North Carolina

[jackt62]

After Lee's surrender, Johnston's actions seem calculated to bring the conflict to an end with the best terms possible

Exactly! Johnston knew the war was over by then and had already communicated that message to Davis. His negotiation with Sherman was predicated on trying to achieve the best political terms possible for the south and he certainly got the better of the deal with Sherman on those grounds. Fortunately for the Union, that agreement had to be signed off in Washington, which it was not.