Their letter to me was
all that the President's instructions contemplated to secure their safe
conduct if they had used the same language to Major Eckert.

"U.S. GRANT, _Lieutenant-General"_

This dispatch of General Grant changed my purpose, and accordingly I
telegraphed him and the Secretary of State, respectively, as follows:

WAR DEPARTMENT,
_Washington, D.C., February 2, 1865_.
(Sent at 9 a.m.)

Lieutenant-General GRANT,
_City Point, Va._:

Say to the gentlemen I will meet them personally at Fortress Monroe
as soon as I can get there.

A. LINCOLN.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
_Washington, D.C., February 2, 1865_.
(Sent at 9 a.m.)

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,
_Fortress Monroe, Va._:

Induced by a dispatch from General Grant, I join you at Fort Monroe as
soon as I can come.

A. LINCOLN.

Before starting, the following dispatch was shown me. I proceeded,
nevertheless.

OFFICE UNITED STATES MILITARY TELEGRAPH,
_War Department_.

The following telegram received at Washington February 2, 1865, from
City Point, Va., 9 a.m., February 2, 1865:

"Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,
"_Secretary of State, Fort Monroe_:

"The gentlemen here have accepted the proposed terms, and will leave
for Fort Monroe at 9.30 a.m.

"U.S. GRANT,
"_Lieutenant-General."_

(Copy to Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War, Washington.)

On the night of the 2d I reached Hampton Roads, found the Secretary of
State and Major Eckert on a steamer anchored offshore, and learned of
them that the Richmond gentlemen were on another steamer also anchored
offshore, in the Roads, and that the Secretary of State had not yet seen
or communicated with them. I ascertained that Major Eckert had literally
complied with his instructions, and I saw for the first time the answer
of the Richmond gentlemen to him, which in his dispatch to me of the 1st
he characterizes as "not satisfactory." That answer is as follows, to
wit:

CITY POINT, VA., _February 1, 1865_.

THOMAS T. ECKERT,
_Major and Aid-de-Camp_.

MAJOR: Your note, delivered by yourself this day, has been considered.
In reply we have to say that we were furnished with a copy of the letter
of President Lincoln to Francis P. Blair, esq., of the 18th of January
ultimo, another copy of which is appended to your note.

Our instructions are contained in a letter of which the following is
a copy: