishesbytellinganaptstory,whichwasquiteahabitwithhim,andonethatIthinkheadoptedtopreventhiscommittinghimselfseriously。
TheinterviewbetweenthetwogeneralsandthePresidentlastedaboutanhourandahalf,and,asitwasaremarkableone,IjotteddownwhatIrememberedoftheconversation,asIhavemadeapracticeofdoingduringtherebellion,whenanythinginterestingoccurred。
Idon’tregrethavingdoneso,ascircumstancesafterwardoccurred(Stanton’sillconducttowardSherman)whichtendedtocastodiumonGeneralShermanforallowingsuchliberaltermstoJos。
Johnston。
CouldtheconversationthatoccurredonboardtheQueen,betweenthePresidentandGeneralSherman,havebeenknown,Shermanwouldnot,andcouldnot,havebeencensored。Mr。Lincoln,hadhelived,wouldhaveacquittedthegeneralofanyblame,forhewasonlycarryingoutthePresident’swishes。
Myopinionis,thatMr。LincolncamedowntoCityPointwiththemostliberalviewstowardtherebels。Hefeltconfidentthatwewouldbesuccessful,andwaswillingthattheenemyshouldcapitulateonthemostfavorableterms。
Idon’tknowwhatthePresidentwouldhavedonehadhebeenlefttohimself,andhadourarmybeenunsuccessful,buthewasthanwroughtuptoahighstateofexcitement。Hewantedpeaceonalmostanyterms,andthereisnoknowingwhatproposalshemighthavebeenwillingtolistento。Hisheartwastendernessthroughout,and,aslongastherebelslaiddowntheirarms,hedidnotcarehowitwasdone。IdonotknowhowfarhewasinfluencedbyGeneralGrant,butIpresume,fromtheirlongconferences,thattheymoathaveunderstoodeachotherperfectly,andthatthetermsgiventoLeeafterhissurrenderwereauthorizedbyMr。Lincoln。I
knowthatthelatterwasdelightedwhenheheardthattheyhadbeengiven,andexclaimed,adozentimes,\"Good!\"\"Allright!\"
\"Exactlythething!\"andothersimilarexpressions。Indeed,thePresidentmorethanoncetoldmewhathesupposedthetermswouldbe:ifLeeandJohnstonsurrendered,heconsideredthewarended,andthatalltheotherrebelforcesworldlaydowntheirarmsatonce。
Inthisheprovedtoberight。GrantandShermanwerebothofthesameopinion,andsowaseveryoneelsewhoknewanythingaboutthematter。
Whatsignifiedthetermstothem,solongasweobtainedtheactualsurrenderofpeoplewhoonlywantedagoodopportunitytogiveupgracefully?Therebelshadfought\"tothelastditch,\"andallthattheyhadleftthemwasthehopeofbeinghandeddowninhistoryashavingreceivedhonorableterms。
AfterhearingGeneralSherman’saccountofhisownposition,andthatofJohnston,atthattime,thePresidentexpressedfearsthattherebelgeneralwouldescapesouthagainbytherailroads,andthatGeneralShermanworldhavetochasehimanew,overthesameground;butthegeneralpronouncedthistobeimpracticable。Heremarked:\"Ihavehimwherehecannotmovewithoutbreakinguphisarmy,which,oncedisbanded,canneveragainbegottogether;andI
havedestroyedtheSouthernrailroads,sothattheycannotbeusedagainforalongtime。\"GeneralGrantremarked,\"Whatistopreventtheirlayingtherailsagain?\"\"Why,\"saidGeneralSherman,\"mybummersdon’tdothingsbyhalves。Everyrail,afterhavingbeenplacedoverahotfire,hasbeentwistedascrookedasaram’s—horn,andtheynevercanbeusedagain。\"
ThiswastheonlyremarkmadebyGeneralGrantduringtheinterview,ashesatsmokingashortdistancefromthePresident,intent,nodoubt,onhisownplans,whichwerebeingbroughttoasuccessfultermination。
TheconversationbetweenthePresidentandGeneralSherman,aboutthetermsofsurrendertobeallowedJos。Johnston,continued。
Shermanenergeticallyinsistedthathecouldcommandhisownterms,andthatJohnstonwouldhavetoyieldtohisdemands;butthePresidentwasverydecidedaboutthematter,andinsistedthatthesurrenderofJohnston’sarmymostbeobtainedonanyterms。
GeneralGrantwasevidentlyofthesamewayofthinking,for,althoughhedidnotjoinintheconversationtoanyextent,yethemadenoobjections,andIpresumehadmadeuphismindtoallowthebesttermshimself。
HewasalsoanxiousthatJohnstonshouldnotbedrivenintoRichmond,toreenforcetherebelsthere,who,frombehindtheirstrongintrenohments,wouldhavegivenusincalculabletrouble。
Sherman,asasubordinateofficer,yieldedhisviewstothoseofthePresident,andthetermsofcapitulationbetweenhimselfandJohnstonwereexactlyinaccordancewithMr。Lincoln’swishes。HecouldnothavedoneanythingwhichwouldhavepleasedthePresidentbetter。
Mr。Lincolndid,infact,arrangethe(soconsidered)liberaltermsofferedGeneralJos。Johnston,and,whatevermayhavebeenGeneralSherman’sprivateviews,IfeelsurethatheyieldedtothewishesofthePresidentineveryrespect。ItwasMr。Lincoln’spolicythatwascarriedout,and,hadhelivedlongenough,hewouldhavebeenbuttoogladtohaveacknowledgedit。HadMr。Lincolnlived,SecretaryStantonwouldhaveissuednofalsetelegraphicdispatches,inthehopeofkillingoffanothergeneralintheregulararmy,onewhobyhissuccesshadplacedhimselfinthewayofhisownsuccession。
ThedisbandingofJos。Johnston’sarmywassocomplete,thatthepensandinkusedinthediscussionofthematterwereallwasted。
1twasasserted,bytherabidones,thatGeneralShermanhadgivenupallthatwehadbeenfightingfor,hadconcededeverythingtoJos。Johnston,andhad,astheboyssay,\"knockedthefatintothefire;\"butsoberreflectionsoonoverruledtheseharshexpressions,and,withthosewhoknewGeneralSherman,andappreciatedhim,hewasstillthegreatsoldier,patriot,andgentleman。Infuturetimesthismatterwillbelookedatmorecalmlyanddispassionately。Thebitteranimositiesthathavebeenengenderedduringtherebellionwillhavediedoutforwantoffoodonwhichtolive,andtheverycourseGrant,Sherman,andotherspursued,ingrantingliberaltermstothedefeatedrebels,willbeapplauded。
Thefactis,theymetanoldbeggarintheroad,whosecrutcheshadbrokenfromunderhim:theylethimhaveonlythebrokencrutchestogethomewith!
IsentGeneralShermanbacktoNewbern,NorthCarolina,inthesteamerBat。
Whilehewasabsentfromhiscommandhewaslosingnotime,forbewasgettinghisarmyfullyequippedwithstoresandclothing;and,whenhereturned,hehadarestedandregeneratedarmy,readytoswallowupJos。Johnstonandallhisragamuffins。
Johnstonwascornered,couldnotmovewithoutleavingeverythingbehindhim,andcouldnotgotoRichmondwithoutbringingonafamineinthatdestitutecity。
IwaswithMr。LincolnallthetimehewasatCityPoint,anduntilbeleftforWashington。HewasmorethandelightedwiththesurrenderofLee,andwiththetermsGrantgavetherebelgeneral;
andwouldhavegivenJos。Johnstontwiceasmuch,hadthelatteraskedforit,andcouldbehavebeencertainthattherebelworldhavesurrenderedwithoutafight。Iagainrepeatthat,hadMr。
Lincolnlived,hewouldhaveshoulderedalltheresponsibility。
Onethingiscertain:hadJos。JohnstonescapedandgotintoRichmond,andcausedalargerlistofkilledandwoundedthanwehad,GeneralShermanwouldhavebeenblamed。Thenwhynotgivehimthefullcreditofcapturingonthebesttermstheenemy’slastimportantarmyanditsbestgeneral,andputtinganendtotherebellionItwasafinaleworthyofSherman’sgreatmarchthroughtheswampsanddesertsoftheSouth,amarchnotexcelledbyanythingwereadofinmodernmilitaryhistory。
D。D。PORTER,Vice—Admiral。
(Writtenbytheadmiralin1866,attheUnitedStatesNavalAcademyatAnnapolis,Md。,andmailedtoGeneralShermanatSt。Louis,Mo。)
Assoonaspossible,IarrangedwithGeneralGrantforcertainchangesintheorganizationofmyarmy;andthegeneralalsoundertooktosendtoNorthCarolinasometug—boatandbargestocarrystoresfromNewbernupasfarasKinston,whencetheycouldbehauledinwagonstoourcamps,thusrelievingourrailroadstothatextent。IundertooktobereadytomarchnorthbyApril10th,andthenembarkedonthesteamerBat,CaptainBarnes,forNorthCarolina。WesteameddownJamesRiver,andatOldPointComforttookonboardmybrother,SenatorSherman,andMr。EdwinStanton,sonoftheSecretaryofWar,andproceededatoncetoourdestination。Onourwaydowntheriver,CaptainBarnesexpressedhimselfextremelyobligedtomefortakinghisvessel,asithadrelievedhimofamostpainfuldilemma。HeexplainedthathehadbeendetailedbyAdmiralPortertoescortthePresident’sunarmedboat,theRiverQueen,inwhichcapacityitbecamehisspecialdutytolookafterMrs。Lincoln。ThedaybeforemyarrivalatCityPoint,therehadbeenagrandreviewofapartoftheArmyoftheJames,thencommandedbyGeneralOrd。ThePresidentrodeoutfromCityPointwithGeneralGrantonhorseback,accompaniedbyanumerousstaff,includingCaptainBarnesandMrs。Ord;butMrs。
LincolnandMrs。Granthadfollowedinacarriage。
Thecavalcadereachedthereview—groundsomefiveorsixmilesoutfromCityPoint,foundthetroopsallready,drawnupinline,andaftertheusualpresentationofarms,thePresidentandparty,followedbyMrs。OrdandCaptainBarnesonhorseback,rodethelines,andreturnedtothereviewingstand,whichmeantimehadbeenreachedbyMrs。LincolnandMrs。Grantintheircarriage,whichhadbeendelayedbythedrivertakingawrongroad。Mrs。Lincoln,seeingMrs。OrdandCaptainBarnesridingwiththeretinue,andsupposingthatMrs。Ordhadpersonatedher,turnedonCaptainBarnesandgavehimafearfulscolding;andevenindulgedinsomeprettysharpupbraidingstoMrs。Ord。
ThismadeBarne’spositionveryunpleasant,sothathefeltmuchrelievedwhenhewassentwithmetoNorthCarolina。TheBatwasveryfast,andonthemorningofthe29thwewerenearCapeHatteras;CaptainBarnes,noticingapropellercomingoutofHatterasInlet,madeherturnbackandpilotusin。Weenteredsafely,steamedupPamlicoSoundintoNeuseRiver,andthenextmorning,——byreasonofsomederangementofmachinery,weanchoredaboutsevenmilesbelowNewbern,whencewewentupinCaptainBarnes’sbarge。AssoonaswearrivedatNewbern,ItelegrapheduptoGeneralSchofieldatGoldsboro’thefactofmyreturn,andthatIhadarrangedwithGeneralGrantforthechangesmadenecessaryinthereorganizationofthearmy,andfortheboatsnecessarytocarryuptheprovisionsandstoresweneeded,priortotherenewalofourmarchnorthward。
Thesechangesamountedtoconstitutingtheleftwingadistinctarmy,underthetitleof\"theArmyofGeorgia,\"undercommandofGeneralSlocum,withhistwocorpscommandedbyGeneralJeff。C。
DavisandGeneralJosephA。Mower;theTenthandTwenty—thirdCorpsalreadyconstitutedanotherarmy,\"oftheOhio,\"underthecommandofMajor—GeneralSchofield,andhistwocorpswerecommandedbyGeneralsJ。D。CoxandA。H。Terry。Thesechangeswerenecessary,becausearmycommandersonlycouldordercourts—martial,grantdischarges,andperformmanyothermattersofdisciplineandadministrationwhichwereindispensable;butmychiefpurposewastopreparethewholearmyforwhatseemedamongtheprobabilitiesofthetime——tofightbothLee’sandJohnston’sarmiescombined,incasetheirjunctioncouldbeformedbeforeGeneralGrantcouldpossiblyfollowLeetoNorthCarolina。