The following telegram received at Washington January 30, 1865, from City Point, Va., 10.30 A.M., January 30, 1865: 

“His excellency Abraham Lincoln,
President of the United States: 

“The following communication was received here last evening: 

“’Petersburg, Va., January 30, 1865.  ’Lieutenant-general U.S.  Grant, Commanding Armies United States.  ’Sir:  We desire to pass your lines under safe conduct, and to proceed to Washington to hold a conference with President Lincoln upon the subject of the existing war, and with a view of ascertaining upon what terms it may be terminated, in pursuance of the course indicated by him in his letter to Mr. Blair of January 18, 1865, of which we presume you have a copy; and if not, we wish to see you in person, if convenient, and to confer with you upon the subject.  ’Very respectfully, yours, ’Alexander H. Stephens.  ’J.  A. Campbell.  ‘R.  M. T. Hunter.’”

“I have sent directions to receive these gentlemen, and expect to
have them at my quarters this evening, awaiting your instructions. 
U.S.  Grant,
Lieutenant-General, Commanding
Armies United States.”

This, it will be perceived, transferred General Ord’s agency in the matter to General Grant.  I resolved, however, to send Major Eckert forward with his message, and accordingly telegraphed General Grant as follows, to wit: 

Executive Mansion
Washington, January 13, 1865
(Sent at 1.30 P.M.)

Lieutenant-general grant, City Point, Va.: 

A messenger is coming to you on the business contained in your despatch.  Detain the gentlemen in comfortable quarters until he arrives, and then act upon the message he brings as far as applicable, it having been made up to pass through General Ord’s hands, and when the gentlemen were supposed to be beyond our lines.

A. Lincoln.

When Major Eckert departed, he bore with him a letter of the
Secretary of War to General Grant, as follows, to wit: 

War department,
Washington, D. C., January 30, 1865.

Lieutenant-general grant, Commanding, etc.

General:—­The President desires that you will please procure for the bearer, Major Thomas T. Eckert, an interview with Messrs. Stephens, Hunter, and Campbell, and if on his return to you he requests it pass them through our lines to Fortress Monroe by such route and under such military precautions as you may deem prudent, giving them protection and comfortable quarters while there, and that you let none of this have any effect upon your movements or plans.

By order of the President: 
Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War.

Supposing the proper point to be then reached, I dispatched the Secretary of State with the following instructions, Major Eckert, however, going ahead of him: