LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT,--I send you a telegram written by the President himself, in answer to yours of this evening, which I have signed by his order. I will add that General Ord's conduct in holding intercourse with General Longstreet upon political questions not committed to his charge, is not approved. The same thing was done, in one instance, by Major Keys, when the army was commanded by General McClellan, and he was sent to meet Howell Cobb on the subject of exchanges; and it was in that instance, as in this, disapproved. You will please, in future, instruct officers appointed to meet rebel officers to confine themselves to the matters specially committed to them. (Signed) EDWIN M. STANTON, _Secretary of War_. On the succeeding day a dispatch was received from General Grant in cipher, of which the following is a translation:-- CITY POINT, March 4, 1865. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: Your dispatch of the 3d, midnight, received. I have a letter to General Lee, copy of which will be sent you by to-morrow's mail. I can assure you that no act of the enemy will prevent me pressing all advantages gained to the utmost of my ability. Neither will I, under any circumstances, exceed my authority, or in any way embarrass the government. It was because I had no right to meet General Lee on the subject proposed by him, that I referred the matter for instructions. U. S. GRANT, _Lieutenant-General_. CHAPTER XVI. CONFLICT BETWEEN CIVIL AND MILITARY AUTHORITY.