Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part III

Mr. Seward to Mr. Geofroy

Department of State, Washington, November 21, 1864.

Sir: Referring to your note of the 31st ultimo, relative to the embarcation of such French subjects as may desire to leave the insurrectionary States, I have the honor to enclose, in reply, a copy of a letter of the 14th instant from the War Department, together with that of a communication from Lieutenant General Grant, to whose consideration the matter was submitted. Accept, sir, a renewed assurance of my high consideration.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Mr. L. de Geofroy, &c., &c., &c.

Mr. Dana to Mr. Seward

War Department, Washington City, November 14, 1864.

Sir: In reply to your letter of the 2d instant, transmitting a translation of a note from Mr. de Geofroy, relating to the embarcation of French subjects who desire to leave the insurgent region, which you requested might be referred to Lieutenant General Grant, I am instructed by the Secretary of War to enclose for your consideration a copy of the opinion of that officer, of the 10th 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, November 10, 1864.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, this date, of communications from the State Department to you, and referred by you for my consideration, relative “to the embarcation of French subjects who wish to leave the insurgent States,” and to respectfully say, in reply, that I will afford all necessary assistance and protection to the French vessel proposed to be sent to Aiken’s landing. I desire to be apprised of the time the vessel will be ready to proceed, that I may place an officer of the United States army on board, and give the necessary directions for her safe conduct.

Whilst I am ready any day to carry out this plan, if you so direct, I would prefer to send a vessel or vessels from here to Aiken’s landing (the highest point on the James river to which a flag-of-truce boat can go) and receive and convey to Fort Monroe, Norfolk, or Baltimore, all French subjects who may come there for the purpose named in the communications.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant General.

Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.