Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas	Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman

	Headquarters, Military Division of the Mississippi, In the Field, Savannah River, Geo., May 2 1865
Maj. Gen. Geo. H. Thomas. Comdg. Dept. of the Cumberland. General.      Capt. Hosea is here en route for Nashville from Genl. Wilson now at Macon. He got possession of that place just as he learned of the Suspension of hostilities that proceeded the final surrender of Genl. Johnstons army at Greensboro. I have sent orders to Wilson to parole his prisoners there on the same terms as presented to Johnston & Lee, and to return to the neighborhood of Decatur Alabama and thence report to you or me. I came to Savannah from Raleigh to send stores up to Augusta by Boat for Wilson & to take steps to occupy Augusta. I will have much to tell you at some future time of the details of my negotiations with Johnston, which have been misconstrued by the People at the North, but I can afford to let them settle down before telling all the truth. At my first interview with Johnston he admitted the Confederate Cause was lost, and that it would be murder for him to allow any more conflict, but he asked me to help him all I could to prevent his Army and People breaking up into Guerilla Bands. I deemed that so desirable that I did make terms subject to the approval of the President which maybe deemed too liberal. But the more I reflect the more satisfied I am that by dealing with the People of the South magnanimously we will restore % of them at once to the Condition of good Citizens leaving us only to deal with the remainder. But my terms were not approved and Johnstons present surrender only applies to the troops in his present command viz. East of Chattahoochee.      The Boat is in motion & I write with great difficulty and will wait a more convenient season to give you fuller details. Truly your friend
W. T. Sherman Maj. Gen. Comdg.