HdQrs C. S. Armies 18th Febry 1865 
Lt Gen U S Grant Comdg U S Armies, General, I have received your letter of the 16th isnt: and have submitted your proposition to release citizens held as prisoners by either party to the Secretary of War. 
I shall be glad if some arrangement can be made to relieve such persons from unnecessary suffering. I have no knowledge of the facts mentioned in the extract from the newspaper, but will direct inquiry to be made. I gave no order for the arrest of any citizen, and if it be true that those mentioned were taken by any of our forces, I presume they are held as hostages generally for persons of the same class in custody of the Federal Authorities, and not for particular individuals. 
Very respectfully 
Your obtservt 
R E Lee 
Genl