The Washington herald., 1914-07-16
THE WAR DAY BY DAY
Fifty Years Ago.
July l6 1s64-TwO SeAppoted Peace North
Col James Jaeques Of Illinois, and Gilmore (Edmund
Arrived Richmond Under Flag of Tnes-An with jefferson


Fifty years ago today two self-appoint'
| ed peace commissioners from the North
Col James F. Jaquess. OF the Seventy
! third Illinois Infantry. and J. X. Gil
more, q well-known writer C'Edmund
Kirke'O, arrived in Richmond under flag
OF truce, and put up at the SpOtswoOd
Hotel
The purpose Of their visit 10 the Con-
fedsrate capital was TO secure an inter
view with Jefferson Davis. This Mr.
Davis was prepared 10 grant them. 1t
was destined to lead TO no positive Xr-
suit. but IT was TO prove. historically
important on account OF the cledT-Cut
record that was made OF II by Mr.. Gil
more, showing the exact attitude and
manner OF the President Of the Con-
federacy in defining his position, and
that Of the South. at time when the
c4use he represented was tottering. and
but for the genius Of Lee. would have
been in extremities.
Col. 'Jaquess before the war vas a
Methodist minister and teacher at Quincy,
ILL., He was an earnest and fOrceful
character, who felt that God had laid
the duty upon him" OF attempting TO
secure peace. Tie had tried without sue
cess, the year before, TO get through the
lines to Richmond President Lincoln,
who knew him, had been requested to
aid him in his mission, but had refrained
from doing so.
When in July. 1884. Col Jaquess re-
newed his application for aid to President
Lincoln-havinE meanN lille interested in
his undertaking SIr. Gilmore, who had
been much with the Western armies as
a newspaper orrespondent-LIncoln gave
him a pass to city Point and TO Mr..
Gilmore this note: viii Gen. Grant al
low J. r Gilmore and friend to pass
our lines with ordinary baggage and go
South A. LINCOLN"
This was all in the way Of credentials
that the two peace commissioners car
ried to the front. Grant hesitated about
passing them through the lines. but after
telegraphing about them to Washington.
allowed them to get into touch with
Judge Robert Ould. the Confederate COM
missioner for the exchange Of prisoners,
who. on learning their mission. secured
permission for them to proceed to Rich
mond
On the morning of July Is Col. Jaquess
and Mr.. Gilmore passed out of the Union
lines near Deep Bottom. escorted by
number Of Federal officers. and were re-
ceived within the Confederate lines.
Judge Ould. waiting for nightfall before
starting, drove with them TO Richmond,
where they arrived at 10 p. m. An officer
of the provost guard at Richmond,
Charles Javins, was assigned to remain
with the visitors during their stay in
Richmond. and slept in the room with
them.
On the morning following their ar
rival Messrs. Jacques and Gilmore, at
the suggestion Of Judge Ould, ad-
dressed a note to Judah p. Benjamin.
Secretary of State. requesting an inter
view with Mr.. Davis.
A reply from Mr.. BENJAMIN contained
an invitation for them to visit him at
his office. They found him in the old
custom house building-"a short,
plump. oily. little man in black, with
a keen black 'eye. a Jew face, "A yellow
skin. curly black hair, closely trimmed
black whiskers and a pOnderOus gold
watch chain"-and were introduced to
him by Judge Ould.
Mr. Benjamin questioned the two
men closely as to whether they came
With authority to represent President
Lincoln. They informed him that they
lid not, but that they knew LinColn's
views and the sentiments OF the people
u the North. and were confident that :
hey could propose a basis for peace.
They were then told that Mr.. Davis /
would see them at 3 O'Clock ;hat eEcn- /
ng.
At the appointed hour the two advo- !
,ates of peace were at Mr.. Benjamin's
chamber. They found him seated. AT (
his right sat a spare, thin-festCred !
man," wrote Mr.. Gilmore in an account |