ing to the Confederate Government and in charge
of a treasury agent. It seemed to me a duty to protect public property
and transfer it to the United States, successors by victory to the
extinct Confederacy. Accordingly, a guard had been placed over this
cotton, though I hated the very name of the article, as the source of
much corruption to our people. Canby remarked that cotton had been a
curse to his side as well, and he would send to New Orleans for a United
States Treasury agent, so that we might rid ourselves of this at the
earliest moment. The conditions of surrender written out and signed, we
had some conversation about the state of the country, disposition of the
people, etc. I told him that all were weary of strife, and he would meet
no opposition in any quarter, and pointed out places in the interior
where supplies could be had, recommending him to station troops at such
places. I was persuaded that moderation by his officers and men would
lead to intercourse, traffic, and good feeling with the people. He
thanked me for the suggestions, and adopted them.

The Governors of Mississippi and Alabama, Clarke and Watts, had asked
for advice in the emergency produced by surrender, which they had been
informed was impending, and I thought their best course would be to
summon their State Legislatures. These would certainly provide for
conventions of the people to repeal ordinances of secession and abolish
slavery, thus smoothing the way for the restoration of their States to
the Union. Such action would be in harmony with the theory and practice
of the American system, and clear the road of difficulties. The North,
by its Government, press, and people, had been declaring for years that
the war was for the preservation of the Union and for nothing else, and
Canby and I, in the innocence of our hearts, believed it. As Canby
thought well of my plan, I communicated with the Governors, who acted on
it; but the Washington authorities imprisoned them for abetting a new
rebellion.

Returned to Meridian, I was soon ready for the Federal officers, who
came quietly to our camp and entered on their appointed work; and I have
now in my possession receipts given by them for public stores.
Meanwhile, I received from Canby a letter informing me that he had
directed two of his corps commanders, Generals Steele and Granger, to
apply to me for instructions concerning the movement of their troops, as
to time, places, and numbers. It was