The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-11-12
THE CIVILIAN LEADERS OF THE ~CONFEDERACY

There never vas a greater mistake
This IS a~oundantiy shown b. the re-
suits Of the Hampton Roads confer
euce As il well known. President
lincoln and Secretary seward. on the
morning Of February ,. 1865. met. on
board a earnc At Fortress Monroe
Neszrs Alexander stephens. 4 NJ T
Hunter and job 4. Campbell. who
had been appointed commissioners BY
President Davis. TAe object OF the
conference VAS TO ascertain upon
what terms and IN what way the war
could be terminated. The repor 81
the commissioners. the message OF
President Davis and the message Of
P-eSi ten; Lincoln show c~orclus9Vely
that the United States authorities re-
fused To enter into negotiations with
the Confederate States. or any one OF
them separately. and that no truce or
armistice would be granted without a
satisfactory assurance in advance OF
a complete restoration OF the author
ity Of the United States.
In the course or the conference the
subject OF slavery was discussed in
formally. Mr.. lincoln said he would
be in favor. individually. OF the gov
eminent paving a air indemnity TO
the owners for the loss or their slaves,
but on this subject. he said. he could
give no assurance and enter into no
s~tipulations
II mas also Deen asserted lndt Zen
eral Lee. a short time before the col
lapse OF the Confederacy. advised Mr..
Davis that further resistance was use
less. and that he recommended the
cessation OF hostilities upon the best
terms that could be obtained. / am
satisfied, from my own personal
knowledge, that this is also a mis-
take.
A few days before the final adjourn
ment Of the Congress. on the 18th Of
March. 1865, I received a message
from Mr.. Davis, through a member
of his staff. that he desired to see me
on important business at his office.
] responded at once. and upon my ar
rival / found Mr.. Davis and General
Lee in consultation. After an ex-
change Of salutationS, Mr.. Davis said
ne had sent for me to request my
opinion as to the Willingness Of. the
people of Virginia to submit to furth-
er demands upon them for supplies
of o 90 and clothing. which were alb
SOlutelY necessary to maintain the
army in the field. After some genera
conversation on the subject, in which
General Lee participated. | replied TO
the inquiry of the President by saving
that while | believed the people of
Virginia were prepared to make still
further sacrifices in support Of the
cause they held 50 dear, I preferred
that the other Representatives from
Virginia should be consulted, and sug-
gested hat they should be invited to
the conference.
This suggestion was adopted, and
all the Virginia Representatfves-ff-
teen in number-by the invitation of
h President. met him, his Cabine
and General Lee in the afternoon of
the same day, at four O'Clock.
General Lee, at The End.
A I thic ~ aafinpr thara uroc n f,JI md
free interchange of pinion, and all
the Representatives ~concurred in say
ing that the people of Virginia would
be found ready and willing to meet
any requisition that might be made
upon them in the same spirit of 10y
atty and devotion that had character
lied them since the commencement of
the struggle.
During the interview General Lee
explained the situation fully from a
military standpoint. He referred to
the length of the line he was obliged
TO defend, to the number Of effective
men under his command, to the great
scarcity Of food for his soldiers and
forage for his animals, but he did not
say, nor did he intimate, in any man
ner whatever, that the cause was lost
and that the time for surrender had
come. He was a soldier, and doubtless
felt that it was not his province to
advice to the political de-
partment, but to make the best fight
he could with the means the govern
ment was able to place at his disposal.
During the progress of the war he
published battle orders in hic he ex-
pressed confidence in the final result.
and in the correspondence between
General Grant and himself. he ex-
pressed the opinion hat the emer-
gency had not arisen to call for the
surrender of his army.