"
At nine o'clock the two men had entered the State Department and found
Jefferson Davis seated at the long table on the right of his Secretary
of State.
John Vaughan was given a seat at the other end of the table to report
the interview for Mr. Benjamin.
He studied the distinguished President of the Confederate States with
interest. He had never seen him before. His figure was extremely thin,
his features typically Southern in their angular cheeks and high cheek
bones. His iron-grey hair was long and thick and inclined to curl at the
ends. His whiskers were small and trimmed farmer fashion--on the lower
end of his strong chin. The clear grey eyes were full of vitality. His
broad forehead, strong mouth and chin denoted an iron will. He wore a
suit of greyish brown, of foreign manufacture, and as he rose, seemed
about five feet ten inches. His shoulders slightly stooped.
His manner was easy and graceful, his voice cultured and charming.
"I am glad to see you, gentlemen," he said. "You are very welcome to
Richmond."
"We thank you, Mr. Davis," Gilmore replied.
"Mr. Benjamin tells me that you have asked to see me to----"
He paused that the visitors might finish the sentence.
"Yes, sir," Jaquess answered. "Our people want peace, your people do. We
have come to ask how it may be brought about?"
"Withdraw your armies, let us alone and peace will come at once.
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