Aot - 1865

[larry_cockerham]

April 12, 1865

On the [Steamer] Sumpter, going up the Tombigby River. Demopolis is supposed to be our destination. Having no relief for the engineers or pilots, we stopped about dark at a small place called Jackson and remained there all night. [Steamer] Heroine anchored in the stream just alongside.

James Wilson’s cavalry entered Montgomery, Alabama which had previously been surrendered without a shot being fired. Colonel Cooper's detachments “destroyed the arsenal containing 20,000 stands of small arms, one foundry and moulding shop, a car wheel-foundry, a niter works, the Pensacola and West Point Railroad depot, along with a locomotive, 20 rail cars, and a machine shop containing a number of unfinished cars.”, as per Jerry Keenan in his Wilson’s Cavalry Corps.

[larry_cockerham]

April 13, 1865

Cheatham’s Corps in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

[larry_cockerham]

April 14, 1865 President Abraham Lincoln shot. He died next day.

Good Friday, April 14, 1865, ... Shortly after 10:00 P.M., in the presidential box at Ford's Theater, President Abraham Lincoln was shot by actor John Wilkes Booth. ... General Grant had turned down an invitation to attend, pleading he had to visit his children. It was known there was "chilliness" between Mrs. Lincoln and Mrs. Grant. At the theater ... a pistol shot was heard ... A bullet had gone through the back of the head and lodged near the right eye.... Sec. of War Stanton took charge of the pursuit of Booth and his accomplices as the telegraph wires hummed the awesome news to the nation. General Grant was at Baltimore when informed of the tragedy and he immediately returned to Washington. ...

[larry_cockerham]

April 14, 1865

(Good Friday) Arrived in Demopolis at 12.30 A.M. and after a few hours delay, marched to a camping ground about two miles from the landing. Col. Chas. A. Fuller, 1st La. Arty., in command of all the troops, about sixteen hundred all told. A most miserable camping ground, very low and swampy. No rations issued yet, the command greatly in need of something to eat. Great confusion, no one seems to know his business. The garrisons of McIntosh and Gladden are greatly in want of equipment, etc., for service in the field. What will be our next move, puzzles all.

General James Wilson’s command left Montgomery this day and had a brief skirmish with Buford’s cavalry about 12 miles to the east.

[larry_cockerham]

April 15, 1865 ...

At 7:22 A.M., President Abraham Lincoln died. ... The Cabinet, except for the injured Seward, formally requested Vice-President Andrew Johnson to assume the office of President. At 11:00 A.M. at the Kirkwood Hotel, Chief Justice, Salmon Chase administered the oath in the presence of the Cabinet and congressman.

This day General James Wilson reached Tuskegee, Alabama.

Jefferson Davis authorized Johnston to negotiate terms with Sherman and headed south with a cavalry escort towards Salisbury, North Carolina.

[larry_cockerham]

April 16, 1865

Wilson reached Columbus, Georgia, the site of an important naval ironworks. Rivercraft were repaired and built here in great numbers until the war began drawing to a close. The city was defended by Major General Howell Cobb, former secretary of the US Treasury under President James Buchanan and later the first president of the Confederate Congress. Cobb had a force of only about 3,000 men to defend the otherwise well-fortified city. The fierce battle only lasted a couple of hours. Wilson had a formidable force. The same or next day he captured West Point, Georgia and Fort Tyler.

[larry_cockerham]

April 17, 1865

Generals William T. Sherman and Joseph E. Johnston met at the Bennett House near Durham N.C. A short time before, Sherman had received news of the assassination of the President. Johnston told Sherman it was a great calamity to the South. In their talks the two generals went further than just surrendering Johnstons army. They discussed the terms of an armistice for all the remaining Confederate armies. Sherman later disclaimed going beyond negotiations over Johnston's army but admitted: "it did seem to me that there was presented a chance for peace that might deem valuable to the Government of the United States and was at least worth the few days that would be consumed in reference." They agreed to meet the next day.

Jefferson Davis arrived at Salisbury, North Carolina

[larry_cockerham]

April 18, 1865

[Wilson] Left McDowell’s Landing at 6.30 A.M. on the train for *******n. Arrived safely at *******n at 2 P.M. Drew rations at the depot and marched out two miles from town to camp. All kinds of rumors in circulation about the capture of Lee’s army and the death of President Lincoln and Mr. Seward. About sixty men of the regiment sent to the hospital in the last two days. A few men desert every (Page 16) night. Full rations issued to the troops now and a small ration of coffee and sugar. Gold sold today at one hundred for one, and greenbacks at seventy-five for one.

[larry_cockerham]

April 18, 1865

Jefferson Davis spent two weeks in Charlotte, NC. He was giving a speech this day when he received word of Lincoln’s assassination.

[larry_cockerham]

April 18, 1865

After more talk at Durham N.C., Sherman and Johnston signed "Memorandum or basis of agreement." The highly controversial document call for an armistice by all armies in the field. Confederate forces were to be disbanded and to deposit their arms in the state arsenals. Each man was to agree to cease from war and agree by state and federal authority. The President of the United States was to recognize the existing state governments when their officials took oaths to the United States. Reestablishment of Federal courts would take place. People were to be guaranteed rights of person and property. The United states would not disturb the people of the South as long as they lived in peace. And general amnesty for Confederates.

The generals recognized that they were not fully empowered to carry out such far-reaching measures and that the necessary authority must be obtained. It was clear Sherman went far beyond Grant at Appomattox. He was actually entering into reconstruction policy. He sent the terms to Grant and Halleck, asking approval by the President. Sherman also offered to take charge of carrying out these terms. Later he was to deny any ursupation of power on his part and to claim the agreement was according to Mr. Lincoln's wishes as Sherman knew them.

President Davis [of the Confederacy] and his disconsolate party slowly moved southward to Concord N.C.