a fitting object for insolence at this season of his
fresh military triumphs, soon afterward showed his
resentment; at the grand parade of his army, in Washington,
he conspicuously declined, in the presence of the President
and the notabilities of the land, to shake the hand
which Secretary Stanton did not hesitate then and
there to extend to him,—for Stanton had
that peculiar and unusual form of meanness which endeavors
to force a civility after an insult. But however
General Sherman might feel about it, his capitulation
had been revoked, and another conference became necessary
between the two generals, which was followed a little
later by still another between Generals Schofield
and Johnston. At these meetings the terms which
had been established between Generals Grant and Lee
were substantially repeated, and by this “military
convention” the war came to a formal end on
April 26, 1865.
By this course of events General Sherman was, of course,
placed in a very uncomfortable position, and he defended
himself by alleging that the terms which he had made
were in accurate conformity with the opinions, wishes,
and programme expressed by Mr. Lincoln on March 28.
He reiterates this assertion strongly and distinctly
in his “Memoirs,” and quotes in emphatic
corroboration Admiral Porter’s account of that
interview.[62] The only other witness who could be
heard on this point was General Grant; he never gave
his recollection of the expressions of President Lincoln
concerning the matters in dispute; but on April 21
he did write to General Sherman that, after having
carefully read the terms accorded to Johnston he felt
satisfied that they “could not possibly be approved."[63]
He did not, however, say whether or not they seemed
to him to contravene the policy of the President,
as he had heard or understood that policy to be laid
down in the famous interview. In the obscurity
which wraps this matter, individual opinions find ample
room to wander; it is easy to believe that what General
Sherman undertook to arrange was in reasonable accordance
with the broad purposes of the President; but it certainly
is not easy to believe that the President ever intended
that so many, so momentous, and such complex affairs
should be conclusively disposed of, with all the honorable
sacredness attendant upon military capitulations,
by a few hasty strokes of General Sherman’s
pen. The comprehensiveness of this brief and sudden
document of surrender was appalling! Mr. Lincoln
had never before shown any inclination to depute to
others so much of his own discretionary authority;
his habit was quite the other way.
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