American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-02-08
The Peace Movement.
HDQRs. ARMY OF THE PoToMAc,
February !

HDQRs. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
February l.
On Sunday flag of truce appeared ON
the line near the center, and was found to
be request in pursuance of an under
standing with Mr.. Blair and Gen. Grant,
for permission to Lieut. Col. Hatch. As
sistant Adjutant General and Exchange
Commissioner, for Alexander III. Ste
phens. r. Nj. I. Hunter, and j. A. Camp
bell, to visit General Grants headquar-
ters. Owing to General Grants absence
from City Point no reply could be sent
Immediately. The matter was referred
to Washington, and after several commu-
pieations had passed, permission was
granted and deputaton was appointed
to meet the gentlemen and escort them
within our lines. After a few minutes
spent in interchanging civilties. the par
ty came within our lines, at which mo.
ment the troops on both sides united in
simultaneous cheer The commissioners
were escorted to the railroad in carriages,
where special train was waiting to con-
vey them to City Point. On arriving at
City Point they were taken to General
Grants headquarters, where they spent
spent the hight. Messrs Stephens and
Campbell looked much emaciated and
care worn, but Mr. Hunter appeared to be
hale and hearty as did Col Hatch. The
only allusion made to our difficulties was
the hope expressed by Mr.. Stephens that
they would soon meet under happier aus
pices.
WASHINGTON, Feb Information
received from Fortress Monroe tonight
states that Southern commissioners, on
Tuesday morning, were on board General
Grants dispatch boat, Mary Martin, await
ing the Presidents order, as to whether
they should proceed to Washington.
The Richmond Dispatch of Tuesday
contains the following - Messrs. Ste
phens, Hunter and Campbell, Confeder
ate peace commissioners, who left here on
Sunday morning for Washington, stopped
Sunday night in Petersburg, whence they
went through the lines to City Point yes
terday morning.
AS they were making transit, their
character, and the object of their mission
became known, when our troops set up a
cheering such as never was heard before,
and continued it until the Commissioners
were out of sight and we'll within the
Yankee lines, when the clamor was i'm
mediatcly caught up by the Yankee sol
diers, who eheered and hurrahed until!
they were hoarse, and amidst the deaien-
ing shouts of the two armies the Com
mssioners went on their way The next
we hear of them will be through the Yam
kee papers.
BALTIMORE, Feb. "A dispatch from
Annapolis says President Lincoln, accom-
panied only by servant, arrived here
and left at one o'clock for Fortress Mon
roe.
New YORK, Feb. 2.--The WorFs
Washington spec al tonight says: The
Presidents departure was looked upon in
Congress to-day as giving the peace com
mission very serious tone, while through
out very confident air prevailed that it
would speedily result in something. The
peace commissioners come down today from
City Point to Fortress Monroe. To-mor-
row an interview will be held at the lat
ter place 1t is well understood that if
these gentleman have peace propositions
that do not include the Acknowledgement
of their independence they will be imme-
diately escorted to Washington. The i'm.
preston is hourly growing stronger that
these informal negotiations are paving
the way for peace"
Another special to the World says: 1T
is runored that Mr.. Lincoln has gone to
confer with JEFF Davis in person.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.-A letter from
the Army of the james, dated Friday I'd,
says:
1t is reported that the rebel fleet start
ed down the river early this morning, but
after proceeding a short distance turned
back and anchored in the old position
1t is thought they were apprehensive f
not getting back as safely as they did be-
fore, if they went as faras they did on that
occasion.
4 good deal of firing has been heard in
the direction of Petersburg, one report
being that some new mortars we're prae-
tising on that city while another repre-
sents that there was an engagement of
lively character between the two lines near
the Appomattox. Tie firing ceased at .