I ought not to overlook the important fact disclosed by the elections in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana, namely, that the population of several of the insurgent states, where it has not already been reclaimed to the Union, has been successfully divided, whereby the insurrectionary armies are continually reduced, and our own considerably augmented. If you study the publications of the day you will learn that free labor is already asserting its ability to produce cotton on the banks of the Mississippi, and upon the sea islands. There is a development of another kind too important to be overlooked. A great number of the people of the insurgent states, wearied of the war, and despairing of the restoration of order and peace there, are emigrating to the western territories. Governor Doty, of Utah, a very intelligent pioneer, estimates the augmentation of the population of the territories, during the present year, at 500,000— equal to one seventieth part of the population of France. It can hardly be necessary for me to point out to your sagacious observation the value of these facts, as showing that every wound which is inflicted on the Union in one part results in our increase of strength in every other part. We need not fear that a political system which is so vigorous will perish.

April 11, 1864. - As the season advances, public impatience for military movements arises and utters itself often in terms of discontent, which may mislead the friends of our country abroad. The movements of the armies in Louisiana and Arkansas still continue to be reported favorably. Much is said of insurgent raids in Kentucky, which are of no particular effect or significancy. If the armies of the Potomac and Cumberland had been prepared to advance, the rains which have fallen and rendered the roads impassable would have arrested progress. You will take notice of an order of Lieutenant-General Grant, which indicates the 16th instant as the day on which the repose of the forces will come to an end. If we may rely upon recent expressions, the country is fast reaching a resolute and unanimous determination to persevere in the present policy of the government. The election which has just passed in Connecticut indicates an exhaustion of the opposition. The people of Maryland have called a convention to abolish slavery in that state. The Senate of the United States have by a constitutional majority sustained a proposition to amend the Federal Constitution by abolishing slavery. The House of Representatives, which, as you

will remember, was elected in the reactionary period of 1862, has, by a very large majority, rebuked and censured a member for remarks favorable to secession.

The financial bills are still lingering in Congress. But the disposition of a large majority is conciliatory, as well as patriotic, and I do not apprehend a failure of the measures which are necessary to sustain the public credit.

In regard to the tone of the insurgents I need say only that the desertions of soldiers as well as of citizens continue in such degree as to indicate a waning of popular confidence in the success of the conspiracy against the Union.

April 18, 1864.- Nothing important has occurred here in regard to the position of the war. There are raids, which merely indicate preparations for general operations. A recent raid of the insurgents upon Fort Pillow, as is said, has been marked by atrocities which cannot be contemplated without a shudder. These barbarities assume very grave significance, as showing that the Africo-American troops are to be denied by the insurgents when victorious the privilege of quarter. So it seems to be established that slavery claims its independence of civilization to the very last, even while appealing to Christian nations for sympathy and aid.

I may say to you very confidentially that it is expected that a general movement of the Union forces east of the Mississippi will begin before I shall have an opportunity to write to you again.

April 25, 1864. The season has arrived when we may expect to have our attention engaged by the operations of the military forces.

Major-General Banks has encountered a check on his march from Natchitoches. Although we have no detailed report, it is not to be doubted that his advanced corps sustained a severe defeat on the first day, rallied with great vigor on the second, and finally beat the insurgents in a fair field fight, on the third day of the prolonged engagement which took place on the 8th, 9th, and 10th of the present month. We do not know the relative losses of the combatants; but we learn very directly that Major-General Banks expects to renew his march upon Shreveport on the 28th instant.

An iron ram floated down the Roanoke River, past our fort at Plymouth, and it is understood that supplies and reinforcements are cut off from that outpost. We have some anxiety for the safety of

the garrison. We understand that it consists of about 2,000 men. The post has no considerable strategic importance.

May 3, 1864.-There has been a high excitement in the money market, producing, of course, some uneasiness in regard to the fiscal condition of the government. This uneasiness has compelled Congress to increase customs by fifty per cent., and it is stimulating that body to enact, as speedily as possible, the laws necessary for augmenting the internal revenue. The country responds cheerfully and quite unanimously to these healthful measures.

Advices received yesterday from Major-General Banks and General Steele are understood at the War Department as removing all grounds for apprehension for the safety of the forces under their respective commands, in Louisiana and Arkansas. It is understood here that their forces were to be put in motion again on the 28th of April last.

Advices from North Carolina inform us that the insurgents have withdrawn from that state, and are joining the main rebel army in Virginia. We also learn that the insurgent corps which had been operating against our lines in Alabama and Mississippi are now joining the main body in the vicinity of Atlanta, in Georgia.

On our side there has been a noiseless but effective gathering of forces at the point, and the common expectation is that a collision may occur at any time. I hardly need say that our military authorities are satisfied with the position. We have accepted a contribution of 85,000 volunteers for one hundred days from the northwestern states, to supply garrisons, and leave the regular forces free for active operations in the field.

It is observed with great pain that the insurgents seem to have adopted as a principle the extermination of such of the colored troops as may fall into their hands as prisoners of war. If the antislavery sentiment of foreign nations has any sincerity whatever, this atrocious principle cannot fail to be earnestly condemned and execrated.

May 3, 1864. Your despatch of the 15th of April contains information particularly new and interesting in regard to the proceedings which have culminated in the departure of the Archduke Maximilian from Trieste, with the intention to establish an imperial monarchy in Mexico. Every thinking observer must be fully satisfied, even without special evidence, that those events had their origin in a con

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spiracy of Mexicans against the independence and freedom of their own country. Nevertheless it will be fortunate for the future of Mexico, and for the cause of republican government there, if the history you have given me of the details of the conspiracy shall soon become generally known.

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You have very clearly explained the motives and sentiments which have induced so many of the influential statesmen and authorities of Europe to favor the subversion of the Mexican Republic. All these motives and sentiments resolve themselves into a jealousy of the advancement of the United States. Their great prosperity and progress have necessarily provoked this political antagonism. You very justly lament the pertinacity with which the American people continue their suicidal division in presence of the apparent overthrow of their influence in Mexico, but it is the same. blindness of faction which led us into the civil war. Only time and events can cure it, and these we may well believe are doing their work. No appeal to the reason or to the patriotism of the insurgents is heard so long as they entertain hopes of success in their desperate enterprise. The loyal people of the United States seem to have no need for new or increased devotion to the national cause. At all events, considerations of foreign and remote dangers can scarcely be expected to gain serious attention, when the immediate domestic perils of the conflict absorb the popular mind. I know no other way for us than to contemplate the situation calmly, do our whole duty faithfully, meet every emergency as it rises, with prudence, firmness, and force, if necessary, and trust in God for a safe issue of the contest.

May 9, 1864.-Successive reports leave us no longer grounds for doubting that the combined land and naval expedition against Shreveport has failed, not without very serious sacrifices of men and material, although, we yet hope, without the loss of any of the cardinal strategic positions, and without demoralization of the forces in Arkansas and Louisiana. Major-General Canby has been des patched to the field to do what may be found necessary for the safety of the cause west of the Mississippi.

Some unimportant incidents have occurred on and near the banks of that river, but all is believed to be well in that quarter.

During the last week there has been a general advance of our

1 Mr. Adams.

forces against the insurgents on the long line which extends from Chattanooga to the Potomac, and this movement is yet in progress. No accurate or full accounts of it have reached the government, and the partial statements which you will read in the journals of this date, Monday, May 9, are not in all respects reliable. Possibly the telegraph will enable the press at Boston to give, before the departure of the mail, more definite information than has been hitherto received. What has happened, so far as is known to the government, is, that on Wednesday morning, the 4th instant, the army of the Potomac, numbering about 100,000, crossed the Rapidan at three fords, and advanced to a line stretching through the Wilderness. from Germania ford to Chancellorsville. The several corps had not. fully completed their line of battle on Thursday morning, when they were vigorously assailed between the left and centre. A severe but indecisive battle occurred. It was renewed on Friday; a reserve force of 30,000 men, under Major-General Burnside, reached the field and was engaged at noon. The entire insurgent army, under Lee, Hill, and Longstreet, was encountered in a conflict which lasted from morning until night, with vicissitudes, several times, so unfortunate for our forces as to excite serious apprehension, but ending in the withdrawal of the enemy from the attack, leaving the army of the Potomac in possession of its ground. The nature of the field forbade the use of artillery. Our losses are reported at twelve thousand; the enemy's not mentioned. I am disposed to think it was one of the most severe and critical battles of the whole war. There was skirmishing on Saturday and bearers of despatches report that they heard heavy cannonading yesterday. We have accounts directly from the field written on Saturday evening and yesterday, Sunday morning, but they are not official. They state that our army still hold their position, and that it is understood there that the enemy are retiring, as if satisfied that they cannot longer resist our advance.

General Sigel has been advancing up the valley of the Shenandoah, and is in position, if required, to cross the mountains and join the army of the Potomac.

General Butler has landed at a point on the James River just above the mouth of the Appomattox, thirty miles below Richmond and ten miles above Petersburg. He has broken up a portion of the railroad which connects those two places, but not without some fight

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