Afterward, by my direction, the Secretary of War telegraphed General Ord as follows, to wit: WAR DEPARTMENT, January 30, 1865. 10:30 A. M. By direction of the President, you are instructed to inform the three gentlemen, Messrs. Stephens, Hunter, and Campbell, that a messenger will be despatched to them at or near where they now are without unnecessary delay. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. MAJOR-GENERAL E. O. C. ORD, Headquarters Army of the James. Afterward I prepared and put into the hands of Major Thomas T. Eckert the following instructions and message: EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 30, 1865. MAJOR THOMAS T. ECKERT. Sir: You will proceed with the documents placed in your hands, and, on reaching General Ord, will deliver him the letter addressed to him by the Secretary of War; then, by General Ord's assistance, procure an interview with Messrs. Stephens, Hunter, and Campbell, or any of them. Deliver to him or them the paper on which your own letter is written. Note on the copy which you retain the time of delivery and to whom delivered. Receive their answer in writing, waiting a reasonable time for it, and which, if it contain their decision to come through without further condition, will be your warrant to ask General Ord to pass them through, as directed in the letter of the Secretary of War to him. If, by their answer, they decline to come, or propose other terms, do not have them passed through. And this being your whole duty, return and report to me. MESSRS. ALEX. H. STEPHENS, J. A. CAMPbell, AND R. M. T. HUNTER. Gentlemen: I am instructed by the President of the United States to place this paper in your hands, with the information that if you pass through the United States military lines, it will be understood that you do so for the purpose of an informal conference on the basis of the letter, a copy of which is on the reverse side of this sheet, and that, if you choose to pass on such understanding, and so notify me in writing, I will procure the commanding general to pass. you through the lines and to Fortress Monroe, under such military precautions as he may deem prudent, and at which place you will be met in due time by some person or persons, for the purpose of such informal conference. And, further, that you shall have protection, safe-conduct, and safe return in all events. THOMAS T. ECKERT, Major and Aide-de-camp. CITY POINT, VA., February 1, 1865. F. P. BLAIR, Esq. WASHINGTON, January 18, 1865. Sir: You having shown me Mr. Davis's letter to you of the 12th instant, you may say to him that I have constantly been, am now, and shall continue ready to receive any agent whom, or any other influential person now resisting the national authority, may informally send to me, with the view of securing peace to the people of our one common country. Yours, etc., A. LINCOLN. Afterward, but before Major Eckert had departed, the following despatch was received from General Grant: (Cipher.) (Private and confidential.) The following telegram, received at Washington, January 31, 1865: CITY POINT, Va., January 31, 1865. 10:30 A. M. HIS EXCELLENCY, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States: The following communication was received here last evening: PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA, LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, Commanding Armies of the United States. Sir: We desire to pass your lines under safe-conduct, and 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, 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 of the This, it will be perceived, transferred General Ord's agency in the matter to General Grant. I resolved, however, to send Major Eckert forward with his message, and accordingly telegraphed General Grant as follows, to wit: Secretary of War. EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 31, 1865. LIEUTENANT-General Grant, City Point, Va.: A messenger is coming to you on the business contained in your despatch. 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 General Ord's hands, and when the gentlemen were supposed to be beyond our lines. A. LINCOLN. When Major Eckert departed, he bore with him a letter of the Secretary of War to General Grant, as follows, to wit: WAR DEPARTMENT, January 30, 1865. LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 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 request it, pass them through our 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. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. Supposing the proper point to be then reached, I despatched the Secretary of State with the following instructions, Major Eckert, however, going ahead of him: EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 31, 1865. Hon. William 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 as |