Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.
Sir: My despatches were delayed last week by reason of the interruption of the postal and telegraphic lines between this city and Philadelphia. An insurgent force, of unascertained strength, was then in front of this capital, but it had not excited serious alarm. The enemy withdrew by night, on the 12th instant, and has since retired into Virginia. Not only the actual number of the intruding force, but also its expectations and purposes, yet, remain a subject of earnest speculation. I express on these points conclusions which I have drawn chiefly from my own inquiries and observations.
General Hunter, in May last, leaving a considerable portion of his command at Harper’s Ferry and its vicinity, proceeded up the valley of Virginia-to operate [Page 221] upon the western and south western military communications of Richmond. He effected his object. Before that time, however, Lee had organized a column and sent it out to resist and chastise Hunter. This column is understood to have been twenty-two thousand men, besides cavalry. It largely exceeded Hunter’s forces. Hunter retired before it, and proceeded safely to the Ohio river. There he gathered transport, and put his weary column in motion upon the river, designing to disembark at Parkersburg, and return thence by railroad to Harper’s Ferry. A season of unusual drought intervened, and the waters of the Ohio fell, rendering the moving of the transports slow and difficult. The residuary force at Harper’s Ferry was not formidable, and so, practically, the valley was left open for the insurgent columns which Hunter had left behind him at Lynchburg. That column remounted the dismounted cavalry, with horses taken in its progress, and was probably re-enforced by recruits also, and thus strengthened came down the valley. General Sigel retired before the intruders, first from Martinsburg to Harper’s Ferry, and then across the Potomac to Maryland heights, on the opposite bank. The enemy once more broke the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and unopposed made their way over the upper fords of the Potomac, crossed the South Mountain, and arrived at Frederick. In the mean time Hunter’s forces, arriving at Parkersburg, were making their way, although too late, yet with good success, towards Harper’s Ferry, and General Grant, at Petersburg, sent up the 6th army corps to insure the, safety of Baltimore and Washington. The 19th army corps from Red river, then at sea, were under orders to join the army of the Potomac on the James river. Orders were now given that this 19th corps, on coming in at Fortress Monroe, should, without disembarkation, proceed to Washington. While the enemy approached Frederick, General Wallace, combining a few troops that could be spared from the garrison at Baltimore with Rickets’s division, the only portion of the 6th corps that had yet arrived, then proceeded to Frederick, expecting there to effect a junction with Hunter; but he had not yet reached Harper’s Ferry. General Wallace, with his very scanty forces, on the 9th instant, took a position in front of the bridge at Monocacy, which is a key equally to Washington and Baltimore. The enemy, with a force double that of Wallace, and also a great advantage of position, after a bloody battle, which lasted eight hours, carried the bridge, and Wallace fell back along the line of the railroad to Ellicott’s Mills. The loss of the enemy was at least equal to our own in that protracted and heroic conflict. The enemy, however, encountered no opposing force in Maryland. They scattered their cavalry northward, eastward, and southward, and struck the Pennsylvania Central railroad, and then the Philadelphia and Baltimore railroad, at Gunpowder creek, the suburbs of Baltimore, the suburbs of Washington, and the Washington branch of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, near Bladensburg. Their infantry and artillery forces were under command of Early, who was supported by Breckinridge and McCausland. They deployed in a south-easterly direction from Rockyille to Leesburg, which is on the continuation of what is known in this city as 7th street. From this line they threw forward a considerable force for observation, and thus menaced Fort Stevens.
This observing force remained in that position from Monday morning until Tuesday evening, and the space between them and the fortifications was a scene of uninterrupted skirmishes between the cavalry and sharpshooters of the respective parties. While the enemy were making these demonstrations, the fortifications which were threatened were duly manned by the troops belonging to the garrison, by newly raised levies, and by portions of the 6th corps and of the 19th corps, which had by this time begun to debark at the wharves.. A force of 2,000 men sent out from Fort Stevens on Tuesday evening assaulted the enemy with spirit and decision. They retired to their main line. In this engagement each party lost about 300 killed and wounded. That night the enemy’s sharpshooters were replaced by cavalry pickets, and on Wednesday [Page 222] morning, the 13th, their cavalry disappeared. At the same time, the insurgents withdrew from the vicinity of Baltimore, and a column of considerable strength was despatched on the afternoon of the 13th from this city to pursue the enemy across the Potomac. Telegraphic connexion was promptly restored, and the railroads in all directions, although not altogether repaired, are carrying their freights and passengers to and from Philadelphia with almost their customary punctuality.
Doubtlessly the enemy thought, when he found the valley open to him, that a raid into Maryland would yield him supplies of provisions and horses to compensate the risk and cost. Doubtlessly he thought it possible that he might surprise the government in a defenceless condition at Baltimore and Washington. Doubtlessly, also, he reckoned upon some political effect to result from a panic to be excited by even the menace of Washington. Finally, it is well established that he expected through that panic to oblige the general government to raise the siege of Petersburg.
General Grant is still persevering in the siege. The news that General Sherman has at last pursued the enemy from all his mountain fastnesses, and is now between the Chattahoochee and Atlanta, is confirmed. His communications still remain unbroken, and the forces which protect them have suffered no discomfiture. He is now advancing upon Atlanta.
We are preparing to call out additional forces, in the hope of closing the war with the present campaign.
Insurgent emissaries have appeared on the Canada frontier. They are ostentatiously making it known to the timid and the treacherous that they have come with offers of peace. Credulous persons believe them. But thus far, although there are channels enough for any overtures, none have been made to the government. It is not unlikely that the real object of the pretended commissioners is an intrigue, with a view to effect upon the annual election. The Florida, making Bermuda her base, has been committing depredations off the capes of the Chesapeake. A proper force has been sent out to find her.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles F. Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.