Benjamin's letter to Thompson -Mar. 1865

[John Stanton]

To understand the attached letter, that I think we should discuss in this forum, it is important to understand the Organization of the Confederate Commissioners in Canada and the events that were playing out in the spring of 1865.
Jacob Thompson had been appointed by the State Department, headed by Judah Benjamin, and was given COMPLETE charge of the disposition of the the funds allotted. Cassius C. Clay was appointed co-Commissioner by the War Department and any mission sponsored by them would draw funds from Thompson. Thompson had a Million Dollars at his disposal. A MILLION Dollars - when the best hotel in town charged $2.00 a day, and that included 5 meals each day. He was well funded.
However, Thompson and Clay were at odds with one another as a result of the Saint Albans Raid. Thompson had ordered the Raiders to GO HOME (twice) - but Clay ordered them to Saint Albans. Then, when the Raiders were captured, Thompson refused to pay for their legal defense, that is, until he was ordered to pay, by Richmond.
By my analysis, this was the very basis for Thompson's demise as a Commissioner - the two Commissioners could not work with one another. Thompson was told by Richmond "you want to come home now". But Thompson didn't - and he didn't. (he went to Europe for two years.)
Back to the letter. Therefore in the waning days of his assignment, he requested instructions on how to Close out the Books? Apparently, he didn't like Gen. E. G. Lee, who was sent to replace him. I doubt he would like ANYONE who was sent to replace him. Thus, this letter becomes important in resolving these problems, but wait! Read the letter. The letter created questions that have never been addressed and makes me wonder what the BEJEEPERS was going on.
This is the letter. It came to us through The Rev. Stephen Cameron's effort to write a "History of the Secret Service' He copied this and many letters that are part of his "manuscript" and are not in general circulation.
Department of State Richmond
Richmond, 2 March 1865
Hon. J. Thompson

Etc. Etc. Etc. (sic)
Sir.
I have the honor to asknowledge receipt of your several dispatches of 4th, 8th, 22nd, January, as well as of your full report from the hands of Col. Denson, the President instructs me to forward to you the following instructions on the various points embodied in your correspondence.
1. In regard to our escaped prisoners, place in the hands of some person in whom you have confidence such a sum of money, not exceeding Ten Thousand Dollars, as you may deem necessary, to be applied soley to the purpose of assisting such of our soldiers as may need aid to return to the Confederacy. No money is to be supplied to any that do not want to return here.
2. In regard to D. S. (Note. This refers to Rev. Dr. Kensey Johns Stewart) The President does not wish any more monies advanced to him nor does he desire that any enterprise of any kind to be underrtaken by the Doctor. We are determined not to permit any just complaint to be made of breach of neutral rights by our authority of sanction.
3. Pay over to the gentleman referred to in my dispatch of 30th December last, Twenty Thousand Dollars, to be used by him at his discretion in the service, and to be accounted for by him when he here after needs more money, inform him that I will send it to him on being notified of his need.
4 Reserve in your hands such sum as you need to pay your expenses home.
5. Remit remainder in your hands to Mrss (sic) Fraser, Trenholm & Co. of Liverpool, to be placed to my credit in a separate account. Make this remittance as soon as possible and let me know the amount of it., as we are in pressing need of those funds abroad for important service there.
6. Procure for us a complete record of Burley's (Note. Bennett Burleigh), case that we may make it the basis of Official Action( from its beginning to the final judgement in Appellate Court.)
7. Return to the Confederacy as soon as you can. Your discretion must be considered as to the best mode. I would suggest Havanna, thence to Matamoros by neutral vessel. Thence through Texas. This route is long, but it is the only one that can be considered entirely safe.
I believe this covers all points. I am necessarily brief in order to conceal this dispatch more securely - As soon as you receive this publish in N. Y. Herald an advertisement , for one week, as follows:
For Sale ______ acres in Illinois
Prairie lands, For description, price and
Terms, apply by letter to
N. O. Donalson
Chicago, Ill.
Fill up the blank before the word "acres" with the number of Pounds Sterling that you remit tp Frazer, Trenholm & Co.
I am Sir, very respectfully
Your obedient Servant
J. P. Benjamin
Sec. of State

I do not want to comment, until each of you has a chance to Ponder,
and reach your own decissions. JFS

[John Stanton]

Some thoughts on this letter.
Item 1. No comment here, This is a necessary fund and a small dent in the bank Balance.
Item 2. What kind of a devilish scheme could the Rev. K. J. Stewart have proposed that would cause the Confederacy to pull out their support -completely. His proposal was approved in Richmond and he went to Canada to begin operation and oops! he's out the door.
Item 3. I have no idea who this might be. A little more research is needed.
Item 4. No comment - sensible.
Item 5. This one is the doozie. President Davis was very ill at this time and Benjamin ran the government without disturbing the Patient. Thus, he had a lot of confidential information to work with. Was he anticipating the fall of the Confederacy and setting himself up with a fortune. When Benjamin escaped from the South (which only he and Breckenridge managed to do) he had special pockets sewed into his clothes where he secreted GOLD. When he got to the other side of the Atlantic, he didn't go see his wife and daughter in Paris -who he hadn't seen in 5 years, he went to Liverpool to claim his nest egg. In reading about Benjamin's life, this is contrary to all he had done before. He was a Happy man who took good care of his sisters and their families. I wish I knew why the change.
Item 6. This appears to be an honorable effort. No comment
Item 7. Thompson called his wife to Canada and they toured Europe for two years before returning to the South. They lived in memphis. I have read the he SUPPORTED Davis for several years. Davis lived in Mississippi.
As for the "ad", I'm looking for it. I have a number that is purported to be the Balance, but it is in Pounds, pence, shillings, which I cannot decipher. (The amount is shown in one of Cameron's letters, IT HAS TO BE A BUNDLE.)
Have any questions? Is this all "News" to you?