January 29, 1865---Unexpected Guests

JANUARY 29, 1865:                    

The Confederate Peace Commissioners arrive at Union lines without notice. A flurry of telegrams passes between the front line, General Grant’s headquarters at City Point, the War Department and The White House, among which are these:

'Alex. H. Stephens, R. M. T. Hunter, and J. A. Campbell desire to cross my lines, in accordance with an understanding claimed to exist with Lieutenant-General Grant, on their way to Washington as peace commissioners. Shall they be admitted? They desire an early answer, to come through immediately. Would like to reach City Point to-night, if they can. If they cannot do this, they would like to come through at 10 a.m. to-morrow morning. 

'O. B. WILLCOX,

' Major-General, Commanding Ninth Corps.'

and

"Respectfully referred to the President for such instructions as he may be pleased to give. 

"EDWIN M. STANTON,

 "Secretary of War."

President Lincoln finds himself in a bind. The unexpected arrival of the Peace Commissioners is timed (whether by chance or by intention) to throw the ongoing debate and the upcoming vote on the Thirteenth Amendment into chaos. Believing that the Confederates are about to surrender, many fence-sitting Congressmen who have doubts about Emancipation suddenly announce that they will not vote for the Amendment if the war can be ended without it. 

Lincoln has to convince the fence-sitters that there is no chance of peace without Emancipation, but as long as the meeting is pending he cannot prove any such thing, and if he meets with the Southerners he may ultimately be accused of trading peace for Emancipation. Playing for time, Lincoln stalls. And "Honest Abe" fibs to Congress.