Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward.
Sir: The Daimio’s forces referred to in my dispatch No. 32, of the 2d instant, forming the advance of the Mikado’s army, have slowly marched toward Yedo, taking possession, as they proceeded, of the various stations on the Tokaido or main road, the Tycoon’s officials in charge quietly retiring before them.
The first men of this advance are reported to have arrived in Yedo on the 5th instant; others soon followed also by the other roads, and their number this day in that capital is variously estimated at from three to ten thousand men. They belong to the Daimios of Satsuma, Choshin, Bezen, Omura, and a few others of inferior rank, and are scattered all over that city.
The Tycoon remains in the temple of Wuyeno; he is said to have a strong and well-appointed guard for his protection.
Shortly after the arrival of the first men of this advance the people began moving away; the women and children were being sent into the country.
The behavior of these first men is reported to have been overbearing in the extreme; they helped themselves freely to whatever they needed without paying for such purchases. The people, on making complaint to [Page 720] their authorities, were assured that “all would soon be well;” their losses were properly authenticated, and claims filed in due form. The impression prevailed that as soon as the Mikado’s envoy should make his appearance with the main body of his forces a satisfactory arrangement of some kind would soon be arrived at. But the envoy has now for nearly two weeks remained in the castle of Futshu, in the province of Swuaga, some seventy miles from Yedo, and at some twenty miles to the westward of the Hacone Pass, and it is surmised that the arrangement in contemplation in Yedo, the furthermost point from his base of operations, might not be satisfactory to him, and that he prefers to await developments on his own side of that Hacone Pass.
From a good source I learned that two of this envoy’s lieutenants arrived in Yedo, and that a demand had been made on the Tycoon to surrender his castle, an immense inclosure of some six miles in circumference, and situated in the center of the city; further, to surrender his army, his navy, and his treasury, his own person to be placed in charge of the Prince of Bezen, and all his own people to vacate their houses and to withdraw to certain named outskirts of Yedo.
These extravagant demands have not been complied with, and as yet no collision has taken place. The people continued sending their women and children away until the 10th instant, when, during the afternoon of that day, word was passed that there would be no fighting in Yedo, and that there was no cause for alarm. This change must have been caused by the intelligence brought by the Mia Sama, a relative of the Mikado and a friend of the Tycoon, who, on behalf of the latter, proceeded to Kioto some time ago, and whose return to Yedo took place on the next day, the 11th instant. As soon as it became known, however, that the Mia Sama, or high priest, did not intend to remain in Yedo, but to proceed northward without delay, the removal from that city by the people became greater than ever. Should this continue at the present rate, there will be scarcely any one left in Yedo within a few days but men, and it is not unreasonable to expect that there will then be an outbreak.
From Kioto and Osaka rumors reached here that the Mikado had been carried off by the Prince of Kshü and confederates. This is the same prince, a member of the Tokugawa family, in whose favor the Tycoon intended to abdicate. This rumor is not credited, though it reached here from an apparently reliable source.
Something, however, has no doubt occurred in that part of Japan, as the rumors of frequent fighting in the vicinity of Kioto have come in during the last three days persistently and repeatedly, and it is not improbable that the evident hesitation of the envoy to march on Yedo may be caused by the state of affairs in his rear, which is reported as deplorable and disorganized in the extreme.
The foregoing is intelligence received through sources as reliable as can be found in this country, and, of course not official, as there is apparently no government with whom any intercourse can be carried on.
The governors of this port are still at their post, and in Yedo there are local authorities directing, only as far as known, the municipal affairs in that city.
The arrival of the Stonewall is now daily looked for. The Monocacy and Iroquois are both in port. No intelligence from Hiogo and Nagasaki has been received here for some time.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.