Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.
Sir: During the past week public attention has been concentrated upon Atlanta. When General Sherman had fully crossed the Chattahoochee, the insurgent General Johnson was replaced by Hood. On the 22d instant General Sherman was disposing of his columns with a view to an advance. On the [Page 225] other hand, the enemy, after manoeuvring with skill, fell upon the column of McPherson with great vehemence. That able and magnanimous commander fell by the ball of a sharpshooter before the battle began. His command was assumed by General Logan. The battle became general, and was fought with great tenacity. The enemy was repulsed at every point and our forces held the battle-field. Our whole loss was about two thousand. We found one thousand of the enemy’s dead on the field, and their aggregate loss was seven thousand.
A large part of the city of Atlanta, although now defended by Hood’s army, lies within the range of our guns. The city has four railroad military communications. The road to Chattanooga is held by our forces. The road to Augusta has been destroyed by General Sherman, throughout a distance of fifty miles. The road to Montgomery, in Alabama, has been effectually broken at Opelika. The road leading to Macon alone remains. It is probable that it will not escape the attention of General Sherman.
I have just returned from a visit to General Grant in front of Petersburg. His army is in excellent condition. While he has no fear that the enemy will attempt to assail him, he is at the same time neither idle nor embarrassed concerning a plan of operations. The insurgent raiding force which lately visited Maryland retired up the valley before General Wright. He returned to his camp near Georgetown. The enemy then retraced their steps, and are now again advancing towards Harper’s Ferry. Our military authorities are on the alert.
The insurgent political agents, Clay and Holcomb, who, as I wrote you last week, had appeared in Canada, attempting to practice upon the American people by protestations of a readiness on the part of the insurgents at Richmond to make peace on compatible terms, were last week brought directly to an explanation, which resulted in showing to the whole world, what was already well understood here, that the rebel military cabal indulges no thought of peace, except through the dissolution of the Union. How could it be otherwise? Propositions for peace must come, not through the conspirators’ council chamber, but behind it.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
[Same to other ministers in Europe.]