Major General Henry W. Halleck to Edwin M. Stanton, April 26, 1865, 9:30 p.m.

RICHMOND, VA., April 26, 1865 – 9.30 p. m.

(Received 10.45 p. m.)

Hon. E. M. STANTON, Washington:

Generals Meade, Sheridan, and Wright are acting under orders to pay no regard to any truce or orders of General Sherman suspending hostilities, on the ground that Sherman’s agreements could bind his own command only and no other. They are directed to push forward, regardless of orders from anyone except General Grant, and cut off Johnston's retreat. Beauregard has telegraphed to Danville that a new arrangement had been made with Sherman, and that the advance of the Sixth Corps was to be suspended till further orders. I have telegraphed back to obey no orders of General Sherman, but to push forward as rapidly as possible. The bankers here have information today that Jeff. Davis’ specie is moving south from Goldsborough in wagons as fast as possible. I suggest that orders be telegraphed through General Thomas that Wilson obey no orders of Sherman, and notifying him and General Canby and all commanders on the Mississippi River to take measures to intercept the rebel chiefs and their plunder. The specie taken with them is estimated here at from six to thirteen millions.

 H. W. HALLECK,     

 Major-General, Commanding.

SOURCES: 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. 953-4

From Yorktown

WASHINGTON, May 6.

Prisoners Captured at Yorktown converse freely respecting the war, except they refuse to give information of the strength of Johnston’s army.

Capt. Lee, one of their number, declares that the South will continue to fight to the last; that their reverse have not disheartened them; they expect to be driven out of Virginia and all the border States, and from their seaport towns; but that when we meet them in the interior, man for man, they will show us that they are unconquerable.

This morning, Maj. Davis, of the Harris Light Cavalry, established his headquarters in the Farmer’s Bank, in Fredericksburg, as Provost Marshal of the city.  Hoisting the stars and stripes permanently, for the first time in the town since the rebellion.

Our pickets are thrown out beyond this city, and we are in quiet possession of the entire place.  Yesterday a large among of flour, corn, rice, hospital and other stores, ammunition, &c., were discovered and seized, together with several stand of arms.

President Buchanan’s postmaster was yesterday arrested in the post-office, and will be held in custody until an equivalent for the money plundered from the post-office department is disgorged.

Times Dispatch.

You were informed last night that Napoleon Seerman, and Austrian lately on Gen. Fremont’s staff, had been confirmed by the Senate as a Brigadier General.  This fact has astounded the knowing ones of Washington, and especially the foreign diplomatic corps.  Count Mercier avers that when he was with the French embassy at Madrid, he knew Seerman as a detective adventurer and imposter at the Court.

Tribune’s Correspondence.

It is known here, that a secret organization exists ad Dubuque, Iowa, to resist the collection of federal taxes.  The ringleaders of this movement are known to the Government, and its eye is upon them.

Secessionists in Fredericksburg, says the Capital of the Southern Confederacy has been temporarily removed to Danville, N. C.

The Tribune learns that David Forbes, a prominent citizen of Falmouth, was yesterday arrested as a spy.  The evidence is said to be very strong against him.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, May 8, 1862, p. 1