Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.
Sir: Your despatch of May 2 (No. 150) has been received. The principal military event of the past week has been the recovery of the important port and town of Pensacola.
Of our seaports there yet remain in the occupation of the insurgents only Wilmington, in North Carolina, Charleston, in South Carolina, Mobile, in Alabama, Galveston, in Texas—all of which are, nevertheless, very effectually blockaded.
Preparations are made for their immediate recovery. Thus we expect that, within the next four weeks, the authority of the Union will be entirely restored along the whole Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the country. Trade resuming its legitimate character will begin anew on the first of June at the several ports of Beaufort, Port Royal, and New Orleans, and we shall not be slow in extending the same benefits to other ports. The temptations to contraband trade are rapidly passing away, and it is to be hoped that that great and disturbing annoyance will speedily cease to irritate at home and abroad.
The conflict henceforth will be between land forces in the interior of the country, and perhaps the battles impending at Richmond and Corinth may close the unnatural war. It would be idle to speculate of the probabilities of the results of those combats. They are imminent. I will say only that [Page 96] our armies are as strong, vigorous, and enthusiastic, as they are well appointed. Their supplies, also, are adequate, and are not in any case likely to fail. Every day exhausts the insurgents, and deprives them of needful resources and facilities for military operations.
I send for your information a copy of a circular which has been addressed by this department to the consuls of the United States upon the subject of licenses for trade at the several ports where the blockade is to be relaxed from and after the first of June next by effect of the President’s proclamation.
I observe that speculations concerning foreign intervention were again rising in Europe at the date of our last advices thence, and certain remarks made by one of the ministry at Manchester have been thought here indicative of a disposition of that kind growing up in Great Britain. It is regretted that such incidents should occur just at the moment when this country is so manifestly about to return to a condition of repose and peace. Nevertheless they may exert a salutary influence, by inducing Congress to put the land and naval forces of the country upon a footing which will not permit it to be agitated again by intrigues to introduce foreign enemies to settle domestic strifes.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.