Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-02-11

OSeSAn 1ue gentlemen IN comfortable quar-
tiers until he arrives, and then act upon
the message he brings as far as applicable,
Il having been made up to pass through
Gen. Ord's hands, and when the gentlemen
were supposed to be beyond our lines.
(Sigued) A. L1Hco1H.
When Major Eckhart departed he took
with him a letter from the Secretary of
War to Gen. Grant as follows:
Var Department, Washington. January
80. 1s66.-Lieut. Gen. Grant, commanding,
&o.-Genersl: The President desires that
you will please procure for the bearer,
Asj. 7. 7. Eckhart, an interview with
Messrs. Stephens, Hunter and Campbell,
aud If on his return to you he requests it,
pass them through our lines to Fortress
Monroe by such route and under such
military precaution as you may deem
prudent, giving them protection and com.
Portable quarters while there, and that you
let me know if this will have any effect
upon your movement or plans.
By order of the President.
(signed) E. N. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
Supposing the proper point to be then
reached, l dispatched the Secretary of
State with the following instructions, Msj.
Eckhart, however, going ahead of him:
Executive MGHsio1, Washington, Januaro
81, ls65.-Hou. William q. Seward, SEQ
rotary of State: You will proceed to For.
ress Monroe, there TO meet Informally and
confer with Messrs. Stephens, Hunter and
Campbell on the bssis of my letter to F P.
Blair, Esq, of January 1s, 1855, copy of
which you have. You will make known
to them that three things are indispensable
to wit: First, the restoration of the ma
tional authority throughout all the States;
second, no receding by the Executive of the
United States on the slavery question from
the position assumed therein in the last
annual message to Congress, aud in the
preceding documents, and third, no cessa-
ton of hostilities short of an end of the
war and the disbsnding of all the forces
hostile~to the government. You will in
form them that all propositions of theirs
not Inconsistent with the above will be con-
and passed upon in the spirit of
sincere iberality. You will hear sll they
may choose to say and report by telegram.
(Sigued,) A. LINCOLN.
The following was also sent to General
Var Department, Washington, FEB. IL.
ls65.-Lieut Gen. Grant, City Point-Sir
Nothing which is transpiring, is intended
to change, hinder, or delay your military
or plans.
(signed) A. LINCOLN.
Afterwards the following dispatch was
received from Gen. Grant
City Point, Feb. 1, 1890, P. Nils
A. Lincoln, President of Uni
ted States: Your dispatch was received
There will be no armistice in consequence
Of the presence of Mr.. Stephens and others
within our lines. The troops are kept in
to move at the shortest notice, if
occasion should justify it.
Signed, o. S. GRANT,
Lieut.. General.
To notify Major Eckhart that the Score
:ary of State would be at Fortress Monroe,
and to put them in communication, the fol.
owing dispatch was sent:
Var Department, FEB. 1.-Major Eek
hart, care Gen. GRAFT, City Point, Va:
Call at Fortress Monroe and, put yourself
lnder direction of Mr.. Seward, whom you
will End there.
Signed, A. LINCOLN.
On the morning of the I'd inst, the fol,
owing telegram was received by me:
City Point, 70, 10 P. n, FEB. His
SIeelleucy, a. Lincoln, President Of the
United States: have the honor to report
he delivery of your communication and
ny letter at 4:l5, this p. m, to which re.
,eiVed reply, at 6, p. m, but not satisfac-
DRY.
At 8, p. m. the following note address,
ID to General Grant, was received:
City Point, Feb. 1.-Lieut. Gen. Grant,
Sir. We desire to go to Washington City
20 confer informally with the President,
= 49, AZ
TONED in his letter to Mr.. Blair of the 18th
any questions on the letter. We have his
promise to do 80 from the authorities in
Respectfully, yours,
ALEX. q. STEPHENS.
R. n. 7. HUNTER,
J. A OAMPBELL.
At 8 80 P. NJ, notified them that they
could not proceed further unless they com.
piled with the terms expressed 10 my letter.
The point of meeting designated in the
above note could not, in my opinion, be
insisted upon. think Fortress Monroe
would be accepted. Having complied with
my Instructions, will return to Washing
ton tomorrow. unless otherwise ordered.
(Sigued)
THos. t. EoKHAaT, Msjor, SC.
On reading the dispatch of Maj. Eckhart
l was about to recall him aud the Score
tary of War. when the following telegram
of Gen. Grant to the Secretary of War was
shown to me:
CT.y Point, Va. FEB. 1, 1910 p. m.-Hou.
E. 81. Stanton Secretary of Wsr.-Sir
Now that the interview between Major
under his written instructions and
Mr.. Stephens and party is concluded,
will state confdentiAlly, but not officially,
to become matter of record, that am
convinced upon conversation with Messrs.
and Hunter, that their Intentions
are good, and their desire sincere to restore
peace and union. l have not felt myself at
liberty to express any views Of my own, or
to account for my reticence. This has
placed me in an awkward position which
could have avoided by not seeing them in
the first instance. fear now their going
back without any expression to any one in
authority will have bad influence. At
the same time recognize the dificultiesin