his
calamity, which smote the South, he said, as deeply as the North; and in
this mood of sympathy the discussion began. Johnston asserted that he
would not be justified in such a capitulation as Sherman proposed, but
suggested that together they might arrange the terms of a permanent
peace. This idea pleased Sherman, to whom the prospect of ending the war
without shedding another drop of blood was so tempting that he did not
sufficiently consider the limits of his authority in the matter. It can
be said, moreover, in extenuation of his course, that President
Lincoln's despatch to Grant of March 3, which expressly forbade Grant to
"decide, discuss, or to confer upon any political question," had never
been communicated to Sherman; while the very liberality of Grant's terms
led him to believe that he was acting in accordance with the views of
the administration.

But the wisdom of Lincoln's peremptory order was completely vindicated.
With the best intentions in the world, Sherman, beginning very properly
by offering his antagonist the same terms accorded Lee, ended, after two
days' negotiation, by making a treaty of peace with the Confederate
States, including a preliminary armistice, the disbandment of the
Confederate armies, recognition by the United States Executive of the
several State governments, reestablishment of the Federal courts, and a
general amnesty. "Not being fully empowered by our respective principals
to fulfil these terms," the agreement truthfully concluded, "we
individually and officially pledge ourselves to promptly obtain the
necessary authority."

The rebel President, with unnecessary formality, required a report from
General Breckinridge, his Secretary of War, on the desirability of
ratifying this most favorable convention. Scarcely had he given it his
indorsement when news came that it had been disapproved at Washington,
and that Sherman had been directed to continue his military operations;
and the peripatetic government once more took up its southward flight.

The moment General Grant read the agreement he saw it was entirely
inadmissible. The new President called his cabinet together, and Mr.
Lincoln's instructions of March 3 to Grant were repeated to
Sherman--somewhat tardily, it must be confessed--as his rule of action.
All this was a matter of course, and General Sherman could not properly,
and perhaps would not, have objected to it. But the calm spirit of
Lincoln was now absent from the