A rare official copy of General Sherman’s Field Order #65, in pencil, made by a Confederate adjutant general, three pages on two adjoining sheets, 4.5 x 7.5, April 27, 1865. Headed at the top “Head Qurs Military Div of the Miss, In the field, Raleigh, N.C.” In full: “The General commanding announces a further suspension of hostilities and a final agreement with Gen. Johnston which terminates the war as to the armies under his command and the country east of the Chattahoochee. Copies of the terms of convention will be furnished Major-Gens. Schofield, Gillmore, and Wilson, who are specially charged with the South and at Macon and Western Georgia.
Capt. Joseph Myers, Ordnance Department USA, is hereby designated to receive the arms, &c., at Greensboro, and any commanding officer of a post may receive the arms of any detachment and see that they are properly stored and accounted for.
Genl. Schofield will receive at once the necessary blanks and supply the other army commanders that uniformity may prevail and great care must be taken that all terms and stipulations on our part are fulfilled with the most scrupulous fidelity, whilst those imposed on our hitherto enemies be received in a spirit becoming a brave and generous army.
Army commanders may at once loan to the inhabitants such of the captured mules, horses, wagons and vehicles as can be spared from immediate use and the Comdg Generals of armies may issue provisions, animals or any public supplies that can be spared to relieve present wants and to encourage the inhabitants to renew their peaceful pursuits and restore relations of friendship among our fellow-citizens and countrymen.
Foraging will forthwith cease, and when necessity or long marches compel the taking of forage, provisions or any kind of private property, compensation will be made on the spot, or when the disbursing officers are not provided with funds, vouchers will be given in proper form payable at the nearest military department. By order of Maj. Genl. W. T. Sherman, Sgd L. M. Dayton A.A.J.” Also noted at the conclusion, “Official, Robt. Grant AAG.”
In good to very good condition, with fragile central horizontal and vertical folds, a few small fold separations and areas of paper loss, dampstaining extending out from folds and edges, uniform moderate toning, and all writing a shade or two light, but completely legible.
Following Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, Sherman met with Johnston in Durham, North Carolina, to negotiate a Confederate surrender. Sherman conditionally agreed to generous terms with both political and military provisions. Displeased that Sherman had waded into the political aspect of the war’s outcome, the government in Washington refused to approve his agreement, and Sherman was pilloried by Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, who accused him of accepting bribes to side with the Confederates and allow Jefferson Davis to escape. Peace was finally negotiated on April 26, 1865, when Johnston agreed to strictly military terms of surrender in what was the largest capitulation of the war. An extraordinary document marking the close of the Civil War. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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