Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part II

Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.

No. 1087.]

Department of State, Washington, September 19, 1864.

Sir: Your despatch of the 1st of September, No. 770, has been received. At the time it was written there was apparent reason for apprehending that our country was becoming willing, if not to forego, at least to hazard the vital interest of national integrity in its impatience for an end of the civil war. The public mind here was at that time very despondent. A complex campaign, which had been expected to be easy as well as short, sharp, and decisive, had proved to be laborious, long, and sanguinary, without assurance of favorable result.

A presidential canvass was bringing apparently into one compact and efficient organization not only all that portion of the people which, although loyal in its desires and purposes, opposes the administration upon questions of administrative policy, but also all the disaffected and disloyal citizens, who, from any per-verseness of judgment, of conscience, or of sympathy, are willing, directly or indirectly, to lend aid to the insurgents. The inevitable conflict between radicalism and conservatism broadly revealed itself in the popular mass, upon which the executive government necessarily depends for political support, and personal ambitions, preferences, and prejudices co-operated, threatening ruinous disorganization. This unfortunate condition of things culminated in the last days of August. The ocean no longer breaks either the current of human intercourse or that of human sympathy. To European eyes our affairs wore at that time exactly the same gloomy and portentous aspect that they presented to our own.

But I have the pleasure to inform you, although I suppose it is really unnecessary to do so, that the unsatisfactory condition of things which I have thus described has suddenly changed, and that the American people now appear to be as resolute and as confident as on the 29th of August they seemed vacillating and despondent.

The capture of Fort Morgan, by combined land and naval forces, came as a cheerful relief, proving that the war was being prosecuted, not only with perseverance, but with prospect of success. The opposition convention at Chicago placed their candidates, General McClellan and Mr. Pendleton, before the people distinctly upon the ground that the military defence of the Union had failed, and had been found hopeless, and that there must be a cessation of hostilities, with a future reference to an ultimate and probably impracticable convention. This extraordinary proceeding was followed by a sudden and effective revelation that the platform thus adopted by the convention at Chicago had been previously framed in an unlawful intrigue at Niagara, between avowed official agents of the rebels and some of their partisan sympathizers who reside within our own mili tary lines, and that British enemies of the United States were initiated into the intrigue, and active in carrying it into effect.

In the same conjuncture it happily appeared that volunteers were coming in to re-enforce the army as fast as was needful, practically to lighten if not altogether avert the necessity for a draft. Finally, General Sherman surprised equally the enemy and the whole country by a felicitous strategetical stroke with which he captured Atlanta, and thus achieved the great object of that part of the campaign which had been wisely assigned to him.

Nor ought I to omit that the public credit, so long cramped and straitened by a combination of timid hoarders and sordid speculators in gold, broke loose, and adequate subscriptions were freely made for the government loans.

These events have reinspired the public mind in the loyal States, and we have more evidences than it would seem wise to communicate that the insurrectionary States are beginning to consider with seriousness the question of submission to the authority of the Union.

At the moment of closing the mail a gratifying despatch comes to my hands announcing a brilliant victory of our troops at Winchester. The despatch is annexed.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.

[Same to other ministers in Europe.]

[Untitled]

Winchester, Virginia, September 19, 1864—7.30 p. m.

I have the honor to report that I attacked the forces of General Early over the Berryville pike, at the crossing of the Opequan creek, and after a most stubborn and sanguinary engagement, which lasted from early in the morning until five (5) o’clock in the evening, completely defeated him, driving him through Winchester, and capturing about twenty-five hundred (2,500) prisoners, five (5) pieces of artillery, nine (.9) army flags, and most of their wounded.

The rebel Generals Rhodes and Gordon were killed, and three other general officers wounded.

Most of the enemy’s wounded and all their killed fell into our hands. Our losses were severe, among them General D. A. Russell, commanding division in sixth (6th) corps, who was killed by a cannon ball; Generals Upton, Mcintosh, and Chapman were wounded. I cannot yet tell our losses.

The conduct of the officers and men was most superb; they charged and carried every position taken up by the rebels from Opequan creek to Winchester. The rebels were strong in numbers, and very obstinate in their fighting.

I desire to mention to the lieutenant general commanding the army the gallant conduct of Generals Wright, Crook, Emory, Torbert, and the officers and men under their command; to them the country is indebted for this handsome victory. A more detailed report will be forwarded.

P. H. SHERIDAN, Major General Commanding.

Lieutenant General U. S. Grant.