Mr. Seward to Mr.
Adams
No. 1311.]
Department of State,
Washington,
March 20, 1865.
Sir: Referring to your despatch of the 16th
ultimo, No. 879, so far as it relates to the transmission through the
military lines to the insurgent chief of the British official copy of
the note addressed by Earl Russell, under the date of
[Page 253]
the 13th ultimo, to Messrs. Mason, Slidell
and Mann, I now enclose for communication to Earl Russell, as promised
in my despatch of the 9th instant, No. 1294, a copy of a letter of the
15th instant, from the Assistant Secretary of War, which is accompanied
by a copy of one of the 13th instant from Lieutenant General Grant, and
of the Lieutenant General’s letter to the chief of the insurgent
military forces on the subject.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.,
Mr. Dana to Mr. Seward
War Department,
Washington City,
March 15, 1865.
Sir: Referring to your communication of the
8th instant, enclosing a paper received from Earl Russell, her
Britannic Majesty’s principal secretary of state for foreign
affairs, which you requested might be sent forward to the Lieutenant
General, with directions to cause the same to be conveyed by flag of
truce to General Lee, and asking to be informed of the Lieutenant
General’s proceedings in the premises, the Secretary of War
instructs me to transmit the accompanying copy of a communication
and of its enclosure from Lieutenant General Grant, to whom the
instructions desired by you were given on the 9th instant.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
C. A. DANA, Assistant Secretary of
War.
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State.
General Grant to Mr. Stanton
Headquarters Armies of The
United States,
City Point, Virginia,
March 13,
1865.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your communication of date 9th instant,
transmitting letter of Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of
State, forwarding communication of Earl Russell, and to inform
you that, in compliance with your instructions, I have this day
forwarded the same by flag of truce to General R. E. Lee,
commanding confederate armies.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant
General.
Hon. E. M. Stanton,
Secretary of War.
General Grant to General Lee
Headquarters Armies of the
United States,
March 13,
1865.
General: Enclosed with this I send you
copy of a communication from Earl Russell, secretary of state
for foreign affairs, England, to Messrs. Mason, Slidell, and
Mann. The accompanying copy of a note from the Hon. William H.
Seward, Secretary of State, to the Secretary of War, explains
the reason for sending it to you.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant
General.
General R. E. Lee, Commanding Confederate States
Armies.
