STONEMAN'S RAID TO SALISBURY, N. C. 751 This force was charged by our cavalry, and instantly routed: all its guns being taken, with 1,364 prisoners. The remainder were chased several miles until utterly dispersed. conclusive, and showed it when he said, in parting, to his soldiers, "We have gone through the War together." He did not overrate its decisive importance. Before returning to Sherman-Vast magazines of ammunition and whom we left at Goldsboro', facing Johnston, who was at Smithfield, north of him, covering Raleigh—we must glance at an effective blow dealt at the scanty resources remaining to the Confederacy by Thomas's cavalry, dispatched, under Stoneman, from East Tennessee. dépôts of provisions, clothing, medicines, &c., were found in Salisbury and destroyed, with 10,000 small arms, 4 cotton factories, 7,000 bales of cotton, the railroads, &c., &c. After spending two days in this work, Stoneman returned thence by Slatersville, N. C., to Jonesboro'," East Tennessee; in defiance of Sherman's urgent orders to remain in North Carolina, and afford him that aid which his weakness in cavalry re Gen. Stoneman, after his return to Knoxville from his successful Winter expedition into south-western Virginia, was directed' to make a fresh advance with his cavalry, south-west-quired. ward into South Carolina, in aid of Sherman remained quiescent at Sherman's movement through that Goldsboro', rëclothing and refitting State. Before he had started, how his army, until electrified" by the ever, Sherman had made such pro- news of Grant's successes at Five gress as not to need his assistance; Forks, with the resulting captures of so Grant directed him to advance Petersburg and Richmond. He now almost eastward, destroying the Vir- impelled a determined advance" ginia and Tennessee railroad, so against Johnston, who, with 40,000 nearly to Lynchburg as might be. men, still lay at Smithfield; which Moving eastward to Boone, N. C., was entered, at 10 A. M. next day, by he there turned northward down the our 14th corps, supported by the valley of New river to Wytheville, 20th: Johnston, burning the bridge Va.; whence he swept down the over the Neuse, retreating on Raleigh railroad, disabling it almost to Lynch- without a struggle; and, having the burg; then turning nearly south, and use of the railroad, which he destroystriking the North Carolina railroad ed behind him, was thus able to keep between Danville and Greensboro'; out of the way. But the news of destroying some dépôts of supplies, Lee's surrender, here received, caused and taking 400 prisoners. Evading Sherman to drop his trains, and push Greensboro', he moved thence south- on through Raleigh" in a heavy westward on Salisbury-a Rebel rain; his right wing following Johnprison-camp which was defended ston's line of retreat by Hillsboro' at Grant's creek, 10 miles out, by toward Greensboro', while his left 3,000 Rebels under Gen. W. M. Gar- took a more southerly route by Pittsdiner, with 14 guns directed by Col. boro' and Ashboro', in anticipation. (formerly Lt.-General) Pemberton. of Johnston's following the railroad April 12. April 18. "April 6. 12 April 10. 13 April 13. Feb. 1. "March 20. 9 10 south-westward from Greensborough North Carolina the damages they would to Salisbury; and all were pressing keenly forward, intent on a battle or a capitulation by the enemy, when he received from his outposts the following overture: "HEADQ'RS IN THE FIELD, April 14, 1865. "Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, Command ing United States Forces: "GENERAL-The results of the recent campaigns in Virginia have changed the relative military condition of the belligerents. I am therefore induced to address you, in this form, the inquiry whether, in order to stop the further effusion of blood and devastation of property, you are willing to make a temporary suspension of active operations, and to communicate to Lt.-Gen. Grant, commanding the armies of the United States, the request that he will take like action in regard to other armies, the object being to permit the civil authorities to enter into the needful arrangements to terminate the existing war. "I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, “J. E. JOHNSTON, General." The prompt response was as follows: "HEADQ'RS MIL. DIV. OF THE MISS., IN THE FIELD, RALEIGH, N. C., April 14, 1865. "Gen. J. E. JOHNSTON, Commanding Con federate Army: "GENERAL-I have this moment received your communication of this date. I am fully empowered to arrange with you any terms for the suspension of further hostilities as between the armies commanded by you and those commanded by myself, and will be willing to confer with you to that end. I will limit the advance of my main column to-morrow to Morrisville, and the cavalry to the University, and expect that you will also maintain the present position of your forces until each has notice of a failure to agree. "That a basis of action may be had, I undertake to abide by the same terms and conditions as were made by Gens. Grant and Lee at Appomattox Court House, on the 9th instant, relative to our two armies; and, furthermore, to obtain from Gen. Grant an order to suspend the movements of any troops from the direction of Virginia. Gen. Stoneman is under my command, and my order will suspend any devastation or destruction contemplated by him. I will add that I really desire to save the people of sustain by the march of this army through central or western parts of the State. "I am, with respect, your obedient servant, W. T. SHERMAN, Maj.-Gen." Our forces were now halted; but no response from Johnston was received next day; though Maj. McCoy, of Sherman's staff, remained with Kilpatrick in the advance to receive one. Gen. Sherman had already written to the War Department, on the receipt of Johnston's overture: "I send copies of a correspondence begun with Gen. Johnston, which I think will be followed by terms of capitulation. I will accept the same terms as Gen. Grant gave Gen. Lee, and be careful not to complicate any points of civil policy." Late on the 16th, Gen. Sherman received, through Kilpatrick, a message from Wade Hampton, stating that Johnston desired a meeting at 10 A. M. next day at Durham's station; which was promptly accorded; Sherman only changing the time to 12 M. The meeting took place accordingly; and was adjourned over to next day-Johnston requiring and urging conditions of general pacification which Sherman felt that he had no power to guarantee. Finally, however, at the second meeting, his scruples were overcome; and he was persuaded to sign the following Memorandum or Basis of Agreement. "1st. The contending armies now in the field to maintain the status quo until notice is given by the commanding General of any one to his opponent, and reasonable time, say forty-eight hours, allowed. "2d. The Confederate armies now in existence to be disbanded and conducted to their several State capitals, there to deposit their arms and public property in the State arsenal; and each officer and man to execute and file an agreement to cease from acts of war, and to abide the action of both State and Federal authorities. The number of arms and munitions of war to be reported to the chief of ordnance at Washington eity, |