The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-06-22
Gen. SingIeton's Mission 10 Rich.
mOud.


Now that the war is over some inter,
esting revelations are being made con-
corning the several trips to Richmond,
that were made by General SINGLETON,
"a peace Democrat" of Illinois, which ex-
cited so much public interest last winter.
Concerning his peace negotiations, lit is
now said that he found large party in
faver of peace; Stephens, Hunter, Camp
bell and others i'll the rebel Congress,
had long since made up their minds that
their cause was hopeless; Generals Lee,
Longstreet and Ewell, in the army were
oi he same way of thinking. He met
Gen. Lee at his house The General said
he was in the hands of Providence, He
alluded to the letter he had written to
General Scott, befo' the war broke out,
in which he said he felt it his duty to 60
with his State; he had been brought up
from childhood to believe the doctrine of
State rights; that all parties held to
them, and he was only fighting for his
section ofthe country Though brought
mp to arms, he was man of peace. He
desired above all things to stop the car
mage, and would go as far as any man in
the Confederacy in his efforts to bring
about the close of the war. He express
ed willingness to meet Gen. Grant in
order to bring about peace. 1t is as
serted that Gen. Singleton then sent word
to Gen. Grant that Lee would meet him
as agreed upon. In reply General Sin
gletOI received letter from Gen. Grant.
that he could not meet Gen. Lee. Gen.
Singleton believes that in the meantime
orders were issued by Secretary Stanton
to prevent the meeting, which orders he
thinks ~ora issued at tho aryent roaueet
of a member of Congress from Illinois
In reference to the tobacco and bacon
speculation we have the following re-
port:
The General heard there was a good
chance to make money by trading with
the South under the act of Congress, if
he could obtain the requisite permit He
looked into the matter carefully, and
satisfied himself that the trade could be
lawfully carried OH as suggested He
. obtained permit from President Lin
coin, who is said to have been always in
favor of this trade, and facilitated il.
whenever he could. The statement that
General Singleton intended to exchange
bacon for cotton or tobacco is said not to
be true. His arrangements, made with
parties in Richmond, was to exchange
greeubacks for tobacco. The tobacco
was TO be bought with Confederate mon.
ey, at the rate of one dollar of green.
hacks. for twenty dollars Confederate
paper--at that time. worth but thirty to
one. The differences was TO be the profit
of the Richmond parties. He had q let.
ter from Mr.. Lincoln to General Grant
allowing this trade, and also obtained
General Grants permit for the same
sparpose. He also made arran gements at
Richmond to purchase tobacco, but was
astonished to learn that some 1000 boxes
! efitobaeco had been burnt at Fredericks-
burg by General Grants order. lh
This tobacco, however, was not his:
still the fact of its destruction placed
him in an unpleasant position with par
tics in Richmond with whom he had
made arrangements to purchase tobacco,
aud who accused him of purpose to get
the tobacco in the hands of the Federals.
General Singleton accuses memberof
Congress from Illinois Of causing Gen.
eral Grant to order the tobacco burned,