Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith inclosnre No. 1, [Page 824] translation of a proclamation issued by the Mikado, officially furnished by his agents at this port, announcing his intention to proceed to Yedo and reside there. This announcement had already been made to me officially, as reported in my dispatch No. 95, of the 17th instant, but the language used in this proclamation adds to its interest, as sufficiently foreshadowing, that under any circumstances that may arise, or under any reconstruction of the government that may eventually be attained, Yedo will remain the capital of Japan. Translation of a document from the same source is appended to this proclamation and in further explanation of it.
I also transmit inclosure No. 2, translation of a decree relieving Arisugawa no Miya from his command in chief in this part of Japan. To this decree two notifications are appended.
In this connection I beg to say that the first prince of the blood is the Miya Sama, now acting Mikado of the northern confederation, as reported in preceding dispatches of this series. The second prince is the Ninnagi no Miya, who, I was this day informed, had placed himself at the head of an expedition of southern and western Daimios’ forces, who are again attempting the subjugation of the northern provinces and blockading Neegata; and the third prince is Arisugawa, who is superseded by Sango Udayin or Dainagong.
Arisugawa, on his arrival in Yedo, soon lost his first officer, Kugo Dainagong, who appears to have at once declared in favor of the northern Daimios, and it is by San go Dainagong, above mentioned, the successor of his first officer, that he is now superseded. It appears that as he became better acquainted with the people over whom he was sent to rule, his inclination towards peace and compromise gained strength to such an alarming extent in the opinion of those who still have charge of the Mikado, that his retirement from office was decreed at once. This change is so far important, as it denotes that there is no unanimity in the councils of the Mikado, and also that there is a strict adherence to the policy of general confiscation and no compromise, upon which, all proclamations and statements about benevolence notwithstanding, the new or Mikado’s court or government is unquestionably based.
In my dispatch No. 94, of the 17th instant, I reported that the southerners had fallen back from an advanced position, to which they attached great importance. This intelligence has since been confirmed. The northern troops, I am assured, could now march on Yedo with every prospect of success, but for an attack in force now being made in their rear on the west coast. I this day learn that three southern steamers landed a detachment of twelve hundred men at a distance of about sixteen miles north of Neegata; those troops then started to effect a junction with a body of their forces stationed at Nagaoka, also in the province of Itshingo, but were intercepted by the northern troops and severely beaten, with the loss also of all their stores. Engagements resulting favorably to the northern side had been fought on the 7th, 8th, and 9th instants, and the southern force at Nagaoko, of at least fifteen hundred men, was at last accounts surrounded by the northern troops. There is every reason to trust in the correctness of those reports, but whether true or not, I feel quite confident that those engagements, though they may hasten, cannot affect the ultimate result, and that the result will be that all the principal northern and southern Daimios will remain masters, each one in his own province.
A guard of marines from the flag-ship Piscataqua is still stationed on shore; the English and French guards also continue to occupy the posts selected for them. Perfect tranquillity apparently prevails both here [Page 825] and in Yedo; yet indications are not wanting of an approaching struggle on a larger scale than has been witnessed already.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.