“The military situation is clearly intelligible, and ought to be
satisfactory to the cool and candid judgment of the country.... We
have a rumour that Vicksburg is actually taken. But the report is
premature, though we have no doubt but the capture has before this
time occurred.”
And on the 10th November, just before the defeat of Fredericksburg, we
find him “apprehending no insurmountable obstacles to complete success.”
Nor are his prophecies addressed only to England. On the 15th April he
tells Mr Dayton:—
“A few days will probably complete the opening of the Mississippi
river, and restore to the country that national outlet of the great
granary of America which disunion, in its madness, has temporarily
attempted to obstruct, in violation not more of political laws than of
the ordinances of nature.”