Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part III

[Same to Mr. Adams.]

Mr. Seward to Mr. Dayton

No. 656.]

Department of State, Washington, September 20, 1864.

Sir: I append, for such use as you may deem expedient, a copy of a letter of yesterday, addressed to this department by the Secretary of War, containing a despatch which has just been received from Major General Canby, who is commanding in the field west of the Mississippi.

The proceeding of Major General Canby has been approved. The despatch contains the official information this government has of the extraordinary events which have recently occurred on the Rio Grande.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

William L. Dayton, &c., &c., &c.

Mr. Stanton to Mr. Seward

War Department, Washington, September 19, 1864.

Sir: I enclose to you the following extract from a despatch from Major General Canby, received last night, dated at New Orleans, 3 o’clock p. m., September 12:

“Cortinas has crossed the Rio Grande to escape the French forces operating from Bagdad, and has been notified by the commanding officer at Brazos Santiago that, on surrendering his army and ammunition, his party would be received as refugees; and that his presence in the territory of the United States, as an armed enemy of a neutral power, would not be tolerated.”

Your obedient servant,

EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.