Charles Francis Adams, Jr., to his father
Inspector General’s Department
Washington, April 8, 1864
I arrived in New York and got through the Custom House at about eight o’clock Wednesday evening (6th inst.) and took the midnight train to Washington. On the passage I neither saw nor heard anything of Mr. Yeatman. He may have been on board, perhaps as a second cabin passenger; or I may have met him under an assumed character; but he certainly did not approach me, and, of course, beyond carefully examining the list of passengers I made no effort to discover him. There was one Confederate lady on board, but I could not discover that any gentleman in particular seemed to have acquaintance with her.
I got to Washington at noon and delivered your letter to Mr. Seward in person an hour later. He read it attentively and as he did so I carefully observed him, in hopes of being able to catch some expression. I might as well have watched the walls of the Treasury building. He finished it and I told him that I was cognizant of its contents; that I had not seen anything of Mr. Yeatman on the passage and accordingly had nothing to report on that head, and offered to give him any further information in my power. He asked if a Mr. Lumkin had come over with me. I said I thought not. He then remarked generally, that he had but little faith in the matter, that he had made some inquiries about Mr. Yeatman and the result was that he found that Yeatman had borne in Washington the reputation of a flighty, visionary character, and his impression was that, though doubtless well enough intentioned himself, he was being made a tool of by the Confederate agents abroad. “However,” said he, “I last night got a telegram from some one calling himself a Mr. Lumkin, and I never knew any one of that name who did n’t come from Georgia, stating that he had arrived in Baltimore and asking me to send down an appointment for him at the Department to the National Hotel, and this may be Yeatman’s other agent referred to in this letter.” I then told him that the agent who was to call on Judge Catron was named Ellitson. He then remarked that everything in this matter must come from the rebels and that he should neither pay money nor make any advances. As he talked he walked up and down the room with his hands in his pockets, and I could not tell at all how far he expressed his real sentiments, or how far he meant to give me impressions.
He certainly seemed in excellent spirits and to talk with great confidence. I thought too that he looked less old, thin and anxious than when I last saw him. He finally said : “Well, come and dine with me at six o’clock and we will discuss this matter. I don’t now think of anything which I want to ask you.” He made no reference to Mr. Scott Russell, nor did I speak of him; but as I was leaving he asked if the Ministry was going out, and I told him what you said on the subject, in regard to a crisis being egged on by the Emperor which was not likely to be followed by a change of policy, but that the party coming into power would probably contain a large element disposed in our matters to follow the lead of the Emperor. Of the national course as regards France he then spoke with great confidence, saying that if the Emperor desired it we were now as ready for a war as we ever should be, although, he added, that he was doing his best to restrain, the feeling in Congress. I then left. Mr. George Thompson dined with him as well as myself, and nothing further passed on the subject of your letter, except that he stated that he had read it again, and believed there was nothing about which he desired to question me. This ends my connection with this business.
The impression left on my mind is that Mr. Seward, influenced by what he had heard of Yeatman, by no means gives to this matter the weight which we hoped belonged to it. Still he is so very wary in his policy that I do not pretend to detect it. Meanwhile he waits for advances on this side, evidently ready himself to meet any one. He tells me that Judge Catron is dying, so that Ellitson will find himself afloat. Judge Wayne he intimated was unexceptionable as a medium. I can only say that you have clearly now opened a way for discussion, if there is anything in this, a way to which no exception can be taken. Now, on this side, where the matter now rests I am only clear on one point, and that is that Seward neither means to be tricked or to take a low tone with his opponents. He clearly means to make them act on the square or he will refuse to act at all. Thus the bona fides of this discussion on their part is the next matter to be tested. Clearly, though your part is done, we have not heard the last of this matter yet. . . .
I find unexampled military confidence prevailing in Washington, under an impression that Grant means to be, in fact as well as name, the head of the Army. I like much the deliberation and amazing secrecy of his contemplated movements, so far as I can get glimpses of them.
