GENERAL GRANT HASTENS TO WASHINGTON. 551 ing back toward Hillsboro'. The enemy had destroyed his small navy-yard at Halifax, on the Roanoke, in consequence of the surrender of Lee. A ram and a gunboat, partially completed, were burned. On the 15th, news came to the same place that Governor Vance was captured by our cavalry between Hillsboro' and Raleigh, on the 13th instant. After the terms of the surrender were arranged, General Grant immediately left the army for Washington, without stopping to visit the fallen Capital, or pausing longer by the way than was requisite for refreshment. On the 13th of April, 1865, he reached Washington, established his head-quarters, and went to the War Department, where he met the President and Secretary Stanton. He assured them that the rebellion was virtually at an end, and that the Government might at once cut down its expenses. That evening the Secretary telegraphed the following important dispatch northward, the first that bore to the nation the welcome news that peace was at hand :— To Major-General Dix, New York: WAB DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, The Department, after mature consideration and consultation with the Lieutenant-General upon the results of the recent campaign, has come to the following determinations, which will be carried into effect by appropriate orders to be immediately issued. First.--To stop all drafting and recruiting in the loyal States. . Second. To curtail purchases for arms, ammunition, quartermaster and commissary supplies, and reduce the military establishment in its several branches. Third.-To reduce the number of general and staff officers to the actual necessities of the service. Fourth. To remove all military restrictions upon trade and commerce, so far as may be consistent with public safety. As soon as these measures can be put in operation, it will be made known by public order. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. General Grant remained at the Capital, to assist the Government in reducing the expenses of the military departments. To gratify the multitude, and enjoy needed relaxation, the President attended Ford's Theater on the evening of April 14th. He was no patron of dissipation, or of amuse ments which are represented by the corrupt modern stage. He said, when hesitating about going that night, “If I do not go, the people will be disappointed." He went, and the telegrams which flew over the land told the result. Major-General Dix, New York: War Department, WASHINGTON This evening, at about 9:30 P. M., at Ford's Theatre, the President, while sitting in his private box with Mrs. Lincoln, Miss Harris, and Major Rathburn, was shot by an assassin, who suddenly entered the box and approached behind the President. The assassin then leaped upon the stage, brandishing a large dagger or knife, and made his escape in the rear of the theatre. The pistol ball entered the back of the President's head and penetrated nearly through the head. The wound is mortal. The President has been insensible ever since it was infiicted, and is now dying. About the same hour, an assassin, whether the same or not, entered Mr. Seward's apartments, and, under pretense of having a prescription was shown to the Secretary's sick chamber. The assassin immediately rushed to the bed and inflicted two or three stabs on the throat and two on the face. It is hoped the wounds may not be mortal. My apprehension is that they will prove fatal. The nurse alarmed Mr. Frederick Seward, who was in an adjoining room, and he hastened to the door of his father's room, when he met the assassin, who inflicted upon him one or more dangerous wounds. The recovery of Frederick Seward is doubtful. It is not probable that the President will live through the night. General Grant and wife were advertised to be at the theatre last evening, but he started to Burlington at six o'clock. At a Cabinet meeting, at which General Grant was present, the subject of the state of the country and the prospect of a speedy peace were discussed. The President was very cheerful and hopeful, and spoke very kindly of General Lee and others of the Confederacy, and of the establishment of government in Virginia. All the members of the Cabinet, except Mr. Seward, are now in attendance upon the President. I have seen Mr. Seward, but he and Frederick were both unconscious. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. Major-General Dix : WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, April 15 Abraham Lincoln died this morning at twenty-two minutes after seven EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. o'clock. The nation was stunned; then broken-hearted. Such SURRENDER OF GENERAL JOHNSTON. 553 demonstrations of grief have no parallel in the world's history-so manifold, profound, and general, attending the tidings even in distant lands. The funeral ceremonies on the 19th were of the most impressive character. The evidence adduced at the trial of Payne and his associate conspirators clearly proved that it was their design to murder General Grant during the evening. The dagger which Booth flourished was undoubtedly intended for him. Providence did not permit the additional crime, and General Grant was spared to his country. On learning of the assassination of President Lincoln, he returned to Washington, attended the funeral of his noble friend, and was one of the mourners who followed the remains to the Capitol. During these scenes, General Sherman had opened negotiations with General Johnston for the formal surrender of his army. But the terms, which, without the assassin's exhibition of the animus of the rebellion, would have been deemed too liberal, though undesignedly so by the brave Sherman, were rejected by the Government, in the hands of the new President, with feelings of horror and grief, awakened by the terrible tragedy. General Grant was ordered to take the field, and on April 26th followed the surrender of General Johnston to General Sherman, on the same conditions as those accorded to Lee. The transaction finely illustrated the magnanimity of General Grant's char acter, and his high opinion of the gifted hero of the Georgia campaign. The Lieutenant-General in a few modest words, on April 26th, recounted the last great capitulation :"Johnston surrendered the forces in his command, embracing all from here to Chattahoochie, to General Sherman, on the basis agreed upon between Lee and myself for the Army of Northern Virginia." The victorious leader then returned to Washington, and two days after the date of his dispatch, under his direction, was issued the subjoined order, along with another, directing the corps of the Potomac Army to march by way of Richmond to Washington for a grand review, to be followed by the disbanding of the troops. |