Mr. Washburne to Mr. Fish
Sir: For military reasons the authorities were obliged to decline giving me a “parliamentaire” for last Tuesday morning, the 29th ultimo, to take my dispatches to the Prussian outposts. I now hope to have one for to-morrow morning; and if so, my dispatches will only be one week behind. I received a bag from London last Tuesday afternoon, [Page 272] with London papers up to the 18th, and New York papers up to the 3d ultimo. I was disappointed, however, in getting nothing whatever from the Department.
Military operations around the walls of Paris began in earnest on Tuesday, the 29th ultimo. There was heavy lighting on Wednesday, the 30th ultimo, and on Friday the 2d of December. Though I could hear these battles raging distinctly from the windows of the legation, I am unable to give you any particular information in regard to them. As a movement to break through the Prussian lines, it was a failure; as a fight, the French claim an advantage. As the newspapers are forbidden to say anything, and as the official journal does only vouchsafe to us a few solemn official lines, we are utterly in the dark as to the real results of the fighting which actually took place. No statement has yet appeared of the losses of the French in killed, wounded, prisoners, missing, &c. I do not know that I can do anything more, or anything better, than to send you all that has appeared in the official journal in regard to military matters during the last week. The results of the battles, such as they are, and the news received from the provinces during the last week, have done much to inspirit the people of Paris. The morale of both people and soldiers has greatly improved. I do not think the prospects for a successful sortie are very good, and unless it is understood that the armies which are supposed to exist in the provinces have been substantially annihilated, the siege may yet last for a long time. At present the authority of the government is supreme, and all Paris is confronting its sufferings with fortitude and courage. But no one can tell how soon this may all change. The weather is now excessively cold for the season, and the privations of the people are very great.
Another sortie is talked of very soon, and if it takes place as is expected, you will hear of it long before this dispatch will reach you.
I have, &c.,