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to proceed to Washington to hold a conference with President Lincoln upon the subject of the existing war, and with a view of ascertaining upon what terms it may be terminated, in pursuance of the course indicated by him in his letter to Mr. Blair, of January 18, 1865, of which we presume you have a copy, and if not we wish to see you in person, if convenient, and to confer with you upon the subject.

"Very respectfully, yours,

(Signed,)

"ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS, “J. A. CAMPBELL,

"R. M. T. HUNTER.'"

“I have sent directions to receive these gentlemen, and expect to have them at my quarters this evening, awaiting your instructions. "U. S. GRANT, "Lieutenant-General Commanding Armies U. S."

This, it will be perceived, transferred Gen. Ord's agency in the matter to Gen. Grant. I resolved, however, to send Maj. Eckert forward with his message, and accordingly telegraphed Gen. Grant as follows, to-wit:

[Telegram-Copy.]

35.}

"EXECUTIVE MANSION,
"WASHINGTON, January 31, 1865.

"Lieut.-Gen. Grant, City Point, Virginia:

"A messenger is coming to you on the business contained in your dispatch. Detain the gentlemen in comfortable quarters until he arrives, and then act upon the message he brings as far as applicable, it having been made up to pass through Gen. Ord's hands, and when the gentlemen were supposed to be beyond our lines.

(Signed,)

Sent in cipher, at 1.30 P. M.

"A. LINCOLN."

When Major Eckert departed, he bore with him a letter of the Secretary to Gen. Grant, as follows, to-wit:

[Letter-Copy.]

"WAR DEPARTMENT,
"WASHINGTON, January 30, 1865.

"Lieut.-Gen. Grant, Commanding, etc.:

}

"GENERAL: The President desires that you will please procure for the bearer, Major Thomas T. Eckert, an interview with

Messrs. Stephens, Hunter and Campbell; and if, on his return to you, he requests it, pass them through the lines to Fortress Monroe by such route, and under such military precautions as you may deem prudent, giving them protection and comfortable quarters while there; and that you let none of this have any effect upon your movements or plans. "By order of the President.

(Signed)

"EDWIN M. STANTON,

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Secretary of War."

Supposing the proper point to be then reached, I dispatched the Secretary of State with the following instructions, Major Eckert, however, going ahead of him:

" EXECUTIVE MANSION, "WASHINGTON, January 31, 1865. "Hon. Wm. H. Seward, Secretary of State:

}

"You will proceed to Fortress Monroe, Virginia, there to meet and informally confer with Messrs. Stephens, Hunter and Campbell, on the basis of my letter to F. P. Blair, Esq., of January 18, 1865, a copy of which you have.

"You will make known to them that three things are indispensable, to wit:

"1. The restoration of the national authority throughout all the States.

"2. No receding by the Executive of the United States, on the slavery question, from the position assumed thereon in the late annual message to Congress, and in preceding documents. "3. No cessation of hostilities short of an end of the war, and the disbanding of all forces hostile to the Government.

"You will inform them that all propositions of theirs not inconsistent with the above, will be considered and passed upon in a spirit of sincere liberality. You will hear all they have to say, and report it to me.

"You will not assume to definitely consummate anything." ABRAHAM LINCOLN.'

"Yours, etc.,

On the day of its date the following telegram was sent to Gen. Grant:

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"Lieut.-Gen. Grant, City Point, Va.:

"Let nothing which is transpiring change, hinder, or delay

your military movements or plans.

(Signed)

Sent in cipher at 1.30 A. M.

"A. LINCOLN.”

Afterward the following dispatch was received from Gen. Grant:

[In cipher.]

The following telegram received at Washington, 2.30 P. M., Feb. 1, 1865:

"FROM CITY Point, Va.,

“ Feb. 1—2.30 P. M.

}

"His Excellency A. Lincoln, President of the United States: "Your dispatch received; there will be no armistice in consequence of the presence of Mr. Stephens and others within our lines. The troops are kept in readiness to move at the shortest notice, if occasion should justify it.

"U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-Gen."

To notify Major Eckert that the Secretary of State would be at Fortress Monroe, and to put them in communication, the following dispatch was sent :

[Telegram-Copy.]

"WAR DEPARTMENT, "WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 1, 1865. "Major T. T. Eckert, care Gen. Grant, City Point Va.:

}

"Call at Fortress Monroe, and put yourself under direction of Mr. S., whom you will find there.

(Signed,)

Sent in cipher at 5.30 P. M.

"A. LINCOLN."

On the morning of the 2d inst., the following telegrams were received by me respectively from the Secretary of State and Major Eckert:

"FORT MONROE, Va., "11.30 P. M., February, 1, 1865.

"The President of the United States:

}

"Arrived at ten (10) this evening. Richmond party not "WM. H. SEWARD."

here. I remain here.

Received 4.30 A. M., Feb. 2, in cipher.

"CITY POINT, VA., 10 P. M., Feb. 1, 1865. "His Excellency A. Lincoln, President of the United States: "I have the honor to report the delivery of your communication, and my letter, at four fifteen (4.15) this afternoon, to which I received a reply at six (6) P. M., but not satisfactory. "At eight (8) P. M. the following note addressed to Gen. Grant, was received:

"CITY POINT, VA., Feb. 1, 1865.

"To Lieutenant General Grant:

"SIR: We desire to go to Washington to confer informally with the President personally in reference to the matters mentioned in his letter to Mr. Blair, of the eighteenth (18th) January ultimo, without any personal compromise on any question in the letter.

"We have the permission to do so from the authorities in Richmond. (Signed,)

"Very respectfully yours,

"ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS,
“‘R. M. T. HUNTER,
"J. A. CAMPBELL.'

"At nine-thirty (9.30) P. M. I notified them that they could not proceed further unless they complied with the terms expressed in my letter. The point of meeting designated in above note, would not, in my opinion, be insisted upon; think Fortress Monroe would be acceptable. Having complied with my instructions, I will return to Washington to-morrow, unless otherwise ordered.

Received in cipher, Feb. 2d.

“THOS. T. ECKERT,

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Major and A. D. C."

On reading this dispatch of Major Eckert I was about to recall him and the Secretary of State, when the following telegram of Gen. Grant to the Secretary of War was shown me :

[In cipher.]

The following telegram received at Washington 4.35 A. M., Feb. 2, 1865:

"FROM CITY POINT, VA., Feb. 1, 10.30 P. M. "Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War

"Now that the interview between Major Eckert, under his written instructions, and Mr. Stephens and party has ended, I will state confidentially, but not officially, to become a matter of record, that I am convinced, upon conversation with Messrs. Stephens and Hunter, that their intentions are good and their desire sincere to restore peace and Union. I have not felt myself at liberty to express even views of my own or to account for my reticency. This has placed me in an awkward position, which I could have avoided by not seeing them in the first instance. I fear now their going back without any expression from any one in authority will have a bad influence.

At the

same time, I recognize the difficulties in the way of receiving these informal commissioners at this time and do not know what to recommend. I am sorry, however, that Mr. Lincoln can not have an interview with the two named in this dispatch, if not with all three, now within our lines. Their letter to me was all that the President's instructions contemplated to secure their safe-conduct, if they had used the same language to Major Eckert.

(Signed,)

“U. S. GRANT, "Lieutenant-General."

This dispatch of Gen. Grant changed my purpose; and, accordingly, I telegraphed him and the Secretary of State respectively as follows:

"

“WAR DEPARTMENT,

« WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb 2, 1865.

"Lieut.-Gen. Grant, City Point, Va.:

}

"Say to the gentlemen I will meet them at Fortress Monroe

as soon as I can get there.

(Signed,)

Sent in cipher at 9 A. M.

"A. LINCOLN."

Before starting the following dispatches were shown me. proceeded, nevertheless:

"OFFICE U. S. MILITARY TELEGRAPH,

" WAR DEPARTMENT.

}

I

"The following cipher telegram received at Washington, Feb. 2, 1865:

"FROM CITY POINT, VA.,
“ 9 A. M., Feb. 2, 1865.

"Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Fortress Monroe: [Copy to Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War, Washington.]

"The gentlemen have accepted the proposed terms, and will leave for Fort Monroe at 9.30 A. M.

"U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-Gen."

On the night of the 2d, I reached Hampton Roads, found the Secretary of State and Major Eckert on a steamer anchored off shore, and learned of them that the Richmond gentlemen were on another steamer, also anchored off shore in the Roads, and that the Secretary of State had not yet seen or communi

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