delusion that by pressing the conscript act and bringing out all absentees, they could yet prolong the struggle, even if they had to cross the Mississippi and join with Kirby Smith.  General Johnston urged in his and General Beauregard’s name its utter impracticability, and informed the President plainly and positively that it was useless to continue the struggle—­that they had as well abandon all hope of any other issue than that which they could gain through the Federal authorities, and besought Mr. Davis to open negotiations looking to peace—­that he was yet the executive and head of the Confederate Government; that he was the proper one to commence such negotiations.  This Mr. Davis refused, saying the Federal authorities would refuse to treat with him.  Then General Johnston proposed doing so in his own name.  This was agreed to, and a letter written by Mr. Mallory, he being the best penman in the group, and signed and sent by General Johnston to General Sherman.  The letter recapitulated the results in the army in the last few days, changing the status of the two armies and the needless amount of bloodshed and devastation of property that the continuance of the struggle would produce, and asked for a conference looking to an armistice in the armies until the civil government could settle upon terms of peace.  The letter was sent to General Hampton, and by him to the Federal commander the next day.  General Sherman acknowledged the receipt of the letter on the 14th, and it reached General Johnston on the 16th, agreeing to a cessation of hostilities until further notice.  General Sherman expressed in his letter a great desire to spare the people of North Carolina the devastation and destruction the passing of his army through the State would necessitate.  When it began to be noised about in the camp that the army was about to be surrendered, the soldiers became greatly excited.  The thought of grounding their arms to an enemy never before entered their minds, and when the news came of a surrender the greatest apprehension and dread seized all.  So different the end to their expectation.  None could even think of the future without a shudder.  Some anticipated a term in Federal prisons; others, the higher officers, a military trial; others thought of their private property and their arms.  Even in a prison camp, where our soldiers would be kept confined under a Federal guard, all was mystery and uncertainty.  The wives and helpless children, left in the rear to the mercy of the negroes (now for the first time known to be free), agitated the minds of not a few.  Men began to leave the army by twos and by squads.  Guards were placed on all roads and around camps, and the strictest orders were given against leaving the army without leave.  Cavalrymen in great numbers had mounted their horses and rode away.  General Sherman sent guards to all fords and bridges to examine all the paroles of the troops of Lee now swarming through the country.