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and insisted that the surrender of Johnston's army most be obtained on any terms。
General Grant was evidently of the same way of thinking； for； although he did not join in the conversation to any extent； yet he made no objections； and I presume had made up his mind to allow the best terms himself。
He was also anxious that Johnston should not be driven into Richmond； to reenforce the rebels there； who； from behind their strong intrenohments； would have given us incalculable trouble。
Sherman； as a subordinate officer； yielded his views to those of the President； and the terms of capitulation between himself and Johnston were exactly in accordance with Mr。 Lincoln's wishes。 He could not have done any thing which would have pleased the President better。
Mr。 Lincoln did； in fact； arrange the （so considered） liberal terms offered General Jos。 Johnston； and； whatever may have been General Sherman's private views； I feel sure that he yielded to the wishes of the President in every respect。 It was Mr。 Lincoln's policy that was carried out； and； had he lived long enough； he would have been but too glad to have acknowledged it。 Had Mr。 Lincoln lived； Secretary Stanton would have issued no false telegraphic dispatches； in the hope of killing off another general in the regular army； one who by his success had placed himself in the way of his own succession。
The disbanding of Jos。 Johnston's army was so complete； that the pens and ink used in the discussion of the matter were all wasted。
1t was asserted； by the rabid ones； that General Sherman had given up all that we had been fighting for； had conceded every thing to Jos。 Johnston； and had； as the boys say； 〃knocked the fat into the fire；〃 but sober reflection soon overruled these harsh expressions； and； with those who knew General Sherman； and appreciated him； he was still the great soldier； patriot； and gentleman。 In future times this matter will be looked at more calmly and dispassionately。 The bitter animosities that have been engendered during the rebellion will have died out for want of food on which to live； and the very course Grant； Sherman； and others pursued； in granting liberal terms to the defeated rebels； will be applauded。 The fact is； they met an old beggar in the road； whose crutches had broken from under him： they let him have only the broken crutches to get home with！
I sent General Sherman back to Newbern； North Carolina； in the steamer Bat。
While he was absent from his command he was losing no time； for be was getting his army fully equipped with stores and clothing； and； when he returned； he had a rested and regenerated army； ready to swallow up Jos。 Johnston and all his ragamuffins。
Johnston was cornered； could not move without leaving every thing behind him； and could not go to Richmond without bringing on a famine in that destitute city。
I was with Mr。 Lincoln all the time he was at City Point； and until be left for Washington。 He was more than delighted with the surrender of Lee； and with the terms Grant gave the rebel general； and would have given Jos。 Johnston twice as much； had the latter asked for it； and could be have been certain that the rebel world have surrendered without a fight。 I again repeat that； had Mr。 Lincoln lived； he would have shouldered all the responsibility。
One thing is certain： had Jos。 Johnston escaped and got into Richmond； and caused a larger list of killed and wounded than we had； General Sherman would have been blamed。 Then why not give him the full credit of capturing on the best terms the enemy's last important army and its best general； and putting an end to the rebellion
It was a finale worthy of Sherman's great march through the swamps and deserts of the South； a march not excelled by any thing we read of in modern military history。
D。 D。 PORTER； Vice…Admiral。
（Written by the admiral in 1866； at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis； Md。； and mailed to General Sherman at St。 Louis； Mo。）
As soon as possible； I arranged with General Grant for certain changes in the organization of my army； and the general also undertook to send to North Carolina some tug…boat and barges to carry stores from Newbern up as far as Kinston； whence they could be hauled in wagons to our camps； thus relieving our railroads to that extent。 I undertook to be ready to march north by April 10th； and then embarked on the steamer Bat； Captain Barnes； for North Carolina。 We steamed down James River； and at Old Point Comfort took on board my brother； Senator Sherman； and Mr。 Edwin Stanton； son of the Secretary of War； and proceeded at once to our destination。 On our way down the river； Captain Barnes expressed himself extremely obliged to me for taking his vessel； as it had relieved him of a most painful dilemma。 He explained that he had been detailed by Admiral Porter to escort the President's unarmed boat； the River Queen； in which capacity it became his special duty to look after Mrs。 Lincoln。 The day before my arrival at City Point； there had been a grand review of a part of the Army of the James； then commanded by General Ord。 The President rode out from City Point with General Grant on horseback； accompanied by a numerous staff； including Captain Barnes and Mrs。 Ord； but Mrs。 Lincoln and Mrs。 Grant had followed in a carriage。
The cavalcade reached the review…ground some five or six miles out from City Point； found the troops all ready； drawn up in line； and after the usual presentation of arms； the President and party； followed by Mrs。 Ord and Captain Barnes on horseback； rode the lines； and returned to the reviewing stand； which meantime had been reached by Mrs。 Lincoln and Mrs。 Grant in their carriage； which had been delayed by the driver taking a wrong road。 Mrs。 Lincoln； seeing Mrs。 Ord and Captain Barnes riding with the retinue； and supposing that Mrs。 Ord had personated her； turned on Captain Barnes and gave him a fearful scolding； and even indulged in some pretty sharp upbraidings to Mrs。 Ord。
This made Barne's position very unpleasant； so that he felt much relieved when he was sent with me to North Carolina。 The Bat was very fast； and on the morning of the 29th we were near Cape Hatteras； Captain Barnes； noticing a propeller coming out of Hatteras Inlet； made her turn back and pilot us in。 We entered safely； steamed up Pamlico Sound into Neuse River； and the next morning；by reason of some derangement of machinery； we anchored about seven miles below Newbern； whence we went up in Captain Barnes's barge。 As soon as we arrived at Newbern； I telegraphed up to General Schofield at Goldsboro' the fact of my return； and that I had arranged with General Grant for the changes made necessary in the reorganization of the army； and for the boats necessary to carry up the provisions and stores we needed； prior to the renewal of our march northward。
These changes amounted to constituting the left wing a distinct army； under the title of 〃the Army of Georgia；〃 under command of General Slocum； with his two corps commanded by General Jeff。 C。 Davis and General Joseph A。 Mower； the Tenth and Twenty…third Corps already constituted another army； 〃of the Ohio；〃 under the command of Major…Gener