GENERAL:Sinceyouleftmeyesterday，IhaveseentheNewYorkTimesofthe24th，containingabudgetofmilitarynews，authenticatedbythesignatureoftheSecretaryofWar，Hon。E。M。
Stanton，whichisgroupedinsuchawayastogivethepublicveryerroneousimpressions。ItembracesacopyofthebasisofagreementbetweenmyselfandGeneralJohnston，ofApril18th，withcomments，whichitwillbetimeenoughtodiscusstwoorthreeyearshence，aftertheGovernmenthasexperimentedalittlemoreinthemachinerybywhichpowerreachesthescatteredpeopleofthevastcountryknownasthe\"South。\"
Inthemeantime，however，Ididthinkthatmyrank（ifnotpastservices）entitledmeatleasttotrustthattheSecretaryofWarwouldkeepsecretwhatwascommunicatedfortheuseofnonebutthecabinet，untilfurtherinquirycouldbemade，insteadofgivingpublicitytoitalongwithdocumentswhichIneversaw，anddrawingtherefrominferenceswideofthetruth。IneversaworhadfurnishedmeacopyofPresidentLincoln’sdispatchtoyouofthe3dofMarch，nordidMr。Stantonoranyhumanbeingeverconveytomeitssubstance，oranythinglikeit。Onthecontrary，IhadseenGeneralWeitzel’sinvitationtotheVirginiaLegislature，madeinMr。incoln’sverypresence，andfailedtodiscoveranyotherofficialhintofaplanofreconstruction，oranyideascalculatedtoallaythefearsofthepeopleoftheSouth，afterthedestructionoftheirarmiesandcivilauthoritieswouldleavethemwithoutanygovernmentwhatever。
Weshouldnotdriveapeopleintoanarchy，anditissimplyimpossibleforourmilitarypowertoreachallthemassesoftheirunhappycountry。
IconfessIdidnotdesiretodriveGeneralJohnston’sarmyintobandsofarmedmen，goingaboutwithoutpurpose，andcapableonlyofinfinitemischief。Butyousaw，onyourarrivalhere，thatI
hadmyarmysodisposedthathisescapewasonlypossibleinadisorganizedshape;andasyoudidnotchooseto\"directmilitaryoperationsinthisquarter，\"Iinferredthatyouweresatisfiedwiththemilitarysituation;atallevents，theinstantIlearnedwhatwasproperenough，thedisapprovalofthePresident，IactedinsuchamannerastocompelthesurrenderofGeneralJohnston’swholearmyonthesametermswhichyouhadprescribedtoGeneralLee’sarmy，whenyouhaditsurroundedandinyourabsolutepower。
Mr。Stanton，instatingthatmyorderstoGeneralStonemanwerelikelytoresultintheescapeof\"Mr。DavistoMexicoorEurope，\"
isindeeperror。GeneralStonemanwasnotat\"Salisbury，\"buthadgonebackto\"Statesville。\"Daviswasbetweenus，andthereforeStonemanwasbeyoudhim。ByturningtowardmehewasapproachingDavis，and，hadhejoinedmeasordered，IwouldhavehadamountedforcegreatlyneededforDavis’scapture，andforotherpurposes。
EvennowIdon’tknowthatMr。StantonwantsDaviscaught，andasmyofficialpapers，deemedsacred，arehastilypublishedtotheworld，itwillbeimprudentformetostatewhathasbeendoneinthatregard。
AstheeditoroftheTimeshas（itmaybe）logicallyandfairlydrawnfromthissingulardocumenttheconclusionthatIaminsubordinate，Icanonlydenytheintention。
Ihaveneverinmylifequestionedordisobeyedanorder，thoughmanyandmanyatimehaveIriskedmylife，health，andreputation，inobeyingorders，orevenhintstoexecuteplaneandpurposes，nottomyliking。ItisnotfairtowithholdfrommetheplansandpolicyofGovernment（ifanytherebe），andexpectmetoguessatthem;forfactsandeventsappearquitedifferentfromdifferentstand—points。ForfouryearsIhavebeenincampdealingwithsoldiers，andIcanassureyouthattheconclusionatwhichthecabinetarrivedwithsuchsingularunanimitydiffersfrommine。I
conferredfreelywiththebestofficersinthisarmyastothepointsinvolvedinthiscontroversy，and，strangetosay，theyweresingularlyunanimousintheotherconclusion。TheywilllearnwithpainandamazementthatIamdeemedinsubordinate，andwantingincommonsense;thatI，whoforfouryearshavelaboreddayandnight，winterandsummer，whohavebroughtanarmyofseventythousandmeninmagnificentconditionacrossacountryhithertodeemedimpassable，andplaceditjustwhereitwaswanted，onthedayappointed，havebroughtdiscreditonourGovernment！Idonotwishtoboastofthis，butIdosaythatitentitledmetothecourtesyofbeingconsulted，beforepublishingtotheworldapropositionrightfullysubmittedtohigherauthorityforadjudication，andthenaccompaniedbystatementswhichinvitedthedogsofthepresstobeletlooseuponme。Itistruethatnon—combatants，menwhosleepincomfortandsecuritywhilewewatchonthedistantlines，arebetterabletojudgethanwepoorsoldiers，whorarelyseeanewspaper，hardlyhearfromourfamilies，orstoplongenoughtodrawourpay。Ienvynotthetaskof\"reconstruction，\"andamdelightedthattheSecretaryofWarhasrelievedmeofit。
Asyoudidnotundertaketoassumethemanagementoftheaffairsofthisarmy，Iinferthat，onpersonalinspection，yourmindarrivedatadifferentconclusionfromthatoftheSecretaryofWar。I
willthereforegoontoexecuteyourorderstotheconclusion，and，whendone，willwithintensesatisfactionleavetothecivilauthoritiestheexecutionofthetaskofwhichtheyseemsojealous。But，asanhonestmanandsoldier，IinvitethemtogobacktoNashvilleandfollowmypath，fortheywillseesomethingsandhearsomethingsthatmaydisturbtheirphilosophy。
Withsincererespect，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—Generalcommanding。
P。S。——AsMr。Stanton’smostsingularpaperhasbeenpublished，I
demandthatthisalsobemadepublic，thoughIaminnomannerresponsibletothepress，buttothelaw，andmypropersuperiors。
W。T。S。，Major—General。
Onthe28thIsummonedallthearmyandcorpscommanderstogetheratmyquartersintheGovernor’smansionatRaleigh，whereeverythingwasexplainedtothem，andallordersforthefuturewerecompleted。GeneralsSchofield，Terry，andKilpatrick，weretoremainondutyintheDepartmentofNorthCarolina，alreadycommandedbyGeneralSchofield，andtherightandleftwingswereorderedtomarchundertheirrespectivecommandinggeneralsNorthbyeasystagestoRichmond。Virginia，theretoawaitmyreturnfromtheSouth。
Onthe29thofApril，withapartofmypersonalstaff，IproceededbyrailtoWilmington，NorthCarolina，whereIfoundGeneralsHawleyandPotter，andthelittlesteamerRussia，CaptainSmith，awaitingme。AfterashortpauseinWilmington，weembarked，andproceededdownthecoasttoPortRoyalandtheSavannahRiver，whichwereachedonthe1stofMay。ThereCaptainHoses，whohadjustcomefromGeneralWilsonatMacon，metus，bearinglettersformeandGeneralGrant，inwhichGeneralWilsongaveabriefsummaryofhisoperationsuptodate。HehadmarchedfromEastport，Mississippi，fivehundredmilesinthirtydays，tooksixthousandthreehundredprisoners，twenty—threecolors，andonehundredandfifty—sixguns，defeatingForrest，scatteringthemilitia，anddestroyingeveryrailroad，ironestablishment，andfactory，inNorthAlabamaandGeorgia。\"
Hespokeinthehighesttermsofhiscavalry，as\"cavalry，\"
claimingthatitcouldnotbeexcelled，andheregardedhiscorpsasamodelformoderncavalryinorganization，armament，anddiscipline。ItsstrengthwasgivenatthirteenthousandfivehundredmenandhorsesonreachingMacon。OfcourseIwasextremelygratifiedathisjustconfidence，andsawthatallhewantedforefficientactionwasasurebaseofsupply，sothatheneednolongerdependforclothing，ammunition，food，andforage，onthecountry，which，nowthatwarhadceased，itwasoursolemndutytoprotect，insteadofplunder。IaccordinglyorderedthecapturedsteamerJeff。Davistobeloadedwithstores，toproceedatonceuptheSavannahRivertoAugusta，withasmalldetachmentoftroopstooccupythearsenal，andtoopencommunicationwithGeneralWilsonatMacon;andonthenextday，May2d，thissteamerwasfollowedbyanotherwithafallcargoofclothing，sugar，coffee，andbread，sentfromHiltonHeadbythedepartmentcommander，GeneralGillmore，withastrongerguardcommandedbyGeneralMolineux。LeavingtoGeneralGillmore，whowaspresent，andinwhosedepartmentGeneralWilsonwas，tokeepupthesuppliesatAugusta，andtofacilitateasfaraspossibleGeneralWilson’soperationsinland，Ibeganmyreturnonthe2dofMay。WewentintoCharlestonHarbor，passingtheruinsofoldFortsMoultrieandSumterwithoutlanding。WereachedthecityofCharleston，whichwasheldbypartofthedivisionofGeneralJohnP。Hatch，thesamethatwehadleftatPocotaligo。Wewalkedtheoldfamiliarstreets—Broad，King，Meeting，，etc。——butdesolationandruinwereeverywhere。Theheartofthecityhadbeenburnedduringthebombardment，andtherebelgarrisonatthetimeofitsfinalevacuationhadfiredtherailroad—depots，whichfirehadspread，andwasonlysubduedbyourtroopsaftertheyhadreachedthecity。
Iinquiredformanyofmyoldfriends，buttheyweredeadorgone，andofthemallIonlysawapartofthefamilyofMrs。Pettigru。
IdoubtwhetheranycitywasevermoreterriblypunishedthanCharleston，but，asherpeoplehadforyearsbeenagitatingforwaranddiscord，andhadfinallyinauguratedthecivilwarbyanattackonthesmallanddevotedgarrisonofMajorAnderson，senttherebytheGeneralGovernmenttodefendthem，thejudgmentoftheworldwillbe，thatCharlestondeservedthefatethatbefellher。
Resumingourvoyage，wepassedintoCapeFearRiverbyitsmouthatFortCaswellandSmithville，andoutbythenewchannelatFortFisher，andreachedMoreheadCityonthe4thofMay。Wefoundtheretherevenue—cutterWayanda，onboardofwhichweretheChief—
Justice，Mr。Chase，andhisdaughterNettie，nowMrs。Hoyt。TheChief—JusticeatthatmomentwasabsentonavisittoNewbern，butcamebackthenextday。Meantime，bymeansofthetelegraph，IwasagainincorrespondencewithGeneralSchofieldatRaleigh。HehadmadegreatprogressinparollingtheofficersandmenofJohnston’sarmyatGreensboro’，butwasembarrassedbytheutterconfusionandanarchythathadresultedfromawantofunderstandingonmanyminorpoints，andonthepoliticalquestionsthathadtobemetattheinstant。InordertofacilitatethereturntotheirhomesoftheConfederateofficersandmen，hehadbeenforcedtomakewithGeneralJohnstonthefollowingsupplementalterms，whichwereofcourseratifiedandapproved:
MILITARYCONVENTIONOFAPRIL26，1865。
SUPPLEMENTALTERMS。
1。Thefieldtransportationtobeloanedtothetroopsfortheirmarchtotheirhomes，andforsubsequentuseintheirindustrialpursuits。Artillery—horsesmaybeusedinfield—transportation，ifnecessary。
2。Eachbrigadeorseparatebodytoretainanumberofarmsequaltoone—seventhofitseffectivestrength，which，whenthetroopsreachthecapitalsoftheirstates，willbedisposedofasthegeneralcommandingthedepartmentmaydirect。
3。Privatehorses，andotherprivatepropertyofbothofficersandmen，toberetainedbythem。
4。ThecommandinggeneraloftheMilitaryDivisionofWestMississippi，Major—GeneralCanby，willberequestedtogivetransportationbywater，fromMobileorNewOrleans，tothetroopsfromArkansasandTexas。
5。Theobligationsofofficersandsoldierstobesignedbytheirimmediatecommanders。
6。NavalforceswithinthelimitsofGeneralJohnston’scommandtobeincludedinthetermsofthisconvention。
J。M。SCHOFIELD，Major—General，CommandingUnitedStatesForcesinNorthCarolina。
J。E。JOHNSTON，General，CommandingConfederateStatesForcesinNorthCarolina。
ThetotalnumberofprisonersofwarparolledbyGeneralSchofield，atGreensboro’，NorthCarolina，asafterwardofficiallyreported，amountedto……38，817
AndthetotalnumberwhosurrenderedinGeorgiaandFlorida，asreportedbyGeneralJ。H。Wilson，was……52，458
AggregatesurrenderedunderthecapitulationofGeneralJ。E。Johnston……89，270
Onthemorningofthe5thIalsoreceivedfromGeneralSchofieldthisdispatch:
RALEIGH，NORTHCAROLINA，May5，1866。
ToMajor—GeneralW:T。SHERMAN，MoreheadCity:
WhenGeneralGrantwashere，asyoudoubtlessrecollect，hesaidthelines（fortradeandintercourse）hadbeenextendedtoembracethisandotherStatessouth。Theorder，itseems，hasbeenmodifiedsoastoincludeonlyVirginiaandTennessee。IthinkitwouldbeanactofwisdomtoopenthisStatetotradeatonce。
IhopetheGovernmentwillmakeknownitspolicyastotheorgansofStategovernmentwithoutdelay。Affairsmustnecessarilybeinaveryunsettledstateuntilthatisdone。Thepeoplearenowinamoodtoacceptalmostanythingwhichpromisesadefinitesettlement。\"Whatistobedonewiththefreedmen？\"isthequestionofall，anditistheallimportantquestion。Itrequirespromptandwisenotiontopreventthenegroesfrombecomingahugeelephantonourhands。IfIamtogovernthisState，itisimportantformetoknowitatonce。Ifanotheristobesenthere，itcannotbedonetoosoon，forheprobablywillundothemostthatIshallhavedone。Ishallbegladtohearfromyoufully，whenyouhavetimetowrite。IwillsendyourmessagetoGeneralWilsonatonce。
J。M。SCHOFIELD，Major—General。
IwasutterlywithoutinstructionsfromanysourceonthepointsofGeneralSchofield’sinquiry，andundertheexistingstateoffactscouldnotevenadvisehim，forbythistimeIwasinpossessionofthesecondbulletinofMr。Stanton，publishedinalltheNorthernpapers，withcommentsthatassumedthatIwasacommontraitorandapublicenemy;andhighofficialshadeveninstructedmyownsubordinatestodisobeymylawfulorders。GeneralHalleck，whohadsolongbeeninWashingtonasthechiefofstaff，hadbeensentonthe21stofApriltoRichmond，tocommandthearmiesofthePotomacandJames，inplaceofGeneralGrant，whohadtransferredhisheadquarterstothenationalcapital，andhe（GeneralHalleck）wasthereforeinsupremecommandinVirginia，whilemycommandoverNorthCarolinahadneverbeenrevokedormodified。
[SecondBulletin。]
WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTON，April279。30a。m。
ToMajor—GeneralDIX:
ThedepartmenthasreceivedthefollowingdispatchfromMajor—
GeneralHalleck，commandingtheMilitaryDivisionoftheJames。
GeneralsCanbyandThomaswereinstructedsomedaysagothatSherman’sarrangementswithJohnstonweredisapprovedbythePresident，andtheywereorderedtodisregarditandpushtheenemyineverydirection。
E。M。STANTON，SecretaryofWar。
RICHMOND，VIRGINIA，April26—9。30p。m。
HON。E。M。STANTON，SecretaryofWar:
GeneralsMeade，Sheridan，andWright，areactingunderorderstopaynoregardtoanytruceorordersofGeneralShermanrespectinghostilities，onthegroundthatSherman’sagreementcouldbindhiscommandonly，andnoother。
Theyaredirectedtopushforward，regardlessofordersfromanyoneexceptfromGeneralGrant，andcutoffJohnston’sretreat。
BeauregardhastelegraphedtoDanvillethatanewarrangementhasbeenmadewithSherman，andthattheadvanceoftheSixthCorpswastobesuspendeduntilfurtherorders。
IhavetelegraphedbacktoobeynoordersofSherman，buttopushforwardasrapidlyaspossible。
Thebankersherehaveinformationto—daythatJeff。Davis’sspecieismovingsouthfromGoldsboro’，inwagons，asfastaspossible。
Isuggestthatordersbetelegraphed，throughGeneralThomas，thatWilsonobeynoordersfromSherman，andnotifyinghimandCanby，andallcommandersontheMississippi，totakemeasurestointercepttherebelchiefsandtheirplunder。
Thespecietakenwiththemisestimatedhereatfromsixtothirteenmilliondollars。
H。W。HALLECK，Major—Generalcommanding。
Subsequently，beforetheCommitteeontheConductoftheWar，inWashington，onthe22dofMay，Itestifiedfullyonthiswholematter，andwillabidethejudgmentofthecountryonthepatriotismandwisdomofmypublicconductinthisconnection。
GeneralHalleck’smeasurestocaptureGeneralJohnston’sarmy，actuallysurrenderedtomeatthetime，atGreensboro’，onthe26thofApril，simplyexcitedmycontemptforajudgmentsuchashewassupposedtopossess。TheassertionthatJeff。Davis’sspecie—
train，ofsixtothirteenmilliondollars，wasreportedtobemovingsouthfromGoldsboro’inwagonsasfastaspossible，foundplentyofwillingears，thoughmyarmyofeightythousandmenhadbeenatGoldsboro’fromMarch22dtothedateofhisdispatch，April26th;andsuchatrainwouldhavebeencomposedoffromfifteentothirty—twosix—muleteamstohavehauledthisspecie，evenifitallwereingold。IsupposetheexactamountoftreasurewhichDavishadwithhimisnowknowntoacent;someofitwaspaidtohisescort，whenitdisbandedatandnearWashington，Georgia，andatthetimeofhiscapturehehadasmallparcelofgoldandsilvercoin，nottoexceedtenthousanddollars，whichisnowretainedintheUnitedStatesTreasury—vaultatWashington，andshowntothecurious。
Thethirteenmillionsoftreasure，withwhichJeff。Daviswastocorruptourarmiesandbuyhisescape，dwindleddowntothecontentsofahand—valise！
TosaythatIwasmerelyangryatthetoneandsubstanceofthesepublishedbulletinsoftheWarDepartment，wouldhardlyexpressthestateofmyfeelings。Iwasoutragedbeyoudmeasure，andwasresolvedtoresenttheinsult，costwhatitmight。IwenttotheWayandaandshowedthemtoMr。Chase，withwhomIhadalongandfrankconversation，duringwhichheexplainedtometheconfusioncausedinWashingtonbytheassassinationofMr。Lincoln，thesuddenaccessiontopowerofMr。Johnson，whowasthensupposedtobebitterandvindictiveinhisfeelingstowardtheSouth，andthewildpressureofeveryclassofpoliticianstoenforceonthenewPresidenttheirpetschemes。Heshowedmealetterofhisown，whichwasinprint，datedBaltimore，April11th，andanotherofApril12th，addressedtothePresident，urginghimtorecognizethefreedmenasequalinallrespectstothewhites。Hewasthefirstman，ofanyauthorityorstation，whoeverinformedmethattheGovernmentoftheUnitedStateswouldinsistonextendingtotheformerslavesoftheSouththeelectivefranchise，andhegaveasareasonthefactthattheslaves，gratefulfortheirfreedom，forwhichtheywereindebtedtothearmiesandGovernmentoftheNorth，would，bytheirvotes，offsetthedisaffectedandrebelelementofthewhitepopulationoftheSouth。Atthattimequiteastormwasprevailingatsea，outside，andourtwovesselslaysnugatthewharfatMoreheadCity。IsawagooddealofMr。Chase，andseveralnotespassedbetweenus，ofwhichIhavetheoriginalsyet。
AlwaysclaimingthattheSouthhadherselffreedallherslavesbyrebellion，andthatMr。Lincoln’sproclamationoffreedom（ofSeptember22，1862）wasbindingonallofficersoftheGeneralGovernment，Idoubtedthewisdomofatonceclothingthemwiththeelectivefranchise，withoutsomepreviouspreparationandqualification;andthenrealizedthenationallossinthedeathatthatcriticalmomentofMr。Lincoln，whohadlongponderedoverthedifficultquestionsinvolved，who，atallevents，wouldhavebeenhonestandfrank，andwouldnothavewithheldfromhisarmycommandersatleastahintthatwouldhavebeentothemaguide。
Itwasplaintome，therefore，thatthemannerofhisassassinationhadstampededthecivilauthoritiesinWashington，hadunnervedthem，andthattheywerethenundecidedastothemeasuresindispensablynecessarytopreventanarchyattheSouth。
Onthe7thofMaythestormsubsided，andweputtosea，Mr。Chasetothesouth，onhisproposedtourasfarasNewOrleans，andIforJamesRiver。IreachedFortressMonroeonthe8th，andthencetelegraphedmyarrivaltoGeneralGrant，askingfororders。I
foundatFortressMonroeadispatchfromGeneralHalleck，professinggreatfriendship，andinvitingmetoaccepthishospitalityatRichmond。Iansweredbyacipher—dispatchthatI
hadseenhisdispatchtoMr。Stanton，ofApril26th，embracedinthesecondbulletin，whichIregardedasinsulting，declinedhishospitality，andaddedthatIpreferredweshouldnotmeetasI
passedthroughRichmond。IthenceproceededtoCityPointintheRussia，andontoManchester，oppositeRichmond，viaPetersburg，byrail。IfoundthatbothwingsofthearmyhadarrivedfromRaleigh，andwereincampinandaroundManchester，whenceIagaintelegraphedGeneralGrant，anthe9thofMay，fororders，andalsoreportedmyarrivaltoGeneralHalleckbyletter。IfoundthatGeneralHalleckhadorderedGeneralDavis’scorps（theFourteenth）
forreviewbyhimself。ThisIforbade。AllthearmyknewoftheinsultthathadbeenmademebytheSecretaryofWarandGeneralHalleck，andwatchedmecloselytoseeifIwouldtamelysubmit。
Duringthe9thImadeafullandcompletereportofalltheseevents，fromthelastreportmadeatGoldsboro’uptodate，andthenextdayreceivedorderstocontinuethemarchtoAlexandria，nearWashington。
Onthemorningofthe11thwecrossedthepontoon—bridgeatRichmond，marchedthroughthatcity，andoutontheHanoverCourtHouseroad，GeneralSlocum’sleftwingleading。Therightwing（GeneralLogan）followedthenextday，viz。，the12th。Meantime，GeneralO。O。HowardhadbeensummonedtoWashingtontotakechargeofthenewBureauofRefugees，Freedmen，andAbandonedLands，and，fromthattimetillthearmywasfinallydisbanded，GeneralJohnA。
Loganwasincommandoftherightwing，andoftheArmyoftheTennessee。TheleftwingmarchedthroughHanoverCourtHouse，andthencetookroadswelltotheleftbyChilesburg;theFourteenthCorpsbyNewMarketandCulpepper，Manassas，etc。;theTwentiethCorpsbySpotsylvaniaCourt—HouseandChancellorsville。TherightwingfollowedthemoredirectroadbyFredericksburg。OnmywaynorthIendeavoredtoseeasmuchofthebattle—fieldsoftheArmyofthePotomacasIcould，andthereforeshiftedfromonecolumntotheother，visitingenrouteHanoverCourt—House，Spotsylvania，Fredericksburg，Dumfries，etc。，reachingAlexandriaduringtheafternoonofMay19th，andpitchedmycampbytheroadside，abouthalf—waybetweenAlexandriaandtheLongBridge。DuringthesameandnextdaythewholearmyreachedAlexandria，andcampedroundaboutit;GeneralMeade’sArmyofthePotomachadpossessionofthecampsabove，oppositeWashingtonandGeorgetown。Thenextday（byinvitation）IwentovertoWashingtonandmetmanyfriends——amongthemGeneralGrantandPresidentJohnson。ThelatteroccupiedroomsinthehouseonthecornerofFifteenthandHStreets，belongingtoMr。Hooper。Hewasextremelycordialtome，andknowingthatIwaschafingunderthecensuresoftheWarDepartment，especiallyofthetwowarbulletinsofMr。Stanton，hevolunteeredtosaythatheknewofneitherofthemtillseeninthenewspapers，andthatMr。Stantonhadshownneithertohimnortoanyofhisassociatesinthecabinettilltheywerepublished。
Nearlyallthemembersofthecabinetmadesimilarassurancestomeafterward，and，asMr。Stantonmadenofriendlyadvances，andofferednowordofexplanationorapology，IdeclinedGeneralGrant’sfriendlyofficesforareconciliation，but，onthecontrary，resolvedtoresentwhatIconsideredaninsult，aspubliclyasitwasmade。Mybrother，SenatorSherman，whowasMr。
Stanton’sneighbor，alwaysinsistedthatMr。Stantonhadbeenfrightenedbytheintendedassassinationofhimself，andhadbecomeembitteredthereby。Atallevents，Ifoundstrongmilitaryguardsaroundhishouse，aswellasallthehousesoccupiedbythecabinetandbytheprincipalofficersofGovernment;andasenseofinsecuritypervadedWashington，forwhichnoreasonexisted。
Onthe19thIreceivedacopyofWarDepartmentSpecialOrderNo。
239，Adjutant—General’soffice，ofMay18th，orderingagrandreview，bythePresidentandcabinet，ofallthearmiesthennearWashington;GeneralMeade’stooccuronTuesday，May23d，mineonWednesday，the24th;andonthe20thImadethenecessaryordersformypart。MeantimeIhadalsoarranged（withGeneralGrant’sapproval）toremoveafterthereview，myarmiesfromthesouthsideofthePotomactothenorth;bothforconvenienceandbecauseourmenhadfoundthatthegroundsassignedthemhadbeenusedsolongforcampsthattheywerefoulandunfit。
ByinvitationIwasonthereviewing—stand，andwitnessedthereviewoftheArmyofthePotomac（onthe23d），commandedbyGeneralMeadeinperson。Thedaywasbeautiful，andthepageantwassuperb。Washingtonwasfullofstrangers，whofilledthestreetsinholiday—dress，andeveryhousewasdecoratedwithflags。
ThearmymarchedbydivisionsinclosecolumnaroundtheCapitol，downPennsylvaniaAvenue，pastthePresidentandcabinet，whooccupiedalargestandpreparedfortheoccasion，directlyinfrontoftheWhiteHouse。
IhadtelegraphedtoLancasterforMrs。Sherman，whoarrivedthatday，accompaniedbyherfather，theHon。ThomasEwing，andmysonTom，theneightyearsold。
Duringtheafternoonandnightofthe23d，theFifteenth，Seven—
teenth，andTwentiethCorps，crossedLongBridge，bivouackedinthestreetsabouttheCapitol，andtheFourteenthCorpscloseduptothebridge。Themorningofthe24thwasextremelybeautiful，andthegroundwasinsplendidorderforourreview。Thestreetswerefilledwithpeopletoseethepageant，armedwithbouquetsofflowersfortheirfavoriteregimentsorheroes，andeverythingwaspropitious。Punctuallyat9A。M。thesignal—gunwasfired，wheninperson，attendedbyGeneralHowardandallmystaff，IrodeslowlydownPennsylvaniaAvenue，thecrowdsofmen，women，andchildren，denselyliningthesidewalks，andalmostobstructingtheway。WewerefollowedclosebyGeneralLoganandtheheadoftheFifteenthCorps。WhenIreachedtheTreasury—building，andlookedback，thesightwassimplymagnificent。Thecolumnwascompact，andtheglitteringmusketslookedlikeasolidmassofsteel，movingwiththeregularityofapendulum。WepassedtheTreasurybuilding，infrontofwhichandoftheWhiteHousewasanimmensethrongofpeople，forwhomextensivestandshadbeenpreparedonbothsidesoftheavenue。AsInearedthebrick—houseoppositethelowercornerofLafayetteSquare，someoneaskedmetonoticeMr。Seward，who，stillfeebleandbandagedforhiswounds，hadbeenremovedtherethathemightbeholdthetroops。ImovedinthatdirectionandtookoffmyhattoMr。Seward，whosatatanupperwindow。Herecognizedthesalute，returnedit，andthenwerodeonsteadilypastthePresident，salutingwithourswords。Allonhisstandaroseandacknowledgedthesalute。Then，turningintothegateofthepresidentialgrounds，weleftourhorseswithorderlies，andwentuponthestand，whereIfoundMrs。Sherman，withherfatherandson。Passingthem，IshookhandswiththePresident，GeneralGrant，andeachmemberofthecabinet。AsIapproachedMr。
Stanton，heofferedmehishand，butIdeclineditpublicly，andthefactwasuniversallynoticed。IthentookmypostontheleftofthePresident，andforsixhoursandahalfstood，whilethearmypassedintheorderoftheFifteenth，Seventeenth，Twentieth，andFourteenthCorps。Itwas，inmyjudgment，themostmagnificentarmyinexistence——sixty—fivethousandmen，insplendidphysique，whohadjustcompletedamarchofnearlytwothousandmilesinahostilecountry，ingooddrill，andwhorealizedthattheywerebeingcloselyscrutinizedbythousandsoftheirfellow—countrymenandbyforeigners。Divisionafterdivisionpassed，eachcommanderofanarmycorpsordivisioncomingonthestandduringthepassageofhiscommand，tobepresentedtothePresident，cabinet，andspectators。Thesteadinessandfirmnessofthetread，thecarefuldressontheguides，theuniformintervalsbetweenthecompanies，alleyesdirectlytothefront，andthetatteredandbullet—ridenflags，festoonedwithflowers，allattracteduniversalnotice。
Manygoodpeople，uptothattime，hadlookeduponourWesternarmyasasortofmob;buttheworldthensaw，andrecognizedthefact，thatitwasanarmyinthepropersense，wellorganized，wellcommandedanddisciplined;andtherewasnowonderthatithadsweptthroughtheSouthlikeatornado。ForsixhoursandahalfthatstrongtreadoftheArmyoftheWestresoundedalongPennsylvaniaAvenue;notasoulofthatvastcrowdofspectatorslefthisplace;and，whentherearofthecolumnhadpassedby，thousandsofthespectatorsstilllingeredtoexpresstheirsenseofconfidenceinthestrengthofaGovernmentwhichcouldclaimsuchanarmy。
Somelittlescenesenlivenedtheday，andcalledforthelaughterandcheersofthecrowd。Eachdivisionwasfollowedbysixambulances，asarepresentativeofitsbaggage—train。Someofthedivisioncommandershadadded，bywayofvariety，goats，milch—
cows，andpack—mules，whoseloadsconsistedofgame—cocks，poultry，hams，etc。，andsomeofthemhadthefamiliesoffreedslavesalong，withthewomenleadingtheirchildren。Eachdivisionwasprecededbyitscorpsofblackpioneers，armedwithpicksandspades。Thesemarchedabreastindoubleranks，keepingperfectdressandstep，andaddedmuchtotheinterestoftheoccasion。Onthewhole，thegrandreviewwasasplendidsuccess，andwasafittingconclusiontothecampaignandthewar。
Iwillnowconcludebyacopyofmygeneralorderstakingleaveofthearmy，whichendedmyconnectionwiththewar，thoughI
afterwardvisitedandtookamoreformalleaveoftheofficersandmenonJuly4，1865，atLouisville，Kentucky:
[SPECIALFIELDORDERSNO。76]
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPI，INTHEFIELD，WASHINGTON，D。C。May30，1865
ThegeneralcommandingannouncestotheArmiesoftheTennesseeandGeorgiathatthetimehascomeforustopart。Ourworkisdone，andarmedenemiesnolongerdefyus。Someofyouwillgotoyourhomes，andotherswillberetainedinmilitaryservicetillfurtherorders。
Andnowthatweareallabouttoseparate，tominglewiththecivilworld，itbecomesapleasingdutytorecalltomindthesituationofnationalaffairswhen，butlittlemorethanayearago，weweregatheredaboutthecliffsofLookoutMountain，andallthefuturewaswrappedindoubtanduncertainty。
Threearmieshadcometogetherfromdistantfields，withseparatehistories，yetboundbyonecommoncause——theunionofourcountry，andtheperpetuationoftheGovernmentofourinheritance。ThereisnoneedtorecalltoyourmemoriesTunnelHill，withRocky—FaceMountainandBuzzard—RoostGap，andtheuglyfortsofDaltonbehind。
Wewereinearnest，andpausednotfordangeranddiffculty，butdashedthroughSnake—CreekGapandfellonResaca;thenontotheEtowah，toDallas，Kenesaw;andtheheatsofsummerfoundusonthebanksoftheChattahoochee，farfromhome，anddependentonasingleroadforsupplies。Againwewerenottobeheldbackbyanyobstacle，andcrossedoverandfoughtfourhardbattlesforthepossessionofthecitadelofAtlanta。Thatwasthecrisisofourhistory。Adoubtstillcloudedourfuture，butwesolvedtheproblem，destroyedAtlanta，struckboldlyacrosstheStateofGeorgia，severedallthemainarteriesoflifetoourenemy，andChristmasfoundusatSavannah。