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:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
_Washington, January 31, 1865_.
Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,
_Secretary of State_:
You will proceed to Fortress Monroe, Va., there to meet and informally
confer with Messrs. Stephens, Hunter, and Campbell on the basis of my
letter to F.P. Blair, esq., of January 18, 1865, a copy of which you
have.
You will make known to them that three things are indispensable, to wit: