Henry Adams, private secretary of the US Minister to the UK, to his brother, Charles.
London, November 4, 1864
Seldom even among the many rapid changes that my letters have recorded during the last few years, has there been one so great as that which has occurred in my feelings since my last letter. That was written under the effects produced by Reuter’s telegram that “the Democrats had carried Pennsylvania by a large majority which the soldiers’ vote could not overcome,” and that “Maryland had rejected the anti-slavery constitution.” Of Indiana and Ohio nothing was said. The few returns from Pennsylvania we had received were not calculated to refute this statement, and as a necessary consequence the prospect looked more alarming than I ever described it in my letter. You, of course, the danger passed, and breathing an atmosphere of sympathy, may consider my alarm to have been unnecessary and absurd. As for me I look back upon the crisis as I would on a hair-breadth escape from a horrible accident, or from sudden ruin. It seemed then so close, if not inevitable, that the sense of relief is enormous. . . .
But the great thing is that we have now gained time. The result at any rate is now clear. From certain articles in the rebel papers I infer that Lee’s army, especially Early’s command, is no longer what it was, and does not fight as it used. I do not quite understand Sheridan’s success on any other ground. In fact the wonder is that demoralisation has not long ago set in over the whole South. Some day or other it must come, or human nature change. . . .
