HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF
THE UNITED STATES,
Washington, D.C., April 21, 1865.
Maj. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN,
Commanding Military Division of
the Mississippi:
GENERAL: The basis of agreement entered into between
yourself and General J. E. Johnston for the disbandment of the Southern army
and the extension of the authority of the General Government over all the
territory belonging to it, sent for the approval of the President, is received.
I read it carefully myself before submitting it to the President and Secretary
of War and felt satisfied that it could not possibly be approved. My reasons
for these views I will give you at another time in a more extended letter. Your
agreement touches upon questions of such vital importance that as soon as read
I addressed a note to the Secretary of War notifying him of their receipt and
the importance of immediate action by the President, and suggested in view of
their importance that the entire cabinet be called together 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 cannot do so better than
by sending you the inclosed copy of a dispatch* (penned by the late President,
though signed by the Secretary of War) in answer to me on sending a letter
received from General Lee proposing to meet me for the purpose of submitting
the question of peace to a convention of officers. Please notify General
Johnston immediately on receipt of this of the termination of the truce and
resume hostilities against his army at the earliest moment you can, acting in
good faith. The rebels know well the terms on which they can have peace and
just when negotiations can commence, namely, when they lay down their arms and
submit to the laws of the United States. Mr. Lincoln gave the full assurances
of what he would do, I believe, in his conference with commissioners met in
Hampton Roads.
Very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
U.S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
47, Part 3 (Serial No. 100), p. 263-4
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