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.