Papers Between Sherman and Johnston. 53
you & I and all good men desire, the return to their homes of the officers & men composing your Army ; to let you have of his stores ten days rations for twenty five thousand men. We have abundance of provisions at Morehead City, and if you send trains here, they may go down with our trains, and return to Greensboro with the rations specified. Col. Wright did intend to send his construction train up to-day, but I did not get up his carpenters in time.
The train with square timber, & carpenters will go up in the morning, and I think by the morning of the 29th, your trains could run down on the road, and fall in with ours of the 30th, I can hardly estimate how many animals fit for farm purposes will be "loaned" to the farmers ; but enough, I hope to ensure a crop.
I can hardly commit myself how far Commerce will be free, but I think the Cotton still in the country and the crude tur- pentine, will make money with which to procure supplies. Gen- eral Schofield, in a few days, will be able to arrange all such matters.
I wish you would send the enclosed parcel for General Wilson, as it contains the orders 65 & 66, & instructions to release all his prisoners on the conditions of our convention.
Now that war is over, I am as willing to risk my person and reputation as heretofore, to heal the wounds made by the past war, & I think my feeling is shared by the whole Army. I also think a similar feeling actuates the mass of your Army, but there are some unthinking young men, who have no sense or experience, that, unless controlled, may embroil their neighbors. If we are forced to deal with them, it must be with severity, but I hope they will be managed by the people of the South.
I am, with respect,
Y'r ob't serv't.,
(Signed) W. T. Sherman, Official: Maj. Gen'l. U. S. A.
Kinloch Falconer, ■ A. A. G.
