I will add that I really desire to save the people of North Carolina the damage they would sustain by the march of this army through the central or western parts of the State.
I am, with respect, your obedient servant, W.T.SHERMAN, Major-General.
I sent my aide-de-camp, Colonel McCoy, up to Durham's Station with this letter, with instructions to receive the answer, to telegraph its contents back to me at Raleigh, and to arrange for an interview.

On the 16th I received a reply from General Johnston, agreeing to meet me the next day at a point midway between our advance at Durham and his rear at Hillsboro'.

I ordered a car and locomotive to be prepared to convey me up to Durham's at eight o'clock of the morning of April 17th.

Just as we were entering the car, the telegraph-operator, whose office was up-stairs in the depot-building, ran down to me and said that he was at that instant of time receiving a most important dispatch in cipher from Morehead City, which I ought to see.

I held the train for nearly half an hour, when he returned with the message translated and written out.
It was from Mr.Stanton, announcing the assassination of Mr.
Lincoln, the attempt on the life of Mr.Seward and son, and a suspicion that a like fate was designed for General Grant and all the principal officers of the Government.