Mr. Seward to Mr. Dayton
No. 656.]
Department of State, Washington,
September 20, 1864.
Sir: I append, for such use as you may deem
expedient, a copy of a letter of yesterday, addressed to this
department by the Secretary of War, containing a despatch which has
just been received from Major General Canby, who is commanding in
the field west of the Mississippi.
The proceeding of Major General Canby has been approved. The despatch
contains the official information this government has of the
extraordinary events which have recently occurred on the Rio
Grande.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
William L.Dayton, Esq., &c.
[Same to Mr. Adams.]
Mr. Stanton to Mr. Seward
War Department, Washington,
September 19,
1864.
Sir: I enclose to you the following
extract from a despatch from Major General Canby, received last
night, dated at New Orleans, 3 o’clock p. m., September 12:
“Cortinas has crossed the Rio Grande to escape the French forces
operating from Bagdad,
[Page 770]
and has been notified -by the commanding officer at Brazos
Santiago that, on surrendering his army and ammunition, his
party would be received as refugees; and that his presence in
the territory of the United States, as an armed enemy of a
neutral power, would not bo tolerated.”
Your obedient servant,
EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of
War.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
