Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.
Sir: No significant military event has occurred in the region beyond the Mississippi since my last notice of the campaign. A considerable force which was sent out by General Washburn, under command of General Sturgis, encountered the insurgents, led by Forrest, and was repulsed and routed. This reverse excited apprehensions here for the safety of General Sherman’s communications. Later information assures us that although the defeat of Sturgis was complete, yet the losses were greatly exaggerated. General Sherman, on hearing of it, promptly assured us that he had taken adequate measures to guard against any serious embarrassments which might otherwise result from that unfortunate occurrence. During the last week we were kept well apprised by General Sherman of his own position, and the uncertain attitude of his opponent, Johnston. Last night General Sherman announced that Johnston had again retreated, and that our whole army are pursuing the insurgents as far as the Chattahoochee river, where we understand Johnston will probably make a new stand for the defence of Atlanta. We have heard from General Hunter’s flying column only through the insurgent papers at Petersburg and Richmond. From these reports we infer that he is still operating either against Charlottesville or against Lynchburg. The insurgents claim to have defeated Sheridan’s cavalry on the Virginia and Tennessee railroad, near Gordonsville, with severe loss, but this is erroneous; he obtained a victory, with substantial fruits in the engagement in which he is reported to have been beaten. But afterwards, on arriving at Gordonsville, he found that place too well defended by an infantry force to be carried by assault; he therefore retired, and when he was last heard from was at West Point, on the York river, it is supposed in communication with General Grant. You will read in the newspapers Lieutenant General Grant’s modest but clear account of his success in transferring the army of the Potomac, without any loss, from its position in front and within fifty yards of the enemy on the north bank of the Chickahominy, across that river, and also across the James river, to the south bank of the James, below Petersburg, at the same time re-enforcing General Butler at Bermuda Hundred. The movement, as I before wrote you, began on the evening of the 12 th instant, and was [Page 175] entirely completed on the 15th. Immediately upon obtaining his new position, Lieutenant General Grant began a series of assaults against Petersburg. The place was found strongly defended. Some of the outer intrenchments have been carried with a considerable capture of prisoners and guns, and these defences are still held; yet the enemy has not been displaced from Petersburg. It is understood that Lee has strongly re-enforced Beauregard, who defends Petersburg, and that he has recovered the railroad which connects that place with Richmond, and which at one time fell into the hands of General Butler. Some of the prisoners state that they have just arrived from Tennessee, and this fact implies that Lee has been re-enforced from Johnston’s army; but the evidences of it are not conclusive. I do not know that I could say more to render the military situation intelligible; but, in view of the discredit with which all accounts of our operations are met in Europe, I may not improperly add that our commanding generals, and all our military authorities, regard the progress which the armies have made with satisfaction.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
[Same to other ministers in Europe.]