WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, March 8, 1865 — 9.30 p.m.
(Received 9th.)
Lieutenant-General
GRANT,
City Point:
In reply to your
telegram in respect to trade with the enemy, I am unable to control the
influences that procure permits, but I understand that the President's passes
and permits are subject to your authority as commander-in-chief, and that,
notwithstanding any permit given by the Secretary of the Treasury or President
himself, you as commander may absolutely prohibit trade through your lines and
may seize goods in their transit either way, and may also prohibit individuals
crossing your lines. This, I understand, the effect of the instruction given
you by the President's order through me of February 7 and the President's
letter of same date. Military necessity is paramount to every other
consideration, and of that you, as commander of the forces in the field, are
the absolute and paramount judge. This I believe to be the President's own
view, and that every one who procures a trade permit or pass to go through the
lines from him does it impliedly subject to your sanction. You are so
instructed to act until further orders.
EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
_______________
See Also:
- Note of Major T. T. Eckert, March 9, 1865 – 10 a.m.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I Volume
46, Part 2 (Serial No. 96), p. 886-7
No comments:
Post a Comment