William H. Seward to Charles Francis Adams, September 7, 1863

Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.

Sir: We continue to have favorable reports of our military and naval operations. Fort Sumter has virtually been destroyed, and the besieging officers report that the siege of Charleston is going on favorably.

General Rosecrans on the right, and General Burnside on the left, have occupied Stevenson, Kingston, and Knoxville, and thus effectually broken the chief military connexion between the insurgents at Richmond and their confederate forces in the Gulf States. I need not expatiate on the strategic importance of this movement. The United States forces are advancing success fully towards Little Rock, in Arkansas.

A new expedition is ready to proceed from New Orleans to Texas. There is no change in the position of the opposing forces in Virginia.

All local resistance of the draft seems at an end, and the United States armies are now being effectually augmented.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,