memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第92章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
oon reached the house of a Mr。 Bennett； dismounted； and left our horses with orderlies in the road。 Our officers； on foot； passed into the yard； and General Johnston and I entered the small frame…house。 We asked the farmer if we could have the use of his house for a few minutes； and he and his wife withdrew into a smaller log…house； which stood close by。
As soon as we were alone together I showed him the dispatch announcing Mr。 Lincoln's assassination； and watched him closely。 The perspiration came out in large drops on his forehead； and he did not attempt to conceal his distress。 He denounced the act as a disgrace to the age； and hoped I did not charge it to the Confederate Government。 I told him I could not believe that he or General Lee； or the officers of the Confederate army； could possibly be privy to acts of assassination； but I would not say as much for Jeff。 Davis； George Sanders； and men of that stripe。 We talked about the effect of this act on the country at large and on the armies； and he realized that it made my situation extremely delicate。 I explained to him that I had not yet revealed the news to my own personal staff or to the army； and that I dreaded the effect when made known in Raleigh。 Mr。 Lincoln was peculiarly endeared to the soldiers； and I feared that some foolish woman or man in Raleigh might say something or do something that would madden our men； and that a fate worse than that of Columbia would befall the place。
I then told Johnston that he must be convinced that he could not oppose my army； and that； since Lee had surrendered； he could do the same with honor and propriety。 He plainly and repeatedly admitted this； and added that any further fighting would be 〃murder；〃 but he thought that； instead of surrendering piecemeal； we might arrange terms that would embrace all the Confederate armies。 I asked him if he could control other armies than his own； he said； not then； but intimated that he could procure authority from Mr。 Davis。 I then told him that I had recently had an interview with General Grant and President Lincoln； and that I was possessed of their views； that with them and the people North there seemed to be no vindictive feeling against the Confederate armies； but there was against Davis and his political adherents； and that the terms that General Grant had given to General Lee's army were certainly most generous and liberal。 All this he admitted； but always recurred to the idea of a universal surrender； embracing his own army； that of Dick Taylor in Louisiana and Texas； and of Maury； Forrest； and others； in Alabama and Georgia。 General Johnston's account of our interview in his 〃Narrative〃 （page 402； et seq。） is quite accurate and correct； only I do not recall his naming the capitulation of Loeben； to which he refers。 Our conversation was very general and extremely cordial； satisfying me that it could have but one result； and that which we all desired； viz。； to end the war as quickly as possible； and； being anxious to return to Raleigh before the news of Mr。 Lincoln's assassination could be divulged； on General Johnston's saying that he thought that； during the night； he could procure authority to act in the name of all the Confederate armies in existence we agreed to meet again the next day at noon at the same place； and parted； he for Hillsboro' and I for Raleigh。
We rode back to Durham's Station in the order we had come； and then I showed the dispatch announcing Mr。 Lincoln's death。 I cautioned the officers to watch the soldiers closely； to prevent any violent retaliation by them； leaving that to the Government at Washington； and on our way back to Raleigh in the cars I showed the same dispatch to General Logan and to several of the officers of the Fifteenth Corps that were posted at Morrisville and Jones's Station； all of whom were deeply impressed by it； but all gave their opinion that this sad news should not change our general course of action。
As soon as I reached Raleigh I published the following orders to the army； announcing the assassination of the President； and I doubt if； in the whole land； there were more sincere mourners over his sad fate than were then in and about Raleigh。 I watched the effect closely； and was gratified that there was no single act of retaliation； though I saw and felt that one single word by me would have laid the city in ashes； and turned its whole population houseless upon the country； if not worse：
＇Special Field Orders； No。 56。＇
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN THE FIELD； RALEIGH； NORTH CAROLINA； April 17； 1865。
The general commanding announces； with pain and sorrow； that on the evening of the 14th instant； at the theatre in Washington city； his Excellency the President of the United States； Mr。 Lincoln； was assassinated by one who uttered the State motto of Virginia。 At the same time； the Secretary of State； Mr。 Seward； while suffering from a broken arm； was also stabbed by another murderer in his own house； but still survives； and his son was wounded； supposed fatally。 It is believed； by persons capable of judging； that other high officers were designed to share the same fate。 Thus it seems that our enemy； despairing of meeting us in open； manly warfare； begins to resort to the assassin's tools。
Your general does not wish you to infer that this is universal； for he knows that the great mass of the Confederate army world scorn to sanction each acts； but he believes it the legitimate consequence of rebellion against rightful authority。
We have met every phase which this war has assumed； and must now be prepared for it in its last and worst shape； that of assassins and guerrillas； but woe onto the people who seek to expend their wild passions in such a manner； for there is but one dread result！
By order of Major…General W。 T。 Sherman；
L。 M。 DAYTON； Assistant Adjutant…General。
During the evening of the 17th and morning of the 18th I saw nearly all the general officers of the army （Schofield； Slocum； Howard； Logan； Blair）； and we talked over the matter of the conference at Bennett's house of the day before； and； without exception； all advised me to agree to some terms； for they all dreaded the long and harassing march in pursuit of a dissolving and fleeing army…a march that might carry us back again over the thousand miles that we had just accomplished。 We all knew that if we could bring Johnston's army to bay； we could destroy it in an hour； but that was simply impossible in the country in which we found ourselves。 We discussed all the probabilities； among which was； whether； if Johnston made a point of it； I should assent to the escape from the country of Jeff。 Davis and his fugitive cabinet； and some one of my general officers； either Logan or Blair； insisted that； if asked for； we should even provide a vessel to carry them to Nassau from Charleston。
The next morning I again started in the cars to Durham's Station； accompanied by most of my personal staff； and by Generals Blair； Barry； Howard； etc。； and； reaching General Kilpatrick's headquarters at Durham's； we again mounted； and rode； with the same escort of the day； before； to Bennett's house； reaching there punctually at noon。 General Johnston had not yet arrived； but a courier shortly came； and reported him as on the way。 It must have been nearly 2 p。m。 when he arrived； as before； with General Wade Hampton。 He had halted his escort out of sight； and we again entered Bennett's house； and I closed the door。 General Johnston then assured me that he had authority over all the Confederate armies； so that they would obey his orders to surrender on the same terms with his own； but he argued that； to obtain so cheaply this desirable result； I ought to give his men and officers some assurance of their political rights after their surrender。 I explained to him that Mr。 Lincoln's proclamation of amnesty； of December 8； 1863； still in force； enabled every Confederate soldier and officer； below the rank of colonel； to obtain an absolute pardon； by simply laying down his arms； and taking the common oath of allegiance； and that General Grant； in accepting the surrender of General Lee's army； had extended the same principle to al
