Personal Recollections of Sherman's Campaigns in Georgia and the Carolinas

by George W Pepper

  As this meeting proved memorable enough for history, a list of the principal individuals present would not be without interest.

  Of Sherman's staff: Major-General Barry, Chief of Artillery; Colonel Poe, Chief Engineer; Colonel Gaston, Chief Quartermaster; Major Hitchcock, Inspector General; Major Andenreid, A. D. C; Major McCoy, A. D. C; Major Nichols, A. D. C; and Charles Eddy, Telegrapher; Brevet Major General Kilpatrick, and the following members of his staff: Major Estes, Assistant Adjutant General; Major Helm, Chief Surgeon; Major Dunbar, Quartermaster; Lieutenant Colonel Godfrey, A. D. C; Captain Brink, Inspector General; Lieutenant Lewis, Chief of Ordnance; Lieutenant McBea, A. A. C. S.; Lieutenant Messenger, Signal Officer, and Lieutenant Fuller, A. D. C.

  Captain Day, Provost Marshal, was absent attending to a department expanded daily by arrivals of Lee's men and deserters from the army in our front. Captain Hayes was also absent. Besides, were present, Brigadier General Jordan, with his Assistant Adjutant General, Captain Ward, commandant of Kilpatrick's 1st Brigade, from which were chosen the escort, and Colonel Jones, commanding the regiment, the 8th Indiana, part of which composed the escort. Colonel Jones has won a reputation for determined and skillful fighting which, together with his looks, formidable in spite of exceedingly reckless attire, made him a marked man for the rebels, who inquired the name of " yonder fighting man," and by General Sherman, who, on our ride back, called him to his side and held him in a few minutes galloping conversation.

  Arrived at the house (James Bennett's), a plain, one storied frame, with, apparently but one room, that in which the conference was held — the out-house or kitchen detached, after the North Carolina style, and built of logs. These premises, which, however humble, this remarkable conference has made illustrious, were chosen by Captain Hayes, Aid-de-camp to General Kilpatrick. Our party were received by Major McClellan, Assistant Adjutant General to Wade Hampton, who " did not see lit (so his staff officer informed the curious, with characteristic impressment), to be present today," and soon General Johnston rode up with two of his staff, Major Johnson, Chief Engineer, and Wade Hampton (son of the Lieutenant General), and accompanied by Davis, commanding the escort chosen from his regiment, one of Butler's old brigade, now Logan's, in Law's division; by the way, not only a brave officer, but, like Colonel Waring, who led the escort the day before, a gentleman of frank mien and genial temperament. Hampton's Colonels, at least those I have seen, seem to lack the bitterness and vengeful venom of the General. General Sherman and General Johnston again entered the eventful house together. Soon John C. Breckinridge himself entered, the rebel Secretary of War, his haughty form still unbent, but looking older from care — a tall commanding figure — and as his large, cold, gray eyes looked out from the portals of his lofty forehead, meeting, as if with the nerved sternness of defiance, the hundred questioning glances, I thought of Moloch, proud fallen angel — at last cast down by superior power, but yet, though scathed, undaunted. Apparently the conference was entirely between him and Sherman, Johnson sitting apart by no means a curious listener, but rather occupied with the spectacle .outside, his eyes resting with interest upon the groups of officers gathered here and there at the corners of the outhouse, and recumbent upon the green sward between. Very soon Sherman stepped to the door and called for his saddle-bags. Now, thought we, that means paper and proposition-documents and dialection, and all is going right; for if Johnson will stop to deliberate, our old Tycoon is not only an " invincible " General, but a consummate statesman, educated in both arts, dipped in the Styx all over, and defies the devil himself to cope with him in war or diplomacy. Soon Johnston disengaged himself entirely from the proceedings within, and stepping into the yard, addressed with a kind expression a common soldier, and entertained both the man and himself with the inspection of a Spencer carbine. This little act spoke volumes. It was the act of a brave and noble heart, lately misguided, now chastened by age, defeat and conviction, willing to be a child again, ask pardon of God and submit himself, repentant, but serene, to the judgment of an injured but generous country. Poor old man! Of so much better metal than the vile hands that made thee their tool, go thy wav. But Hampton did not see fit to be present. His son was there, however, and how sorry I was to find his frank face, so much more genial than his father's, covering the same frantic principles of savage, Scotch-Highland inveteracy, and bloodthirsty, clannish hate, that ceases only in death, whose hope is despair, and whose grave is blood. “I went into this war," said he, with the quiet, smiling earnestness of long settled resolve,” for, independence, and I expected to keep on fighting till I succeeded or was killed. I expect now to fight till I am killed." In answer to a question — “No, I would not try to induce my men to follow a hopeless cause to their own ruin. Those may go home who will, and those only remain who wish to stay, feeling as I do. I expect most of the cavalry and much of the infantry to join us. We are not yet prepared to think our cause entirely hopeless. We do not yet despair of intervention. You will invade Mexico, to depose Maximilian, we will support him. You may be sure we will help him if you oppose him, and then, Napoleon will take our part against you, and we may yet by this means achieve our independence. At any rate more shall continue to fight you, even without hope. It has now become a personal matter. Of property I think nothing but my house has been violated, and some of my kindred have fallen, and I feel bound by ties most sacred to me, to continue to the bitter end. I am a Scotch man, and admire that national trait which inspires individuals to hold fast their identity." (I modify his language a little to give its substance.) "Why," he was asked, "feeling so uncongenial as you do, do you not emigrate and enjoy that sense of independence and identity abroad, which you cannot, with the spirit you profess, hope to enjoy at home ?" “That wouldn't do. Want to stay and fight" A Southern John Brown with a vengeance, as I expect he discovered both interest and intelligence in constitutional discussion. He declared candidly that in his opinion the doctrine of secession had proved absurd and suicidal. There could be no stability with such a policy. But he seemed to consider it in some way a consequence instead of a contradiction of popular Government, which he declared to be essentially “fickle." He seemed particularly interested by the assurance that even the radical party of the North, now that the war drew to a close, were inclined to leniency, and asked me to read him Henry Ward Beecher's sermon on this point, published in the Raleigh Standard, of Monday. He also expressed deep regret at the death of Mr. Lincoln, whom he seemed to appreciate as the best friend in the South the North had. In fine, despite his faults — faults of education and association, I could not but esteem and admire his manly candor and chivalric gentleness, and my heart yearned for him still more bitterly, cursing the peculiar institutions whose poisoned atmosphere .alone has corrupted such a noble nature. Let us hasten to rescue the coming generation of a noble race from baneful influences.

  The first day of conference, two long lines of the privates from each army could be seen converging across the field in rear to a little log hut, distant about a hundred yards, where they stole to enjoy their own truce meeting. That they were glad to come together, this spectacle left no doubt. But the second day the rebel escort were kept by their officers aloof at a barricade, two hundred yards beyond, upon the road. If this was to prevent intercourse, it foiled, for our boys, in numbers, straggled down the road, and insisted upon unreserved communication over the barricade rails. One bright lad came up as orderly to Colonel Davis. Although he had only been in the service two months, ha was already tired, and longed for the war to be over though he had volunteered and declared himself determined to fight to death, unless General Johnston, whom he admired and loved, should surrender. He was but seventeen years old; regretted the school had been broken up by the war; wanted to resume his lessons; wanted to get to work again, and declared all he asked was twenty acres of ground to earn his living He had a jack-knife, for which, perhaps, an army sutler would charge $1.50 in greenbacks. He said he had given $100 confederate scrip for it.


  Even Major McClellan, Hampton's A. A. GK, seemed more communicative today, perhaps because unrestrained by the presence of his chief. But though apparently bitter almost to discourtesy, his accents and features were much too dilettante for formidable effect [e is a cousin of our “youthful hero of many failures," George B., and a graduate of Williams' College, Massachusetts, class of 58. He and Major Nichols, of Sherman's staff, indulged in a discussion which, for manliness, courtesy and common sense, resulted very much to the advantage of the latter. Wherever born, if educated at the North, a man with Southern principles seems a renegade. Major McClellan is an F. F. V. Hampton's home is Columbia, S. C.

  The conference had now lasted three hours, and nothing but the importance of our situation. The time to separate was approaching: Officers were busy plucking leaves and flowers to bear away as trophies from the field of conference. I have a strawberry blossom whose associations will prove sweeter than if the fruit itself followed. The saddle-bags had been sent out and the orderlies mounted, when the momentous article, which the General is said to prize more than his boots, was again sent for, and our parting for a moment longer delayed, while Major Andenreid, the General's model Aid-de-camp, related a little incident connected with the saddle-bags: On one occasion, setting out by railroad; with his staff, and before any of the staff baggage had Fetched the train, the old Tycoon, who, like tide and time, or fete, waits for no man when the march of events is ready, called out to the conductor — "Are the saddle bags aboard?" "Yes." "Go ahead then." So two armies hung breathless a moment longer, waiting the saddle-bags,

  Johnston and Breckinridge came from the house together. At the gate they both took leave of Sherman, file latter courteously lifting his hat again, as the day before, also to the rest 'of us.' Breckinridge, however, very stiffly parted with Sherman only, and then strode on and through the gate toward his horse, without so much as a glance deigned to meaner mortals. To-horse, was the word again, and away we went, this time the whole column, instead of the slow-paced gait of the day before, setting out at a fast lope, which was in itself significant to us, eager to know the result of the conference. Unconsciously the feeling thrilled through all that all was well. This pace was kept up, slackening only at impracticable spots in the road, until we were far within our own picket lines. From every direction the cavalry lads streamed to the roadside to look upon the spectacle. Their old commander and his party returning with the blissful news of peace they had so long tarried to bring.

  Again at Durham, Sherman and his staff sat down with Kilpatrick to dinner, after which the train sped back to Raleigh.

  Regenerated peace. Blissful news. Davis, who was in person at Greensboro, but doubtless afraid to attend the conference, had commissioned Breckinridge to surrender to Sherman, subject to the approval of the President the entire State and military claims of the rebellion — the whole so-called Southern confederacy, all details to be left to the laws and the civil courts.

  Johnston, would have surrendered the day before, but, poor lock man, reft of authority, amid the shipwreck, he felt that he had nothing but himself to surrender. So to make submission most effectual and remove from under the feet of the most desperate reprobates the last scaffolding of excuse for holding out Sherman demanded and obtained from the hands of the arch-traitor, Davis himself, a full surrender of the very urns of Stale authority, by which alone the feeble military of a spent rebellion could hope to keep up a last lingering spasm of galvanic moribundity.

  The rebellion is dead! Ring, joy bells, ring! On Easter Sunday was arranged the eventful conference which followed upon Monday and Tuesday, and consummated the glorious result— Peace— an undivided nationality of self-government, beyond all doubt or cavil, of the self-coherency of a system of free labor and equal rights.

  "But he her fears to cease,

  Sent down the meek-eyed Peace.

  She, crowned with olive-green, came softly sliding

  Down the turning sphere,

  His ready harbinger.

  With treble wings the amorous clouds dividing,

  And waving wide her myrtle wand,

  Strikes a universal Peace through sea and land."

  I may add for the interest of the reliqaurian penchant, that I have a poncho, picked up by me in the street, the day we entered Raleigh, dropped by a flying rebel, one of " Wheeler's prowlers' who had remained behind for game, and whose shot I distinctly heard strike a tree at my side. He with others, stood at the head of Fayette Street, by the Capitol yard, and skedaddled in full tilt after Captain Hayes, of Kilpatrick's staff, caught one of them, whom the prompt and fiery Kilpatrick hung upon the spot. The rest escaped — perhaps the one who dropped the poncho with them. If dropped for a decoy, the strategy succeeded; for your correspondent completely demoralized by the prospect of plunder, stopped pursuit, and fell upon, the trophy. Prudence enhanced the plunder, as your correspondent's only weapons were a stubby lead pencil and a very dull pen knife— which latter, moreover, was, I think, lent out to somebody at the time. But the war is over. The song—

  " What shall we do when the war breaks the country up ?"

  is altered by the war correspondents, who ask —

  " What shall we do when the war knocks the army up ?"

  CHAPTER XXIII.

  General Johnston and his Army— The Parolee— What the Rebel General Thinks of the War.

  The North Carolina troops, nearly all left for home before the paroling officers arrived, and large numbers belonging to other States no doubt followed suit; but this does not affect the parole, which, under the system adopted, is done by the officers, each for his own command, the number of which is given, the regimental and company rolls ‘being deposited with the officers. The blanks, of which the following is a copy, all signed by the paroling officer, and then left in sufficient number to supply each command.

  FORM OF BLANK PAROLE,

  Greensborough. North Carolina, 1865.

  In accordance with the terms of the Military Convention, entered into on the 26th day of April, 1866, between General Joseph E. Johnston, commanding the, Confederate Army, and Major General W. T. Sherman, Commanding the United States Army in North Carolina, has given his solemn obligation not to take up arms against the Government of the United States until released from this obligation; and is permitted to return to his home, not to be disturbed by the United States authorities so long as he observe this obligation and obey the laws in force where he may reside.

  C. S. A. Commanding.

  U. S. A. Special Commissioner

  GENERAL OFFICERS PAROLED.

  Lieutenant General W. J. Hardee.

  Lieutenant General S. D. Lee.

  Lieutenant General Hoke.

  Lieutenant General D. H. Hill.

  Major General B. T. Cheatham.

  Major General Brown.

  Major General Bates.

  Major General C. L. Stevenson,

  Brigadier General M. C. Butler.

  Brigadier General Wright.

  Brigadier General Govan.

  Brigadier General Kirkland.

  Brigadier General Smith.

  Brigadier General Clingman.

  Brigadier General T. EL Sharp.

  Brigadier General R. Henderson.

  Brigadier General W. F. Brantly.

  Brigadier General Pettus.

  Brigadier General J. B. Palmer.

  Brigadier General A. H. Colquitt.

  Colonel Commanding Brigade, Foster.

  Colonel Commanding Brigade, Lyon.

  Colonel Commanding Brigade, Howell.

  Colonel Commanding Brigade, Phillips.

  Lieutenant Colonel Commanding Brigade, Rious.

  STEWART’S CORPS

  Lieutenant General A. P;Stewart.

  Major General W. W. Loring.

  Major General Patten Anderson.

  W. S. Featherstone, C. M. Shelly, Lowery, Brigade Commanders, Loring's Division.

  Colonel William Sutler, Colonel J. B.
Brown, Commanding Brigades, Anderson's Division.

  walthal's division.

  Brigadier General WalthaL

  Admiral R. Semmes, 246 meji, Naval Brigade.

  General G. T. P. Beauregard, 54 men, Staff officers.

  Major Smith, 21 men, Quartermaster and Commissary.

  Flag Officer Forrest, 74 men, Naval Brigade. N Captain Taylor, 96 men, Detachment Lee's Army, Lieutenant Burall, 36 men, Signal Corps.

  James Sloan, 27 men, Major and Chief C. S.

  General Butler, 9 men, Staff Cavalry.

  General Logan, 6 men, Staff Cavalry.

  Captain E. M. Holloway, 76 men, Commanding Escort to General Johnston.

  J. F. Caldwell, 21 men, Telegraph Corps.