acceptable to Mr. Davis.
If they at all harmonize with Mr. Lincoln's views, we will report them to him, and so open the door for official negotiations.
Are you acquainted with Mr. Lincoln's views?
One of us is, fully.
Did Mr. Lincoln, in aMr. Lincoln, in any way, authorize you to come here?
No, sir. We came with his pass, but not by his request.
We say, distinctly, we have n Union at every sacrifice.
The majority are in favor of Mr. Lincoln, and nearly all of those opposed to him are opposed to hion Bill-and the people are more radical than the House. Mr. Lincoln, I know, is about to call out five hundred thousand moreNo Confiscation, and Universal Amnesty — the terms which Mr. Lincoln authorized you to offer us?
No, sir, Mr. Lincoln didMr. Lincoln did not authorize me to offer you any terms.
But I think both he and the Northern people, for the sake of peace, would assent t
As we were leaving the room, he added:
Say to Mr. Lincoln from me, that I shall at any time be pleased to receive
ves the destruction of your improvements we cannot help it. You have heretofore read public sentiment in your newspapers, that live by falsehood and excitement, and the quicker you seek for truth in other quarters, the better for you.
I repeat, then, that by the original compact of government, the United States had certain rights in Georgia, which have never been relinquished.
and never will be; that the South began war by seizing forts, arsenals, mints, custom-houses, etc., long before Lincoln was installed, and before the South had one jot or little of provocation. I, myself, have seen in Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi, hundreds and thousands of women and children fleeing from your armies and desperadoes, hungry.
and with bleeding feet.
In Memphis, Vicksburg, and Mississippi, we fed thousands upon thousands of the families of rebel soldiers left on our hands, and whom we could not see starve.
Now that war comes home to you, you feel very different — you deprec
ont and made signals.
No attention was paid to him, however, and continued firing was kept up, and one man killed.
Captain Wilson was compelled to advance to the bank of the river, where he hailed the fleet.
A boat was sent to the shore, the officers and crew having their pistols in hand and fully cocked, evidently mistrusting us. As soon as it became known who we were, the sailors gave us three hearty cheers, and our column advanced to near the bank of the river, our bands playing The Lincoln gunboat's come.
Major-General Sheridan at once sent out to communicate with Major-General Butler, apprising him of our arrival and the scanty state of our forage and rations.
Our immediate wants were promptly supplied, and a despatch boat instantly provided to start for Fortress Monroe to communicate with — the War Department.
Our men, for three days previous to our arrival at the James river, had literally lived off the country, as many poor families who have lost the whole of their s
