Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.
Sir: Your despatches of December 24 (No. 280) and December 25 (No. 281) have been received at an hour too late to allow a mature consideration of them before the departure of the mails.
The information concerning military events announced by my last despatches has been in part confirmed. General Rosecrans obtained a decisive and profitable victory at Murfreesboro’. General Sherman, on the other hand, was repulsed at Vicksburg. You will find the information of the press on the result of the affair confused and unsatisfactory. It is, therefore, proper for me to say that directions have been given to Major General Grant to reorganize and renew the expedition immediately, and in a very effectual manner.
Our small force at Galveston seems to have been surprised and dislodged at the moment when re-enforcements were about to enter the harbor to secure the occupation of the place. The misfortune is not a serious one.
Large land forces and an iron-clad fleet are advancing towards Charleston, and it will be not unreasonable to expect the occurrence of some important events there any time after the close of the present week.
The public attention is now fastened upon the financial measures which are engaging the consideration of Congress. As is customary with fiscal questions, they excite the utmost anxiety. There is, however, good ground to expect a settlement of the subject upon a practical and acceptable basis.
Our advance in the great national transaction in which we are engaged is seen in the fact that Congress is, for the first time, found seriously engaged with the proposition to aid some of the slaveholding States in their efforts for emancipation. A bill of that character, affecting the State of Missouri, has passed the House of Representatives, and is now under consideration in the Senate.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.