The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-02-14
CirY PoIsr. vIsorsIA,
February l. ls05-lO r. N.

= which received reply at r M, but not salts,
Ats NJ. the following note, addressed to Gene
raj Grant, was received
Cry Porsr, vfncrN1A, february l, 1865.
To Lieutcnant. General Grant:
Sir We desire to 20 to Washington city to confer
informally with the President personally in reference
to the matters mentioned in his letter to Mr.. Blair
OF the 18th January, ult. Without any personal
the permission to do 80 from the authorities in Rich
mond. Very respectfully, yours
g- Il. NJ. T, HUNTER,
J. A. CaMrBELr
At $50 r. NJ. notified them that they could not
proceed further unless they complied With the terms
expressed in my letter. The point Vt meeting dcsg-
to be insisted pm. think Fort Monroe would be
acceptable. Having complied withmy instructions,
viii return to Washington tomorrow, unless
otherwise ordered. Thomas T. Err 5sksn1 l.,
On reading this dispatch of Major Eek
ert, l was about to recall him and the
Secretary of State, when the following
telegram from General Grant to the Se-
cretary of War was shown me:
OFFICE UNITED STATES MILITARY TELEGRAPH,
WAE DEPARTMEST.-LIn cipher. The following
telegram was received at Washington at 4:35 A. NJ,
February ., 1865, from CITY Point, Virginia:
FEBRUARY 1, Iobo, 1851 L. NJ.
Hon. Eawi: II. Stanton. Secretary of' Var:
Now that the interview between Major Eckert,
under his written instructions, and Mr.. Stephens
and party, has ended, will state confidentially,
but not officially to become matter Of record, that
am convinced, upon conversation with Mcssrs.
Stephens and Hunter, that their intentions ar
good and their desire sincere to restore peace and
Union. have not felt myself at liberty to express
any views OF my own or to account for my reti-
cence.
This has placed me in an awkward position, which
/ could have avoided by not seeing them in the first
instance. now fear their going back without any
expression from any one in authority will have Il
bad influence at the time recognize the diff
fclties in the way Of receiving these informal
missloners at tins time, and do not know what to
recommend I am sorry that, however, Mr.. Lin
coin cannot have an interview with the two named
in this dispatch, if not all three within our
lines Their letter to me was all that the Presidents
instructions contemplated to secure their safe con-
duct, if they had used the same language to Major
Eckert. U. S. GRAFT, Lieutenant General.
This dispatch of General Grant changed
my purpose, and accordingly l tcle-
Sraphed him and the Secretary Of State
respectively as follows:
WAR DEPARTMENT., WASHINGTON, D. c.,
February ?, 1865.
Lirutenant- General Gtuat, city Paint, Tdynia:
Say to the gentlemen that will meet them per-
sonally at Fortress Monroe, as soon as can get
there. A. LINCOLN.
(Sent in cipher at A. NJ
WAR DEPARTMENT., WAsHrNoToS, D. c.,
February 2, 1865.
Hon. Wa'as II. Sesrara, Fortress Monroe, TU-
ginin:
Induced by dispatch fom General Grant, join
you at Fortress Monroe as soon as can come
A LINCoLS.
{Sent in cipher at 9 ~ NJ.
Before starting, the following dispatch
was shown me. 1 proceeded ncverthe-
less 3:
OFFICE UNITED STATES MILITARY TELfonArn,
WAR DErARTMEST:-[Ci Cipher, The following tele-
gram was received at Washington, February 2,
1865: From City Point, Virginia, 8 A. NJ, Fe-
bruary ?, 1865. Hon. William II. Seward secre-
tary of State, Fortress Monroe, (copy TO Hon. Ed
win NJ. Stanton, Secretary of War, Washington, d.
gentlemen here have accepted the pro-
posed terms, and will leave for Fortress Monroe at
Q: 80 A. NJ. u. s. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
On the night of the Cd l reached
Hampton Roads and found the Secretary
of State and Major Eckcrt on steamer
anchored off the shore, and learned of
them that the Richmond gentlemen were
on another steamer, also anchored off
shore, in the roads, and that the Secre
tary of State had not yet seen or COM
municated with them. I asccrtained
that Major Eckert had literally complied
with his instructions, and saw, for the
first time, the answer Of the Richmond
gentlemen to him, which, in his dispatch
to me of the lst,. he characterizes as not1
That answer is as follows,
to wit:
CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, February l, 1865.
Thomas T. Eckert, MoJos and Il. D. C.:
Major Your note, delivered by yourself this day,
has been considered For reply have to say that
sident Lincoln to Francis P. Blair, of the 18th of
January utlmo, another copy Of which is appended
to your note. Our intentions contained in a
letter Of which the following is copy ,...
"EICHMOND, january %, 1865.
Gin conformity with the letter of Mr. Lincoln, of
which the foregoing Is copy, you are to proceed
to Washington city for informal conference With him.
upon the issues involved in the existing war, and
or he purpose OF securing peace to the two cou.-
tries. With great respect, your obe,ient servant,
"JEFFERsoN DivIs.'s
The subIan .al ciiec. to be obtained by the in
lorna! conference is to ascertain upon what terms
The existing war can be terminated honorably. Our
instructions contemplate a personal interview be-
Tween President Lincoln and ourselves ut Washing
TOM but with this explanation, are ready to meet
any person or persons that President Lincoln may
appoint, at such place as he may designate. Our
earnest desire is that just and honorable peace
may be agreed upon, and We prepared 10 receive
or TO submit propositonswhich may possibly lead to
The attainment OF that end.
Very respectfully yours,
ALIEN. III. SrErnESs,
Il. NJ. L. HUNTER,
JONI A. CAMPBELL.
A note Of these gentlemen, subse-
qucntly addressed to General Grant, has
already been given in Major Eckert's
dispatch of the LIST instant.
also here saw, for the first time, the following
note, addressed by the Richmond gentlemen to
Major Eckert: