nt Davis had already gone South
with such of his cabinet as chose to follow him, the whole settlement
of difficulties now devolving upon General Johnston alone.

But just as all negotiations were progressing finely the news came of
President Lincoln's assassination, throwing the whole of the Federal
Army in a frenzy of excitement. While the troops of the South may not
have given their assent to such measures, yet they rejoiced secretly;
in their hearts that the great agitator, emancipator--the cause of all
our woes--was laid low. To him and him alone all looked upon as being
the originator, schemer, and consummater of all the ills the South had
suffered. However the hearts of the Southern people may have changed
in the thirty years that have passed, or how sadly they deplored his
death, even in a decade afterwards, I but voice the sentiment of the
South at the time when I say they hated Lincoln with all the venom of
their souls, and his untimely taking off by the hands of the assassin
partly consoled them for all they had suffered.

Orders came from General Sherman to General Johnston to the effect
that part of their agreement was rejected by the Washington Authority,
and notifying the latter that the truce would be called off in
forty-eight hours. This occasioned a third meeting between the two
commanders to make such changes that were required by the authorities.
On the 26th General Johnston sent a communication to General Sherman
requesting a meeting at same place for further conference. This was
agreed to and the meeting took place, where such terms were agreed
upon and signed as was thought to be in accordance with the wishes of
the Washington Government. Rolls were made out in duplicate of all the
officers and soldiers, and on the 2nd of May the troops marched out,
stacked their arms, were given paroles, and slowly turned away and
commenced their homeward journey.

A military chest, containing $39,000, had been received from the
Government in Richmond and divided out among the soldiers, being $1.29
apiece. All the Wagon and artillery horses and wagons, also, were
loaned to the soldiers and divided by lot. A few days' rations had
been issued, and with this and the clothes on their back, this remnant
at a once grand army bent their steps towards their desolate homes. It
was found advisable to move by different routs and in such numbers as
was most agreeable and convenient. Once away from the confines of the
army,