it evidently should not, according to our views, hes- the British nation, and that he itate about the determination to be taken.

"Lord Lyons is already instructed to present the demand for satisfaction, which the English Cabinet is under the necessity of reducing to form, and which consists in the immediate release of the persons taken from on board the Trent, and in sending explanations which may take from this act its offensive character toward the British flag. The Federal Government will be inspired by a just and exalted feeling in deferring to these requests. One would search in vain to what end, for what interest, it would hazard to provoke by a different attitude a rupture with Great Britain.

The French view.

is equally just in assuming that

Seward's Answer.

the United States would consistently vindicate, by their practice on this occasion, the character they have so long maintained as an advocate of the most liberal principles concerning the rights of neutral States in maritime war.

When the French Government shall come to see at large the views of this Government and those of the Government of Great Britain on the subject now in question, and to compare them with the views expressed by M. Thouvenel on the part of France, it will probably perceive that, while it must be admitted that those three powers are equally impressed with the same desire for the establishment of principles favorable to neutral rights, there is, at the same time, not such an entire agreement concerning the application of those principles as is desirable to secure that important object.

"The Government of the United States will be

"For ourselves, we should see in that fact a deplorable complication, in every respect, of the difficulties with which the Cabinet at Washington has already to struggle, and a precedeut of a nature seriously to disquiet all the powers which continue outside of the existing contest. We believe that we give evi- happy if the occasion which has elicited this corredence of loyal friendship for the Cabinet of Wash-spondence can be improved so as to secure a more ington by not permitting it to remain in ignorance, definite agreement upon the whole subject all by in this condition of things, of our manner of regard- maritime powers. ing it. I request you, therefore, sir, to seize the first occasion of opening yourself frankly to Mr. Seward, and, if he asks it, send him a copy of this dispatch.

"You will assure M. Thouvenel that this Government appreciates as well the frankness of his explanations as the spirit of friendship and good will towards the United States, in which they are

“Receive sir, the assurances of my high consider-expressed.

ation.

THOUVENEL.

"It is a sincere pleasure for the United States to

“Monsieur HENRI MERCIER, Minister of the Empe- exchange assurances of a friendship which had its ror at Washington."

“Before receiving the paper, however, the President had decided upon the disposition to be made of the subject, which has caused so much anxiety

in Europe. That disposition of the subject, as I think, renders unnecessary any discussion of it in reply to the comments of M. Thouvenel. I am permitted, however, to say that M. Thouvenel has not been in error in supposing-first, that the Government of the United States has not acted in any spirit of disregard of the rights or of the sensibilities of

origin in associations the most sacred in the history of both countries.

"I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to you, sir, the assurance of my high consideration. “WILLIAM H. SEWARD.”

Lord Lyons did not await the remission to his Government of Mr. Seward's reply in order to accept the terms conceded. The Confederate ambassadors were released Jan. 1st, passing out of the fort in a quiet manner to a tugboat in waiting. The tug conveyed them to Provincetown, where they were transferred to the British war steamer Rinaldo, which sailed, the same evening, for England. Thus ended an affair that gave promise of one of the most serious wars of modern times. That this country came out of the difficulty with honor, even its enemies confessed. The settlement was a staggering blow to those friends of the Southern Confederacy abroad who saw, in the impending collision, the surest way to Southern independence. signally defeated the combinations and ma

The Good Result.

It

were it possible for such an emotion to affect the hearts of men influenced by the ideas which appeared to prevail in the "influential circles" of British society during the fall of

chinations of the secessionists abroad whose | rebuke which must have been humiliating, sharpest weapons were falsehoods and misrepresentations. It materially qualified the effect of Jefferson Davis' message of November 18th, [see pages -] especially directed to the end of obtaining foreign sympathy. | the year 1861. To the great majority of English journals. which had fairly reeked with invective and defamation toward the United States Government, as a people and a power, it was a

The ambassadors arrived in London in the latter part of January, 1862, to enter upon the 'career of usefulness' prescribed by the Confederate President.

CHAPTER III.

AFFAIRS IN MISSOURI DURING HUNTER'S COMMAND.

BATTLE

SAD

EF

THE RETREAT
SPRINGFIELD. THE MISSOURI
SERVICE. NEW MILITARY DEPARTMENTS. CON-

OF BELMONT.
FECT OF
MILITIA IN

CONFEDERATE

FROM

CONGRATULATIONS.

CENTRATION

OF

OF FEDERAL
FREMONT PRICE

TREATY.

FORCES. HUNTER'S REPUDIATION "" THE "TREATY" AND HUNTER'S REASONS FOR REPUDIATING IT. FREMONT'S ERRORS.

THE

Affairs in Missouri.

Battle of Belmont.

IN Chapter IX. Division | from this purpose, and also V. we record the events of to prevent him from reenFremont's rule in Missouri, ending with his forcing Jeff Thompson's command, defeated suspension from command and the retreat of at Fredericksburg—which command Grant his army by orders of his successor, General hoped to capture or disperse by an expediHunter. We may now resume the narrative, tion under Colonel Ogilvie, then in the field considering events which transpired pending —a movement was ordered upon Belmont, General Halleck's assumption of the chief led by General Grant in person, assisted by command in that department. General McClernand. Wednesday evening, The operations of General Grant in the Nov. 6th, the Seventh Iowa, Colonel Lanman,、 District of Southeastern Missouri, during the Twenty-seventh Illinois, Colonel Buford, early part of November, properly belong to a Twenty-ninth, Colonel Fouke, Thirtieth, record of the campaign in Missouri, although Colonel Logan, Twenty-second, Colonel he acted independently and reported directly to headquarters at Washington,

Battle of Belmont.

While Fremont was pressing forward to engage the forces of Price and McCullough, apprehensions were entertained by General Grant of the Confederate General Polk, commanding at Columbus, Kentucky, pushing reenforcements forward from Belmont and New Madrid, thus to overpower Fremont by the mere strength of numbers. To divert the enemy

Dougherty. Taylor's battery of six pieces and two companies of cavalry, making in all a force of two thousand eight hundred and eighty-six, took steamers at Cairo for passage down the river. The transports, escorted by the gunboats Tyler and Lexington, lay all night at a point about nine miles below Cairo, and on Thursday morning proceeded to Lucas' bend four miles above Belmont, where the troops debarked and took up their march for the enemy's camp at Belmont. The

Battle of Belmont.

Battle of Belmont.

gunboats proceeded down | infantry and artillery, and the river to engage the after a desperate resistance batteries above Columbus. Grant in his reGrant in his re- drove the enemy back the third time, forcing port said of his disposition of forces: "Know- them to seek cover among thick woods and ing that Columbus was strongly garrisoned, brush, protected by the heavy guns at CoI asked General Smith, commanding at Pa-lumbus. While this struggle was going on ducah, Ky., to make demonstrations in the a tremendous fire from the Twenty-seventh, same directions. He did so, by ordering a He did so, by ordering a which had approached the abattis on the small force to Mayfield, and another in the right and rear of the tents, was heard. About direction of Columbus, not to approach near- the same time the Seventh and Twenty-secer, however, than twelve or fifteen miles. I ond, which had passed the rear of the Thirtieth also sent a small force on the Kentucky side, and Thirty-first, hastened up, and, closing some twelve miles from Columbus. All this the space between them and the Twenty-sevserved to distract the enemy, and lead him enth, poured a deadly fire upon the enemy. to think he was to be attacked in his strong- A combined movement was now made upon ly fortified position." three sides of the enemy's works, and, driving him across the abattis, we followed close upon his heels into the clear space around his camp."

The enemy was on the alert. The Federals moved forward to find their antagonists drawn up in a good position, nearly two miles in advance of their entrenched camp on the river, immediately opposite and protected by the Columbus batteries. Grant said:

"At daylight we proceeded down the river to a point just out of range of the rebel guns, and debarked on the Missouri shore. From here the troops were marched by a flank for about one mile towards Belmont, and then drawn up in line, one battalion having been left as a reserve near the transports. Two companies from each regiment, five skeletons in number, were thrown out as skirmishers to ascertain the position of the enemy.

"It was but a few moments before they met him, and a general engagement ensued. The balance of my force, with the exception of the reserve, was then thrown forward, all as skirmishers, and the enemy driven, foot by foot, and from tree to tree back to their encampment on the river's bank, a distance of over two miles. Here they had strengthened their position by felling the timber for several hundred yards around their camp, and making a sort of abattis.

"Our men charged through this, driving the enemy over the river banks and into their transports in quick time, leaving us in possession of everything not exceedingly portable."

This brief mention covers much gallant action. The fight was one of great obstinacy and was only won by the unflinching nerve of the assailants. McClernand, after adverting to the enemy's attempt to cut his line and his disposition to avert their design, thus characterised the struggle which followed: “We again opened a deadly fire from both

him.

In this fierce contest many brave men were slain. Grant's horse was there killed under McClernand's horse was struck several times. Colonel Lanmann fell. Yet, considering the exposure and daring of officers and men, the loss was comparatively small.

But, the victory, though won, was not secure. Bishop Polk, in his special dispatch to Jefferson Davis, said:

"The enemy came down on the opposite side of the river Belmont to-day, about seven thousand five hundred strong, landed under cover of gunboats, and attacked Colonel Tappan's camp. I sent over three regiments, under General Pillow, to his relief, then at intervals three others, then General Cheatham. I then took over two others in person, to support a flank movement which I had directed. It was a hard fought battle, lasting from half-past ten A. M. to five P. M. They took Beltzhoover's batte ry, four pieces of which we recaptured. The enemy were thoroughly routed. We purrued them to their boats, seven miles, then drove their boats before The road was strewn with their dead and wounded, guns, ammunition and equipments. Our loss is considerable-theirs heavy."

us.