Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.
Sir: Lieutenant General Grant having, as it is believed, safely and firmly established himself before Petersburg, and having made all prudent attempts to carry the town by assault, his operations there have now become simply strategic. He has already destroyed all the railroad and river communications of Petersburg and Eichmond. It is not true that General Hunter has been defeated; on the contrary, it is satisfactorily known that his operations have been successful.
We have news from Major General Sherman that he met a repulse, with a loss of three or four thousand men, in a general assault yesterday upon the enemy’s line in the Keewan mountains.
Perhaps I could in no better way relieve you of any apprehensions concerning the safety of our two great armies than by stating the fact that, notwithstanding the vicissitudes of battle, not only are our supplies and material regularly furnished to both armies in their advanced positions, but the headquarters of each are in direct and immediate telegraphic communication with this capital.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.