The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-02-11


| Va, Feb. /, hafpast twelve p. NJ, 1885,
| His Excsllency 4 LuooIs, President Of the United
Etates:-
Your despatch received There win b no srmistics in
consequence Of the presence Of Mr. Stephens and others
within Inca The troops kept in readiness 10
at the shortss notice. occasion should justify It
U. 8. GRANT, Lieutenant General
10 notify Major Eckert that the Secretary Of State
would be at Fortress Monroe and u put them in
| nication, the following despatch was SENT
Wan DrAznUr wAmoroH, Feb. l. 1855.
Major 7. T. Ecxsxr, Of General Grant City Point
va
Call at Fortress Monroe and put yourself under direc-
tion Of NJ. g., whom you win nnd there.
On tho morning Of the "a inst the following kilograms
were received BY mo respectively from the Secretary
Of State and Major Eckert:-
ToRTan HozRoS Va, Feb. Ill: or. u
Tn PREnDRsr on ZEE UNITED STATES
Arrived here this evening Richmond party not hero
CIrr PorSr, Va, Feb 1-1oP.M.
His Exceency A LINCOLN, President OF the United
have the honor 70 report tho delivery Of your COM
muncaon and my letter at quarter past four this afer
noon, TO which received reply at six p. n, but not
satisfactory. At eight p. n tho following note, i'd
dressed TO General Grant, was received:-
CTY PoIsz Va, Feb ], 1895.
To Lieutenant General GRANT,
sRWo desire 70 60 TO Warrington city 70 confer IN
formally with the President personally u reference
TIE ssatsvs mentioned IN his letter b M Blair Of The
1sA Of Js~uasy sssmo. without any personal compro-
mise any question in the letter. have the permits
sion To do 30 from the authorities At Richmond Very
respectfully, yours, ALEX r. STEPHENS,
R. NJ 7. HUNTER
J. A. CAMPBELL
Al half past nine n notified them that they could
notproceed further unless they complied with the terms
expressed in my letter Tho point Of meeting designated
in the above note would not in my opinion be insisted
upon. think Fort Monroe would DO acceptable Hav
ing complied with my Instructions will return TO Wash
ington tomorrow unless otherwise ordered.
THOMAS T. ECKERT, Major, &c.
On reading this despatch Of Major Eckert was about
to recall him and tho Secretary Of State whom the fol-
lowing telegram Of General Grant the Secretary Of War
OyS1cE OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY THEoRAPH,l
War DEPARTHENr
lCipherl
The following telegram received At Washington thirty
i've minutes past four O'Clock A. NJ February q 1885,
from City Point Va, February I, hafpast ten p. n,
1866
Hon. EDWIN n STANTON Secretary Of War;
Now that the interview between Major Ecket under
ended, will state conndentially but not on
cially 70 become . matter Of record, that am
convinced, upon conversation with Aessra Ste-
phens and Hunter that their Intentions are good
and their desire sincere to restore pcaes and union
have not felt myself It liberty express views Of
10 account for my recence. This has placed
me In awkward position, which could have avoided
by not seeing them in the first instance. fear
their going back, without any expression 10 any In
authority, will have bad influence At the time
recognize the difficulties In tho way Of receiving these
informal commissioners 1t this time, and do not know
what TO recommend am sorry, however, that Mr..
Lincoln cannot have interview With the two named In
this despatch, II not all three now within our lines
Their lettor TO Ill that the Presidents instruc-
tons contemplated their safe conduct they
had used the same language TO Major Eckert.
q. 9. GRANT, Lieutenant General
This despatch Of General Grant changed my purpose
and accordingly telegraphsd him and the Secretary
State ~ follows
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 1895. !
Lieutenant General GRANT City Point, Va
Say 10 the gentlemen that will meet them personally
1t Fortress Monroe a. soon as can got there
A. LINCOLN.
Sent In cipher at nine O'Clock A. N.
WAR DnPARrxExr,(
WASHINGTON, Feb 2, 1895. !
Induced BY despatch from General Grant, Join you
1t Fortress Monroe q soon as I can come.
Sent in cipher at nine O'Clock A. NJ
Before starting the following despatch was shown me-
proceeded, nevertheless:-
oyncz UNITED STATES MnnAsY rnscnAH,l
WAA DEPARTMENT.
lcipherl
The following telegram received at Washington Feb
ruary Q 1896, from City Point Va, nine NJ February
2 1866
Hon. WILLIAM n SEWARD, Secretary Of State Fortress
Monroe, 70 Hon EDWIN n STANTON, Secretary OF
War; Washington
Tho gentlemen here have accepted the proposed terms
and will leave for Fortress Monroe half past nine
U. s. GRANT, Lieutenant General.
On the night Of tho I'd, reached Hampton Roads
found the Secretary and Major Ecker on steamer
anchored OF the shore, and learned Of Thorn that the
Richmond gentlemen were on another steamer, also
anchored or shore in the Roads, and that the Secretary
Of State had not yet communicated with them.
ascertancd that Major Eckort had literally complied
with his Instructions and for the first time the an
Of the Richmond gentlemen to him. which, in his
despatch to Of tho LIST he characterizes not
factory That answer is as follows, to witt
Crr PoEr, Va, Feb i, 1896.
THOMAS J. EcKERr Major and Aid-de-Camp:-
MAJoR-Your note delivered by yourself this day. has
been considered In reply We have to say that
furnished with copy Of the letter OF President Lincoln
TO Francis Blair Of the 18th OF January ut another
copy Of which appended to your note Our Intentions
contained in . letter OF which the following Is
copy
RICHMOND, jan 49, 1885,
In conformity with the letter OF Mr. Lincoln, Of
which tho foregoing Is q copy, you 70 bro.
coed TO Washington city for nforme, confer
ence with him upon the issues Invovsd IN tho
war; and for tho purpose OF securing peace to the two
countrics With great respect your obedent servant,
JEFFERSON DAVIS
The substantial object to DO obtained by the informal
conference TO ascertain upon what terms the existing
DO terminated honoraby Our instructions con.
template personal interview between President Lincoln
and ourselves at Washington but with this explanation
ready TO meet any person persons tina. Prcsi
dent Lincoln may appoint, at such place a. he may