t penman in the group, and
signed and sent by General Johnston to General Sherman. The letter
recapitulated the results in the army in the last few days, changing
the status of the two armies and the needless amount of bloodshed and
devastation of property that the continuance of the struggle would
produce, and asked for a conference looking to an armistice in the
armies until the civil government could settle upon terms of peace.
The letter was sent to General Hampton, and by him to the Federal
commander the next day. General Sherman acknowledged the receipt of
the letter on the 14th, and it reached General Johnston on the 16th,
agreeing to a cessation of hostilities until further notice. General
Sherman expressed in his letter a great desire to spare the people of
North Carolina the devastation and destruction the passing of his army
through the State would necessitate. When it began to be noised about
in the camp that the army was about to be surrendered, the soldiers
became greatly excited. The thought of grounding their arms to an
enemy never before entered their minds, and when the news came of a
surrender the greatest apprehension and dread seized all. So different
the end to their expectation. None could even think of the future
without a shudder. Some anticipated a term in Federal prisons; others,
the higher officers, a military trial; others thought of their private
property and their arms. Even in a prison camp, where our soldiers
would be kept confined under a Federal guard, all was mystery and
uncertainty. The wives and helpless children, left in the rear to
the mercy of the negroes (now for the first time known to be free),
agitated the minds of not a few. Men began to leave the army by twos
and by squads. Guards were placed on all roads and around camps,
and the strictest orders were given against leaving the army without
leave. Cavalrymen in great numbers had mounted their horses and rode
away. General Sherman sent guards to all fords and bridges to examine
all the paroles of the troops of Lee now swarming through the country.

General Johnston met General Sherman at Durham, on the 17th of April,
at the house of Mr. Bennett, but after a long and tedious controversy,
nothing was agreed upon. A second meeting took place at the same house
next day, at which General Breckinridge was unofficially present,
when terms of an armistice were agreed to until the department at
Washington could be beard from. Preside