Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.
Sir: The insurgent force which, under command of Early, threatened Washington and Baltimore in July, and then retired across the Potomac, is still in the lower part of the valley, near Grafton. One detachment of it, as you have been already informed, was defeated by General Kelly at New Creek, and subsequently another was routed with severe loss by General Averill. Since that time hostile forces are understood to have been concentrating and retiring up the valley before the pursuit of the Union column, now under command of Major General Sheridan. We are informed that considerable re-enforcements have been sent down to Early by Lee from his army in Petersburg. In consequence of this measure, the column of Major General Sheridan has been materially strengthened, and we may expect soon to hear of a serious collision in the valley. Profound silence prevails in regard to the operations at Petersburg.
The siege of Atlanta has, during the last week, been attended by no startling incident.
We have not yet received any official reports of the movement against Mobile. Newspaper statements of the 7th instant, at New Orleans, represent the naval engagement to have been very brilliant and successful. They say that our fleet had passed the insurgent line of obstructions in the bay, and would proceed to cross the bar in front of the city. Richmond papers give reports from Mobile of the 9th instant. They are silent concerning operations there after the naval conflict, in which Admiral Farragut passed the forts.
Major General Oanby has, for strategic reasons, withdrawn our forces from Brownsville, and the blockade of that port has been re-established.
A new piratical vessel named the Tallahassee has appeared off the coast of New York, and committed a series of vexatious depredations. She is said to be an English-built vessel, and is supposed to have been armed at Bermuda. I wait for definite information on these points, to determine whether there is occasion for representations to her Majesty’s government concerning the Tallahassee. Notwithstanding a seeming decline of public spirit during the political canvass, recruiting has been resumed, and is carried on with considerable success.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
[Same, mutatis mutandis, to other ministers in Europe.]