Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, June 19, 1863
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Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, June 19, 1863
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:csh
student editorTranscriber:spp:jaa
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1863-06-19
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Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, June 19, 1863
action: sent
sender: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
location: Washington D.C., US
receiver: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Auburn, NY
transcription: csh
revision: jaa 2018-03-13
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Page
1
h
Henry
Department of State
Washington h
June 19th
1863.
Friday
My dearest Frances,
I have your letter of Wednesday.
I do not wonder that the newspapers and
the Telegraph have bewildered and
alarmed you. They have affected in
the same way many people of stronger
nerves and better facilities for correc-
ting their judgments.
It was only known here late
last week, that Lee’s
changed position with an aggressive
purpose. They practically hid themselves
out of our sight and beyond reach
of our scouts. It was to be expected
that they would strike somewhere
but no one could foresee where. Only
one thing was the subject of calculation
Page
2
Mainly that they would not strike at the
point of which they should give indi-
cations. It is ^seems^ strange that an army
should be able to veil itself so
completely from its antagonists. Yet
this is war – and it is illustrated
in every campaign in every conflict.
There is in such a case only they
are to be done by the opposing army
This is to prepare as far as possible
resistance at every point, without
directing or impairing the massed
force. This is what we did.
Having done this we could sit down
calmly and form our prospects about
the imminency and the abject grave
danger – In deterring this, it was easy
to accept two considerations. First
Page
3
that the danger and is neither imminent
nor so great as the cavalry ^threats^ every
expects, because it is difficult for
any enemy to bring the range of his
movements up to that of his designs
and secondly that the danger is
neither so great nor so imminent as
the popular apprehension suddenly
exerted would indicate These reflec-
tions are already being justified.
But I can tell you even now nothing
that you and all the world do not
know about the design, of the army
or the probabilities of its success. We
do not yet know where he is. On the
other hand we are Dis I do not doubt
stronger than he, and better able to
defeat him than he to subjugate us.
Page
4
I do not think he will attempt Wash-
ington, But this is only my conjecture
Any defeat in an army military
position not fully known to or under-
stood by me might show this is
an error. Civil War is ^often^ long tedious
and essentially uncertain, But, the
Great gain by time and if the
strongest it must be expected to
prevail. Accidents and errors
may militate against it indeed, But
Accidents and errors occur
about equally on both sides. I
will confess to you that I am
more anxious about the operations
in the than about those at
home. City Country and Congress
are the necessary acters now –
Ever your own
Henry
h
Hand Shift
Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21Frances Seward
Department of State
Washington h
Hand Shift
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10William Seward
Friday
My dearest Frances,
I have your letter of Wednesday.
I do not wonder that the newspapers and
the Telegraph have bewildered and
alarmed you. They have affected in
the same way many people of stronger
nerves and better facilities for correc-
ting their judgments.
It was only known here late
last week, that Lee’s
Birth: 1807-01-19 Death: 1870-10-12
Army hadchanged position with an aggressive
purpose. They practically hid themselves
out of our sight and beyond reach
of our scouts. It was to be expected
that they would strike somewhere
but no one could foresee where. Only
one thing was the subject of calculation
Mainly that they would not strike at the
point of which they should give indi-
cations. It is ^seems^ strange that an army
should be able to veil itself so
completely from its antagonists. Yet
this is war – and it is illustrated
in every campaign in every conflict.
There is in such a case only they
are to be done by the opposing army
This is to prepare as far as possible
resistance at every point, without
directing or impairing the massed
force. This is what we did.
Having done this we could sit down
calmly and form our prospects about
the imminency and the abject grave
danger – In deterring this, it was easy
to accept two considerations. First
that the danger and is neither imminent
nor so great as the cavalry ^threats^ every
expects, because it is difficult for
any enemy to bring the range of his
movements up to that of his designs
and secondly that the danger is
neither so great nor so imminent as
the popular apprehension suddenly
exerted would indicate These reflec-
tions are already being justified.
But I can tell you even now nothing
that you and all the world do not
know about the design, of the army
or the probabilities of its success. We
do not yet know where he is. On the
other hand we are Dis I do not doubt
stronger than he, and better able to
defeat him than he to subjugate us.
I do not think he will attempt Wash-
ington, But this is only my conjecture
Any defeat in an army military
position not fully known to or under-
stood by me might show this is
an error. Civil War is ^often^ long tedious
and essentially uncertain, But, the
Great gain by time and if the
strongest it must be expected to
prevail. Accidents and errors
may militate against it indeed, But
Accidents and errors occur
about equally on both sides. I
will confess to you that I am
more anxious about the operations
in the than about those at
home. City Country and Congress
are the necessary acters now –
Ever your own
Henry