"Food for Cotton"

[John Stanton]

Awhile back we discussed the "New York Crowd" and the "Food for Cotton" exchange. Is anyone working on either of these subjects? They are almost interchangeable. I just read some mind boggling stuff, that someone might use. For example: the "Food for Cotton" was legal and MANY people participated. The main ports were New York, Philly and Norfolk. Then Grant decided the the North should "Starve the Rebs", but the exchange continued, if you had an existing "permit". If you didn't have a permit, that's OK, we'll issue one (for A price) and backdate it. This is the strangest story I have ever run across. The basis was MONEYPure and simple. The New York Crowd was making money. Money, Money, Money. It wasn't illegal to accept Cotton, it was illegal to send food. So, the smugglers wern't smuggling Cotton, they smuggled food. And the US Army Generals helped the smugglers, for a price. (Butler was forced to resign). There has to be oodles of documenta available to read, there even was a Congressional investigation. Are you interested in more? I am not interested it "Writing" this story, but I sure wish I knew more.