sumed 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 may choose to say, and report it to me. You will not assume to definitely consummate anything. Yours, etc., ABRAHAM LINCOLN. On the day of its date, the following telegram was sent to General Grant: (Sent in Cipher at 9:30 A. M.) WAR DEPARTMENT, February 1, 1865. Lieutenant-General Grant, City Point, Virginia: Let nothing which is transpiring change, hinder, or delay your military movements or plans. A. LINCOLN. Afterward the following despatch was received from General Grant: (In cipher.) MILITARY Telegraph, War Department. The following telegram received at Washington, 2:30 P. M., February 1, 1865: CITY POINT, VA., February 1, 1865. 12:30 P. M. His Excellency, A. Lincoln: Your despatch 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, Lieutenant-General. To notify Major Eckert that the Secretary of State would be at Fortress Monroe, and to put them in communication, the following despatch was sent: (Sent in Cipher at 5:30 P. M.) WAR DEPARTMENT, February 1, 1865. Major T. T. Eckert, City Point, Virginia: Call at Fortress Monroe, and put yourself under direction of Mr. Seward, who will be there. A. LINCOLN. On the morning of the 2d instant, the following telegrams were received by me, respectively from the Secretary of State and Major Eckert: FORT MONROE, VA., February 1, 1865. 11:30 P. M. The President of the United States: Arrived at ten this evening. Richmond party not here. I remain here. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. CITY POINT, VA., February 1, 1865. 10 P. M. His Excellency, A. Lincoln: I have the honor to report the delivery of your communication and my letter at 4:15 this afternoon, to which I received a reply at 6 P. M., but not satisfactory. At 8 P. M. the following note, addressed to General Grant, was received: CITY POINT, VA., February 1, 1865. LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. Sir: We desire to go to Washington city to confer informally with the President, personally, in reference to the matters mentioned in his letter to Mr. Blair, of the 18th of January, ultimo, without any personal compromise on any question in the letter. We have the permission to do so from the authorities in Richmond. Very respectfully yours, ALEX. H. STEPHENS, R. M. T. HUNTER. At 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, he insisted upon. Think Fort Monroe would be acceptable. Having complied with my instructions, I will return to Washington to-morrow unless otherwise ordered. THOS. T. ECKERT, Major, etc. On reading this despatch of Major Eckert, I was about to recall him and the Secretary of State, when the following telegram of General Grant to the Secretary of War was shown me: (In cipher.) MILITARY TELEGRAPH, WAR DEPT. The following telegram received at Washington, February 2, 1865. 4.35 A. M. CITY POINT, VA., February 1, 1865. 10:30 P. M. Hon. Edwin M. Stanton: 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 cannot have an interview with the two named in this dispatch, if not all three now within our lines. Their letter to me was all that the President's instructions contemplated to secure their safeconduct, if they had used the same language to Major Eckert. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. This despatch of General Grant changed my purpose; and accordingly I telegraphed him, and the Secretary of State, respectively, as follows: (Sent in cipher at 9 A. M.) WAR DEPARTMENT, February 2, 1865. Lieutenant-General Grant, City Point, Virginia: Say to the gentlemen I will meet them personally at Fortress Monroe as soon as I can get there. A. LINCOLN. (Sent in cipher at 9 A. M). WAR DEPARTMENT, February 2, 1865. Hon. William H. Seward, Fortress Monroe, Virginia: Induced by a despatch from General Grant, I join you at Fort Monroe as soon as I can come. A. LINCOLN. Before starting the following despatch was shown me. I proceeded, nevertheless. (Cipher.) OFFICE U. S. MILITARY Telegraph, War Dept. The following telegram received at Washington, February 2, 1865: CITY POINT, VA., February 2, 1865. 9 A. M. Hon. William H. Seward, Fort Monroe: The gentlemen here have accepted the proposed terms, and will leave for Fort Monroe at 9:30 A. M. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. Copy to Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War, Washington. On the night of the 2d, I reached Hampton Roads, found the Secretary of State and Major Eckert on a steamer anchored offshore, and learned of them that the Richmond gentlemen were on another steamer also anchored offshore, |