Sunday, April
30, 1865.
Howardism
(and it is a very good kind of ism), allows us to lay still to-day. It is a
real Canton 1st of June Sabbath. It rained all night, but the effect is to
improve these sandy roads. It will take a good deal more than a week to realize
fully that the war is over. No more preparation for a coming campaign, dreaded
at first, but soon looked for with feverish eagerness (human nature). No more
finding the enemy driving in his skirmishers, developing his line, getting into
position, and retiring every night, maybe for a month, after days spent in
continuous skirmishing, expecting to be ordered to charge at daybreak. It is
all over, thank God, but it seems impossible.
A
Philadelphia paper of the 25th (first we have seen since the 21st) astonished
us all. It gives us our first intimation of the hue and cry against Sherman,
for the terms he offered Johnston, Breckenridge & Co. We did not before
know anything he had done, only he told us in orders that he had, "subject
to the approval of the powers at Washington, made peace from the Rio Grande to
the Potomac, by an agreement with Johnston and other high officials." We
have only known that much, talked over the matter and were afraid that
“Tecumseh” had made an attempt to do too much, and had compromised himself by
having anything at all to do with other than military Rebels. I am very sorry
for him, but we have thought for a year, and it has been common talk in the
army, that he was ambitious for political honors, etc.
I have often
heard it said that he was figuring for popularity in the South. He has written
some very pretty letters to our erring Southerners. Instance, the one to the
Mayor and citizens of Atlanta and one to Mrs. Bowen of Baltimore, and several
more while at Savannah.
He also
promised Governor Vance some kind of protection if he would return to Raleigh.
“Pap" must be careful. We all think the world of him. I'd rather fight
under him than Grant, and in fact if Sherman was Mahomet we'd be as devoted
Musselmen as ever followed the former prophet, and if he has blundered here, as
they say he has, we will feel it more at heart than we ever did the fall of our
leaders before. I won't believe he has made a mistake until I know all about
it. It can't be.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 373-4
