New-York daily tribune., 1863-09-14
CIRCULAR no. %.
DEPARTMENT OF SrATR,

Slk: W Uc0cNcr inc tnlltu states nave Com-
plancd of the premature DEGREES of Great Britain
and France, which accorded the character of u bel
hgeTent to the insurgents the statesmen Of those
countries have answered, that from the first they
agreed in opinion that the efforts of the Govern
ment TO maintain the Union, and preserve the IN
tegrity of the Republic, could not be successful
With q view 10 correct this prcjudgment Of so vital
question addressed circular letter TO the repre-
scntaiiyoS of the United States III foreign countries
on The 18th day of April, 1862 in which reviewed
the operations of the war on sea and land, and pre-
sented the results which had attended il down TO
tina, period. The prejudice, which then attempt
ed to remove still remains, and il constitutes the
basis Of all that is deSgncdly or undersigned
" injurious TO this country I'M the policy Of
foreign nations. The insurgents have been
enabled TO proiract their resistance by means
Of sympathy and aid they have received from
abroad and the expectation of further and more ei
fectiyc foreign assistance is now their clei re-
source new effort Therefore, to correct that
prejudice is demanded equally by prudent concern
for our foreign relations. and by the paramount ill.,
tercsts OF peace and humanity at home.
In the battles of August 1862, the Union forces
suffered some severe and appalling reyerses. But
they resulted in the reunion Of the army which had
lcen called in from the Peninsula, below Richmond
with the army which had its position between that
strongly fortified scat Of the insurrecton and this
capital. The wisdom of this reunion was soon 10
be yiudicatod. The insurgont army, flushed with
its recent successes, and expecting that sym
pathetic interest Of Slavery would produce an up
rsin of the people of Maryland IN ITS favor, for
the iiIst time crossed the Potomac River. Harper
Ferry with many prisoners, fell into its hands
rather through accidents IN preparing It's defense
than because il indeiensible Nevertheless, the
expectation Of recruits siCnaly failed. Gen. Nc
Clc.lan commanding The now consolidated forces
OF the army Of the Potomac, was re-eniorced by
fresh levies from Pennsylvania, and by detachmcnts
called in from ncighborinc forts. He drove the in
surgentS from their positions at South Mountain
and Champions Gap. About the middle Of Sep
teB.ber the two opposing armies confronted
each other at SharpSburg, and pitched
battle was fought on the banks Of
the Antetam and Potomac. Ii was well sustained
o. both sides Men of one race and training direct
ed the armies whose rank and file were substantial
" Of one blood, and even nearly equal in numbers.
The arrogant assumption Of superior yalor and
leroism which the insurgents had brought into Tie
contest aad had cherished throughout It's early
Stages, pcTishcd on that sanguinary field. The H.
surecnt army, shattered in the conflict, abandoned
tie invasion Of Maryland and sought refuge and ol-
portunity 10 recover It's wasted strength il Virginia
behind its accustomed barrier, the Potomac.
While Lee was thus attempting Maryland, the
equally bold and alarming enterprise of caryngthc
war through kentucky into Ohio was assigned 70
Bragg. who was in command Of the insurgent army
on the southern border of Tennessee. lie,
with great rapidity, moved from Chattanooga
turning the left flank Of General Buell.,
and appealing for re-enforcoments to the
slayery-inspired sentiments which existed III Ken
,nclv and Tennessee, directed his forces against
Louisville and Cincinnati. An uprising OF the farm
ers of Ohio confronted and turned away the deyas-
tation from the latter city. Gen. Buell. followed
the main column of invasion, outmarched 1t on the
wav TO Louisville and obliged it TO take direction
eastward The two insurgent columns being united
at Perryvlle, were attacked by Gen. .Buell. The
battle like all Of our contests, was obstinate and
bloody Bragg after severe losses retreated through
q comparatively barren region, and Buell. was
obliged 10 abandon the pursuit by the complete e1-
haustion Of all sources OF supply. The insurgcnt
commander crossed the Cumberland mountains, and
then. marching westward, took up position at
Murireesboro', fortified there and proceeded to re-
cruit his wasted forces.
Van Dorm and Price OF the same period in
command of very considerable forces in Mississippi
and Alabama, and TO them was assigned the third
part in the grand invasion Of the loyal States which
the cabal AT Richmond had decfeed. This was an
attempt as they called it, 10 deliver, but in fact TO
.ubupate Western Tennessee and Kentucky Gen.
Rosecrans received the assault Of those portions OF
the insurgent forces at Cornth, defeated them with
great slaughter, and drove them backward, 70
that they neither reached nor approached the
region which they were appointed TO invade Gen.
Rosecrans, called to succeed Gen. Buell. VI com
mand of the Army Of the Cumberland, then en-
tered Nashville, which the insurgents had before in
vested in carrying out their general scheme of i'll
vasion lie raised the siege and prepared for oiicn-
siye action. In the last days Of the year he issued
from Nashville and delivered sanguinary battle
at Stone River, which gave him possession OF Mur-
freesboro Bragg retreated TO Shelbyville and Tula
boma. and there again rested and intrenched.
long period OF needed rest was now employed by
tho respective parties in increasing the strength and
efficiency Of their armies; but this repose was broken
by frequent skrmishes, and by cavalry expeditions
which penetrated hostile regions, sometimes hund-
reds Of miles and effected breaches Of military
connections and destruction Of military stores
upon an extensive scale, while they kept up the
spirt Of the troops, and hardened them for more
general and severe conflicts.
Vicksburg thcn remained 10 the hands Of the In