Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.
Sir: The defeat of the insurgents in Georgia, crowned by the capture of Atlanta, seems to have worked a change in their plan of operations. Hood moved his forces forward, with the co-operation of Wheeler and Forrest, to break Major General Sherman’s communications with his base at Nashville. That commander, who was well understood here to be exercising his usual vigilance, now reports that Hood, after having struck the railroad in the neighborhood of Dalton and Resaca, has fallen back before our forces, and without accepting battle has abandoned his projected plan of operations. The communications have not been seriously impaired. Hood’s retreat is understood to be in a southwesterly direction.
Major General Sheridan, on the 7th of October, began a withdrawal of his forces from Port Republic down the Shenandoah valley towards Front Royal. On the 8th, a large force of insurgent cavalry attacked his rear; a battle ensued, which resulted in a decisive victory in our favor. We captured eleven guns with complete equipment, and also three hundred prisoners. In the whole, thirty-six guns have been taken from Early’s army, which is believed to be more than half of its complement of artillery. Major General Sheridan destroyed the supplies of food and forage throughout the whole valley, and he is now coming into direct communication by railroad, with Washington. Just now he reports that the insurgent army in the valley is understood to have passed under the command. of Longstreet, and that on the 15th it reappeared in our front near Strasburg. Major General Crook being in the advance of Sheridan’s forces, assaulted, broke and dispersed the enemy, and he is understood to be retiring far up the valley.
The defeat of Early was followed by new guerilla attacks on our military lines. A train on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad was intercepted by the outlaw Moseby between Harper’s Ferry and Martinsburg. On the 16th, Moseby’s camp in the Blue Ridge mountains was surprised and his artillery was captured, together with several prisoners.
The enemy’s manoeuvres in Missouri are not yet fully developed, but our reports from that quarter are not unsatisfactory.
State elections were held last week in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland [Page 335] . In the two former States the results were conspicuously favorable to the Union cause. Some doubt hangs on the result in Pennsylvania and Maryland, but our latest information induces a belief that these States also have given their support to the administration. If this shall prove true of Maryland the effect will be of great value, as the successful vote ratifies the new constitution, which abolishes slavery in that State.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
[The same to other ministers in Europe.]