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containing the following extraordinary communications：
＇First Bulletin＇
WAR DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON； April 22； 1885。
Yesterday evening a bearer of dispatches arrived from General Sherman。 An agreement for a suspension of hostilities； and a memorandum of what is called a basiS for peace； had been entered into on the 18th inSt。 by General Sherman； with the rebel General Johnston。 Brigadier…General Breckenridge was present at the conference。
A cabinet meeting was held at eight o'clock in the evening； at which the action of General Sherman was disapproved by the President； by the Secretary of War； by General Grant； and by every member of the cabinet。 General Sherman was ordered to resume hostilities immediately； and was directed that the instructions given by the late President； in the following telegram； which was penned by Mr。 Lincoln himself； at the Capitol； on the night of the 3d of March； were approved by President Andrew Johnson； and were reiterated to govern the action of military commanders。
On the night of the 3d of March； while President Lincoln and his cabinet were at the Capitol； a telegram from General Grant was brought to the Secretary of War； informing him that General Lee had requested an interview or conference； to make an arrangement for terms of peace。 The letter of General Lee was published in a letter to Davis and to the rebel Congress。 General Grant's telegram was submitted to Mr。 Lincoln； who； after pondering a few minutes； took up his pen and wrote with his own hand the following reply； which he submitted to the Secretary of State and Secretary of War。 It was then dated； addressed； and signed； by the Secretary of War； and telegraphed to General Grant：
WASHINGTON； March 3； 1865…12 P。M。
Lieutenant…General GRANT：
The President directs me to say to you that he wishes you to have no conference with General Lee； unless it be for the capitulation of General Lee's army； or on some minor or purely military matter。 He instructs me to say that you are not to decide； discuss； or confer upon any political questions。 Such questions the President holds in his own hands； and will submit them to no military conferences or conventions。
Meantime you are to press to the utmost your military advantages。
EDWIN M。 STANTON； Secretary of War。
The orders of General Sherman to General Stoneman to withdraw from Salisbury and join him will probably open the way for Davis to escape to Mexico or Europe with his plunder； which is reported to be very large； including not only the plunder of the Richmond banks； but previous accumulations。
A dispatch received by this department from Richmond says： 〃It is stated here； by respectable parties； that the amount of specie taken south by Jeff。 Davis and his partisans is very large； including not only the plunder of the Richmond banks； but previous accumulations。 They hope； it is said； to make terms with General Sherman； or some other commander； by which they will be permitted； with their effects； including this gold plunder； to go to Mexico or Europe。 Johnaton'S negotiations look to this end。〃
After the cabinet meeting last night； General Grant started for North Carolina； to direct operations against Johnston's army。
EDWIN M。 STANTON； Secretary of War。
Here followed the terms； and Mr。 Stanton's ten reasons for rejecting them。
The publication of this bulletin by authority was an outrage on me； for Mr。 Stanton had failed to communicate to me in advance； as was his duty； the purpose of the Administration to limit our negotiations to purely military matters； but； on the contrary； at Savannah he had authorized me to control all matters； civil and military。
By this bulletin； he implied that I had previously been furnished with a copy of his dispatch of March 3d to General Grant； which was not so； and he gave warrant to the impression； which was sown broadcast； that I might be bribed by banker's gold to permit Davis to escape。 Under the influence of this； I wrote General Grant the following letter of April 28th； which has been published in the Proceedings of the Committee on the Conduct of the War。
I regarded this bulletin pf Mr。 Stanton as a persona） and official insult； which I afterward publicly resented。
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN THE FIELD； RALEIGH； NORTH CAROLINA； April 28；1865。
Lieutenant…General U。 S。 GRANT； General…in…Chief； Washington； D。 C。
GENERAL： Since you left me yesterday； I have seen the New York Times of the 24th； containing a budget of military news； authenticated by the signature of the Secretary of War； Hon。 E。 M。 Stanton； which is grouped in such a way as to give the public very erroneous impressions。 It embraces a copy of the basis of agreement between myself and General Johnston； of April 18th； with comments； which it will be time enough to discuss two or three years hence； after the Government has experimented a little more in the machinery by which power reaches the scattered people of the vast country known as the 〃South。〃
In the mean time； however； I did think that my rank （if not past services） entitled me at least to trust that the Secretary of War would keep secret what was communicated for the use of none but the cabinet； until further inquiry could be made； instead of giving publicity to it along with documents which I never saw； and drawing therefrom inferences wide of the truth。 I never saw or had furnished me a copy of President Lincoln's dispatch to you of the 3d of March； nor did Mr。 Stanton or any human being ever convey to me its substance； or any thing like it。 On the contrary； I had seen General Weitzel's invitation to the Virginia Legislature； made in Mr。 incoln's very presence； and failed to discover any other official hint of a plan of reconstruction； or any ideas calculated to allay the fears of the people of the South； after the destruction of their armies and civil authorities would leave them without any government whatever。
We should not drive a people into anarchy； and it is simply impossible for our military power to reach all the masses of their unhappy country。
I confess I did not desire to drive General Johnston's army into bands of armed men； going about without purpose； and capable only of infinite mischief。 But you saw； on your arrival here； that I had my army so disposed that his escape was only possible in a disorganized shape； and as you did not choose to 〃direct military operations in this quarter；〃 I inferred that you were satisfied with the military situation； at all events； the instant I learned what was proper enough； the disapproval of the President； I acted in such a manner as to compel the surrender of General Johnston's whole army on the same terms which you had prescribed to General Lee's army； when you had it surrounded and in your absolute power。
Mr。 Stanton； in stating that my orders to General Stoneman were likely to result in the escape of 〃Mr。 Davis to Mexico or Europe；〃 is in deep error。 General Stoneman was not at 〃Salisbury；〃 but had gone back to 〃Statesville。〃 Davis was between us； and therefore Stoneman was beyoud him。 By turning toward me he was approaching Davis； and； had he joined me as ordered；