Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-07-23
The LATE CONFEDERATE MISSION.

Richmond papers of the 9th, 10TH and 18th instautl
have been received. Among the most interesting mat
ssr contained IN them is the following correspondence
explaining the objects of the mission TO Washington which
was lately undertaken by the Hon. ALEXANDER II. STE
PHESs 1t is copied from the Dispatch
| Instructions 10 Mr. Stephens.
RICHMOND, July 2 1868
| Hon A. H. Stephens Richmond Ia.
SIR Having accepted your patriotic offer to proceed as
Military Commissioner under flag of truce to Washing
ton, will receive herewith your letter OF authority 10
the Commanderin-Che Of the Army and Navy OF the
United States This letter signed by me as COmmauder-
nChef Of the Confederate land aud naval forces You
will perceve from the terms OF the letter that ~ 10 80
worded to avoid any political difficulties IN It's reception
Intended exclusively Of those communications be-
tween begernts which public law recognises as neces-
sary and proper between hostile forces has been
taken to give no pretext refusing receive it the
ground that it would involve tact recognition OF the in
dependence of the Coniederacy.
Your mission is simply of humanity and has po-
tcal aspect If objection made to receiving your let
let the ground that is not addressed to Abraham Linz
con President instead of Commander in Chief, &c,
then you will present the duplicate letter. which is ad
dressed to him President and signed by Presi-
dent To this latter objection may be made the ground
that am not recognised to be President of the Confede
racy In this event. you will decline further attempt
to confer the subject of your mission such confer
is admissible only the footing OF perfect equality
My recent interviews with you have put you 30 fully in
OF my views that it scarcely necessary to
you any detailed instructions at this moment
we'll enough to attempt it, My whole purpose is, in
to place this the footing of such are waged
by civilized people modern times and to divest 1T OF
the savage character which has been impressed by
enemies, spite of all efforts and protests War
full enough of unavoidable horrors under all it's aspects
to justify, and to demand OF any Christian rulers
who may be unhappiy engaged in carrying 1T on to seek
to restrict its caamite and to dvest of all unnecessary
seventies You will endeavor to establish the cartel for
the exchange of prisoners such basis to avoid
the constant difficulties and complaints which arise and to
prevent for the future what deem the unfair conduct
of enemies evadng the delivery of the prisoners
yyhp fall into
crcutous routes and by OBTAINING them, sometimes for
months camps and in prisons and in persstug in tax
/ ing captive non-combatants
Your attention is also called to the unheard Of conduct
of the Federal officers in driving from their homes entire
communities of women aud children as well as of men,
whom they find in districts occupied by their troops for
other than because the unfortunates faithful
to the allegiance due to their States and refuse to take
oath of fidelity TO their enemies.
The putting to death of unarmed prisoners has been
ground just complaint 10 than instance, and
the recent executions of officers of army in Kentucky
for the sole cause that they engaged in recruiting
service in State which is claimed still one of the Uni
ted ST ates but is also claimed by of the Con-
federate States must be repressed by retaliation if not
Internationally abandoned because it would justify the
ike execution in every other State of the Conederacy
and the practice barbarou useessy cruel and only
lead to the slaughter of prisoners both sides-a result
too horrible to contemplate without making every effort
| to avoid it,
On these and all kindred subjects you will consider your
authority full and ample to make such arrangements
will temper the present cruel character of the contest
and full confidence is placed in your Judgment patriotism,
and discretion that while carrying out the object of your
mission, you will take that the equal rights of the
Very respectfully, JEFFERSON DAVIS
Mr.. Stephens Report to Mr.. Darts.
RICHMOND, July 6, 1868
His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS.
SIR Under the authority and instructions your letter
to of the I'd instant proceeded the mission the
in assigned without delay. The steamer Torpedo
manded by Lieut. Hunter Davidson of the navy put
readiness possible by order of the Secretary
| of the Navy and rendered for the service
At the Sd she started down James river, hoist
ing and bearing flag of truce after passing City Point
The next day, the 4h,) at about o'clock P M when
within few miles of Newport News were met by a
raised white flag before approaching The officer in
command informed Lieut. Davidson that he had orders
from Admiral Lee board the United States flag ship
Minnesota, lying below and then in view allow any
boat vessel to pass the point which he was
ed without his permission. BY this officer sept to Alm
raj Lee note stating my objects and wishes, copy Of
which is hereto annexed, marked A. also sent to the
Admiral to be forwarded another 10 the same Language
addressed to the officer in command of the United States
forces at Fort Monroe The gunboat proceeded imme-
datey to the Minnesota with these dispatches while the
Torpedo remained at anchor. Between three and four
O'Clock p NJ another boat up to u.s. bearing the AID
mraps answer, which is hereunto annexed, marked b.
We remained at or about this point in the river until
the OH instant when having heard nothing further from
the Admiral at IL O'Clock NJ that day, / directed
Lieut. Davidson again to speak the gunboat guard and
to baud to the officer in command another nCte to the AID
mira. This was done. copy of tbs note is appended,
marked c..
At halfpast two O'Clock p NJ two boats approached Ms
from below, one bearing answer from the Admiral to
my note to him OF the 4th This annexed mark
ed ID. The other boat bore the answer of Lieut. Col w
H. Ludlow to my note of the 9TH addressed to the officer
in command at Fort Monroe. copy of this is annexed
marked E. Lieut. Col Ludlow also came up in person in
the boat that brought his answer to me- and conferred
with COL Oud board the Torpedo upon some matters
he desired 10 see him about in connection with the ex
change of prisoners.
] From the papers appended embracing the correspon
dence referred to- it will be that the mission failed
from the refusal OF the enemy to receive entertain it,
holding the proposition for such conference "inadms
sbe" The influences and views that led to this deter
mnaton after long consideration Of the subject must
be left to conjecture The assigned for the refusal
of the United States Secretary OF War to wit that the
customary agents and channels considered adequate
for all needul military communications and conferences"
to one acquainted with the facts not only unsatis
factory but very singular aud uDaccountabe for it is
certainly known to him that these very agents to whom
he evidently audes, heretofore agreed upon in former
conference IN reference to the exchange of prisoners Zone
oil the subjects embraced in your letter to now
and have been for time distinctly at issue on several
important points The existing cartel owing to these dis
agreements is virtually suspended 80 far as the exchange
OF officers on either side is concerned Notices of retaa-
ton have been given on both sdes
The Hort therefore, for the very many and coqent rea
sons set forth IN letter of instructions TO me to see
these differences could not be removed and clearer
understanding between the parties as to the general con-
duct of the could not be arrived at before ills ex
tremc should be resored to by either party was
less in accordance with the dictates Of humanity than
in strict conformity with the usages o! beigerents in
modern times
Deeply impressed as was with these views and feel
and