Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-05-13
ALEX. n. STEPHENS
Tells the story Of the Historical
Conference at Hampton
Roads.
Chicago Intor-o o ean.l

Chicago Inter- ocean,
One of the mysteries of the war has
been the famous conference at Hamp-
ton Roads early in 1865, which was
participated 10 by President Lincoln
and MIR. Seward on the part Of the
United States, and Alex. H. Stephens,
Judge John A. Campbell, Of Alabama
and R. M. T. Hunter, Of Virginia, rep
resenting the C~onfederacy. Mr.. Hun
ter, a year or two since, wrote a sketch
of the meeting, which has been severe
ly criticised in many particulars so
much so that his story is hardly re-
garded as a faithful recital OF the
fact. A correspondent Of the Phila-
delphia Press has been talking with
Alex. H.. Stephens about the confer
ence, and gives the conversation IN an
interesting letter. Jefferson Davis
and Mr. Stephens quarreled about the
policy of carrying on the var, and the
conference was the result Of Davis
desire to mitigate the feeling that had
grown up against him and in favor of
Stepehns. Francis p. Blair, Jr., went
to Richmond from Washington, and
had two conferences with reference to
a peace conference claiming to have
been authorized to do SO by Mr.. Lin
coin. Blair's scheme was to unite the
two armies, conquer Mexico, declare
in favor of the Monroe doctrine, and
allow the south to return to the Union
with its old relations. Mr.. Stephens
urged compliance with the suggestion,
hoping il would bring about an end of
the war, but Davis was opposed to it.
He finally yielded, but insisted upon
the necessity of absolute secrecy until
the negotiations were completed, and
suggested the appointment Of men
whose absence from the capital would
in no way excite suspicion and what
was Mr.. Stephens surprise the next
morning TO fad that Judge John A.
Campbell, assistant secretary Of war,
r. NJ. 7. Hunter, president pro TEN.
of the Confederate senate, and himself,
the presiding officer of that body, had
been selected-the three men of all
others whose absence from Richmond
would be most noticed aud comment
ed upon.
AT GRANTS HEADQUARTERS.
This selection Of commissioners, as
vel as subsequent events, showed the
dupliciy of Mr.. Davis. He was pro-
Tossing a disposition for peace, to sat
.isfy the people, while doing the things
which rendered this result impossible.
Speaking with Mr.. Stephens not long
since upon the important subject, he
& id:
II objected to the composition of
this commission, but finally yielded
my judgment to that of Mr.. Davis and
his cabinet. / felt, however, that all
chance of the success Of the mission
had been destroyed by the publicity
which had been given to it; an opinion
which was still further strengthened
when, on the 29th of January, we
started for the federal lines, and found
thousands of people at the depot to
wish US a godspeed as we departed. 1t
was extremely cold weather for Vir-
ginia,'' continued Mr.. Stephens, 80
we were obliged to go to the federal
lines by rail. The commission was
accompanied by Lieutenant Colonel
Hatch as secretary. When we arrived
at Petersburg we communicated with
General Grant, but it was nearly two
days before we received a reply. About
4 o'clock on the evening Of the 3lst of.
January, in accordance with General
Grants letter of that morning, Gener-
al BabcOck, of General Grants staff,
arrived, and we were taken by rail-
road to City Point. 1t was about s
o'clock in the evening when we arrived
at General Grants headquarters, a
rude log hut, lacking adornment or
any evidences of that style and militia
ny pomp SO generally found surround
ing our own Confederate generals. /
had always had
A GREAT DESIRE TO SEE GENERAL
GRANT,
and consequently this interview pos
sessed great interest to me. Even be.
fore we reached the generals head
quarters | was struck with the fact
that there seemed to be no guards to
obstruct our progress. We usually
found them three feet deep before we
got into the presence Of a Confederate
b%rigadier, but here we walked directly
to the headquarters. General Babcock
knocked, a voice answered, Come inl"
and we found General Grant alone.
sitting at a table strewn with papers,
writing. A coal oil lamp furnished a
Pickering light, and a huge wood fire
burned in a primitive fireplace.
AS we entered, Grant arose to re-
ceiye us without any effort at show,
simply saying, with an air of self-reli-
ance, Gentlemen, take a seat We
sat for quite a time, during which Of
hcers and Orderlies were coming and
going, and the general transacted his
business as promptly and. regularly as
though we had not been present.
When any person would knock he
would say, Come in, and would occa-
sionally go to the door, call an orderly
and ask him if he knew the location
Of such a brigade, division or COPS.
and dispatch him with orders for II.
The moment | saw MN l was struck
with the utter absence Of STYLE or
show about him. He was dressed in
a short frock coat with not a single
evidence Of military rank. was also
amazed at the decided way he had Of
putting his points aud doing his busi.
ness. His sentences were short and
to the point, and his manner that Of a
sELF-PossEssED MAN OF BUSINESS.
anrll roA IL