"A Rebel Diary." Vol. II., p. 384. CHAP. V. and figures, which a few weeks later he embodied Jones, in a formal report, showing the South to be in War Clerk's practical exhaustion. Lee sent a dispatch saying he had not two days' rations for his army. RichJan. 11, 1865. mond was already in a panic at rumors of evacuation. Flour was selling at a thousand dollars a barrel in Confederate currency. The recent fall of Fort Fisher had closed the last avenue through which blockade runners could bring them foreign supplies. Governor Brown of Georgia was refusing to obey orders from Richmond and characterIbid., p. 395. izing them as "usurping" and "despotic." Under such circumstances a defiant cry of independence would not reassure anybody; nor, on the other hand, was it longer possible to remain silent. Mr. Blair's first visit to Richmond had created general interest. Old friends plied him with eager questions and laid his truthful answers concerning their gloomy prospects solemnly to heart. The fact of his secret consultation with Davis transpired. When Mr. Blair came a second time and held a second secret consultation with the rebel President wonder and rumor rose to fever heat. Impelled to take action, Mr. Davis had not the courage to be frank. He called, first, Vice-President Stephens, and afterwards his Cabinet, to a discussion of the project. A peace commission of three was appointed, consisting of Alexander H. Stephens, Vice-President; R. M. T. Hunter, Senator and ex-Secretary of State, and John A. Campbell, Assistant Secretary of War- all of them convinced that the rebellion was hopeless, and yet unwilling to admit the logical consequences and necessities. The drafting of instructions for the Benjamin to Davis, May 17, 1877. guidance of the commissioners was a difficult prob- CHAP. V. lem, since the explicit condition prescribed by Mr. Lincoln's note was that he would only receive an agent sent him "with the view of securing peace to the people of our one common country." The astute Mr. Benjamin, rebel Secretary of State, in order to make the instructions "as vague and general as "Southern possible," proposed the simple direction to confer upon the subject to which it relates." His action and language were broad enough to carry the inference that in his secret heart he, too, was sick of rebellion and ready to make terms. Whether it was so meant or not, his chief refused to receive the delicate suggestion. 66 Historical pp., 212-214. With the ruin and defeat of the Confederate cause staring him full in the face Davis could bring himself neither to a dignified refusal nor to a resigned acceptance of the form of negotiation as Mr. Lincoln had tendered it. Even in the gulf of war and destitution into which he had led his people he could not forego the vanity of masquerading as a champion. He was unwilling, says Mr. Benjamin, to appear to betray his trust as Confederate President. "You thought, from regard to your personal honor, that your language ought to be such as to render impossible any malignant comment on your actions." But if so, why Ibid., p. 213. not adopt the heroic alternative and refuse to negotiate? Why resort to the yet more humiliating absurdity of sending a commission on terms which he knew Mr. Lincoln had pointedly rejected? 1 1 [INDORSEMENT BY MR. LINCOLN.] the original, of which the within "To-day [January 28] Mr. is a copy, and left it with him; Blair tells me that on the 21st that at the time of delivering it instant he delivered to Mr. Davis Mr. Davis read it over twice in 1865. CHAP. V. Instead of Mr. Benjamin's phraseology, Jefferson Davis wrote the following instruction to the commissioners, which carried a palpable contradiction on its face. RICHMOND, January 28, 1865. In conformity with the letter of Mr. Lincoln, of which the foregoing is a copy, you are requested to proceed to "Southern Washington City for informal conference with him upon the issues involved in the existing war, and for the purpose of securing peace to the two countries. Your obedient servant, Historical Vol. IV., Autograph Mr. Blair's presence, at the close JEFFERSON Davis. of Mr. Davis's letter about the CHAPTER VI THE HAMPTON ROADS CONFERENCE CHAP. VI. Wilcox to Parke, Jan. 29, MS. Ord, Jan. 29, 1865, 10 P. M. MS. ITH this double-meaning credential the commissioners presented themselves at the Union lines near Richmond on the evening of January 29, 1865, and, instead of frankly showing their authority, asked admission "in accordance with an understanding claimed to exist with Lieutenant-General Grant, on their way to Washington as peace commissioners." The application being telegraphed 1865. to Washington, Mr. Stanton answered that no one should be admitted under such character or Stanton to profession until the President's instructions were received. Mr. Lincoln, being apprised of the application, promptly dispatched Major Thomas T. Eckert an officer of the War Department, with written directions to admit the commissioners under safe conduct if they would say in writing that they came for the purpose of an informal conference on the basis of his note of January 18 to Mr. Blair, "with the view of securing peace to the people of our one common country." Before 1865. this officer arrived, however, the commissioners reconsidered the form of their application and addressed a new one to General Grant, asking permission "to proceed to Washington to hold a conference with President Lincoln upon the subVOL. X.-8 113 Lincoln to CHAP. VI. ject of the existing war, and with a view of Stephens, ascertaining upon what terms it may be termiand Hunter nated, in pursuance of the course indicated by him in his letter to Mr. Blair of January 18, 1865." Campbell, to Grant, Jan. 30, 1865. MS. Pursuant to this request, they were provisionally conveyed to Grant's headquarters. One of them records with evident surprise the unostentatious surroundings of the General-in-Chief. "I was instantly struck with the great simplicity and perfect naturalness of his manners, and the entire absence of everything like affectation, show, or even the usual military air or mien of men in his position. He was plainly attired, sitting in a log cabin, busily writing on a small table, by a kerosene lamp. It was night when we arrived. There was nothing in his appearance or surroundings which indicated his official rank. There were neither guards nor aids about him. . . He furnished us with comfortable quarters on board one of his dispatch boats. The more I became acquainted with him, the more I became thoroughly impressed with the very extraordinary combination of rare elements of character which he exhibited. During the time, he met us frequently and conversed freely upon various subjects, not much upon our Stephens, mission. I saw, however, very clearly that he was the States," Very anxious for the proposed conference to take "War between Vol. II., p. 597. place." The commissioners' note to Grant had been a substantial compliance with the requirement of President Lincoln; and so accepting it, the latter, on the 31st of January, sent Secretary Seward to meet them, giving him for this purpose the following written instructions. |