Daily national Republican., 1865-03-21
OF Generals Lee and
Grnma.

COrrespondsncs OF Generals Lee and
pIcHMoND, Va, March 10, ices.
To ne Senate and HOusc Of Representatives.;
herewith transmit for your information
copies Of the correspondence referred 10 In
my message OF this date, In regard 10 the
proposed conference 10 adjust terms of
peace by means Of military convention.
JETFBRsoN DAVIS.
LETTER or oErBRAL r. n. LEE.
HEADQUARTERS &. 8. S.ARMIEn,l
I'd March, 1865.
Lieutenant General q S. Grant, Commanding
Lnued States ATmies.
General-Lieutenan General Longstfeet
has informed me that, In q recent conver-
satlon between himself and Nsjor General
Ord, % TO the possibility Of arriving at .
satisfactory adjustment Of the present un-
happy dlfflcultieS, by means Of q military
convention, General Ord stated that IL /
desired TO have an interview with you on
the subject, you would not decline, provi.
ded l had authority TO act. Sincerely
desiring TO leave nothing untrled which
may put an end TO the calamitles Of war,
II propose 10 meet you at such convenient
time and place as you may designate, with
the hope that upon an interchange of
views, It may he found practicable 10 sub.
NIT the subjects of controversy between
the bolligerents 10 q convention OF the
kind mentioned.
In such event, am authorized TO do
whatever the result Of the proposed inter
view may render necessary or advisable.
Should you accede 10 this proposition, I
would suggest that II agreeable TO you, we
meet at the place selected by Generals Ord
and Longstroet for the interview, at IL q.
m, on Monday next.
Very respectfully, your obodlent servant,
(signed) X. 2. LEE, General.
Official copy;
(slgned) c. 8. vESABtE, A. A. q.
| Headquarters, March 7, 1885.
LETTER OF GENERAL U. 8. GRANT.
HEADaUARTI rs, ARMIES U. =.
| March 4, 1885
Gen. n. y. Lee, Commanding c. S ArmieI.
| GBNERALi Your two letters of the Goth
inst. were received yesterday. In regard
to any apprehended misunderstanding In
reference TO the exchange Of political pris-
oners, think there need be none. Gen.
Ord or Gen. Longstreet have probably mis-
understood what said TO the former on the
subject, or may have failed TO make my.
self understood, possibly.
A few days before the interview between
Gems Longstreet and Ord, bad received
dispatch from Gen. Huffman, Commits.
sary General OF Prisoners, stating In sub.
stance that all prisoners of war who were
or had been In close confinement or irons,
whether under charges or sentences, had
been ordered 10 City Point for exchange.
forwarded the substance of that dispatch 10
Lieut.. Col. Mulford, Assistant Agent Of
Exchange, and presumed II probable that
he had communicated II to Col. Robert
Ould. A day or Two after an often Ter, who
was neither prisoner OF war nor q politi.
cal prisoner, was executed, after fair and
impartial trial, and in accordance with the
laws OF war and the usage Of civilized ma
tlons. II was In explanation of this clasI
Of cases told Gen. Ord 10 speak to Gen
Longstreet.
Reference to my letter Of February 16tf
will show my understanding on the subject
Of releasing political or citizen prisoners.
In regard to meeting yoron the 9th Inst.
would state that | have no authority "a
aceede to your proposition for a con ferenc,
on the subject proposed. Such authority
is vested In the President OF the United
States alone.
General Ord could only have meant thai
would not refuse an interview on any sub
lect on which have right TO act; which
of course, would be such as are purely o
a military character, and on q subject OF eX
change, which has been entrusted 70 me.
| have the honor 70 be, very respectfully
your obedient servant,
(sigred) U.S.. GRANT, Lieut.. Gen.
LETTER OF THE PRESIDENT.
| RICHMOND, VA, February -, 1895.
Gen. r. L. Lee, Commanding, Sc!
Generhl-You will learn by the letter o
General Longstreot the result Of his seconC
interview with General Ord. The point al
TO whether yourself or General Grant shoulC
invite the other to u conference is no
worth discussing. II you think the state
ments of General Ord render II probabl!
useful that the conference suggested shoult
be had, you may proceed as you prefer
and are clothed with all the Bupplementa
authority you may need In the consldera
tlon OF any proposition for military con
yention, or the appointment Of commit 6
sioner TO enter Into such an arrangemen
As will cause at least temporary suspen
sion OF hostilities. Very truly yours,
(Slgned) JEFFERSON DAVIS.