HDQRS. MILITARY
DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
In the Field,
Raleigh, N. C., April 18, 1865.
Lieut. Gen. U.S. GRANT, or
Major-General
HALLECK,
Washington, D.C.
GENERAL: I inclose herewith a copy of an agreement made this
day between General Joseph E. Johnston and myself, which, if approved by the
President of the United States, will produce peace from the Potomac and the Rio
Grande. Mr. Breckinridge was present at our conference in his capacity as
major-general, and satisfied me of the ability of General Johnston to carry out
to the full extent the terms of this agreement, and if you will get the
President to simply indorse the copy and commission me to carry out the terms,
I will follow them to the conclusion. You will observe that it is an absolute
submission of the enemy to the lawful authority of the United States, and
disperses his armies absolutely, and the point to which I attach most
importance is 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 please. I agreed to the
mode and manner of the surrender of arms set forth, as it gives the States the
means of repressing guerrillas, which we could not expect them to do if we
stripped them of all arms. Both Generals Johnston and Breckinridge admitted that
slavery was dead, and I could not insist on embracing it in such a paper,
because it can be made with the States in detail. I know that all the men of
substance South sincerely want peace, and I do not believe 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 to
leave General Schofield here with the Tenth Corps, and to march myself with the
Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Seventeenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-third Corps, via
Burkeville and Gordonsville, to Frederick or Hagerstown, there to be paid and
mustered out. The question of finance is now the chief one, and every soldier
and officer not needed should be got home at work. I would like to be able to
begin the march north by May 1. I urge on the part of the President speedy
action, as it is important to get the Confederate armies to their homes as well
as our own.
I am, with great
respect, your obedient servant,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General,
Commanding.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I Volume
46, Part 3 (Serial No. 97), p. 243
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