of the
country.

The cotton, as it lay on the plantations or in the warehouses, was for
sale, and the Government was almost the only buyer. To all others there
was a difficulty, amounting almost to impossibility, in getting cotton
to market. Some, no doubt, was smuggled across the border, to the
advantage of "patriots" of each side; but this outlet for a bulky
article like cotton was altogether inadequate, and, practically, every
one was compelled by the very condition of affairs, without the
application of even moral force, to sell to the Government and receive
in payment the best that the Government had to offer; namely: its own
promises to pay, which, whether stated as a condition of the promise or
not, could not be made good till after the favorable close of the war.
If the South failed, the promises would be valueless; if it succeeded,
the obligations would be met as promptly as possible. The situation was
accepted by the people, and the Government acquired cotton and shipped
it to Nassau, Bermuda, and Havana as fast as it could.

To get cotton through the blockading squadron called for daring and
skill; but there seems to have been no lack of either, and it was not
long before every steam vessel that could carry even a few bales, and
was sea-worthy enough to reach Nassau, was ready with a crew on board,
eager to sneak out any dark night and run to a neutral port,--generally
Nassau.

For a long time this traffic went on almost without a capture, and the
Confederate Government not only deposited in places of safety large
quantities of a commodity in general demand throughout the world, but
also had the satisfaction of seeing its property advance rapidly in
value as the war went on, and its necessities increased. The cotton thus
shipped was all consigned to Fraser, Trenholm & Co., Liverpool, and the
consignments for the army, navy and diplomatic departments were
carefully kept separate. There was, therefore, no clashing of interests
between the army and navy, as to disposition of proceeds. The
requirements for the diplomatic agents were trifling compared with those
of the army for supplies and the navy for building, equipping and
manning ships.

I had not been long in England before the sinews of war began to be
available, and I found myself able to meet my engagements in a manner
entirely satisfactory to my creditors. To buy supplies was simple
enough; but to ship them was another matter. As was to be expected