Benjamin's letter to Jacob Thompson.

[SSlater]

I have a copy of the letter to Jacob Thompson that Benjamin wrote about 2 March 1865, and was carried to Montreal by Gen, E. G. Lee, when he went there to assume command of the Confederate Commissioners. I found it in the papers called "Cameron's Manuscript". Cameron had collected information in anticipation of writing a "History of the Secret Service.", however he never got around to writing it. So, I have the info, but it is not it any logical order. This information is vital to the study of the events of that time. For one thing it tells us where most of the Confederate Treasury went, and this paper is never quoted.
There is another facet that has been pushed into the background, that is - Pres. Davis was very ill in the last days of the Confederacy, and Benjamin was running the Government. So. Benjamin could do anything he wanted , and would use the phrase " The President DIRECTS me to .....", to convince the reader that "This is what DAVIS wants." Here we go.

The letter is in the handwriting of W. W. Cleary.
Department of State
Richmond, 2 March 1865
Hon. J. Thompson
Etc. Etc. Etc.
Sir
I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your several dispatches of 4th 8th and 22nd of January, as well as your full report from the hands of Col. Denson, the president instructs me to forward to you the following instruction on the various points embodied in your correspondence .
(unreadable) in regard to our escaped prisoners. Place in the hands of some person in whom you have confidence such sum of money, not exceeding ten thousand Dollars, as you may deem necessary, to be applied solely 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.
II. In regard to D S (This is Dr. Kensey Johns Stewart) the President doe not wish any monies advanced to him nor does he desire that any enterprise of any kind be undertaken by the Doctor. We are determined not to pursue any just complaint to be made of breach of natural rights by our authority if sanction.
III. Pay over to he 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 accounted for by him when he here after needs more money. Inform him that I will send him on being notified of his needs.
IV. Reserve in your own hands such sum as you may need to pay your expenses home.
V. Remit the remainder in your hands to Mrss Fraser, Trenholm & Co. of Liverpool, to be placed to my credit in a separate account. Make the remittance as soon as possible and let me know the amount of it, as we are in pressing need of those funds for important serice there.
VI. Procure for us a complete record of Burley's case that we may make it the basis of official action. (from its beginning to the final judgement in Appellate Court.)
VII. Return to Confederacy as soon as you can. Your discretion must be considered as to the best mode. I would however suggest Havana, thence to Matamoras by neutral vessel, thence through Texas. This route is long, but is the only one that can be considered entirely safe.
I believe this covers all points. I am necessary 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 of Illinois prairie lands. For description, price and terms, apply by letter to
N. O. Donalson
Chicago, Ill.
Fill in the blank before the word "Acres", with the number of pounds Sterling that you remit to Fraser Trenholm & Co.
I am very respectfully
your obedient servant
J. P. Benjamin
Sec. of State
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In addition to this money, Benjamin had a special coat made for his escape to London. It had many secret pockets made in the coat to carry all the Gold he was to get away with.

Upon arrival in England, he went directly to Fraser- Trenholm, and then he went to Paris to say hello to his wife and daughter, who he hadn't seen in 5 years. Then he came back to London and "Found" hundreds of bails of Confederate Cotton. Since there was no confederacy, he took possession of the Cotton, since he was the ranking Confederate on site. Poor man, he probably laughed to death at the demise of the Confederacy.

One more item. I would like to ask anyone who has "Newspapers", to look in the New York Herald around March of 1865 and see if the Illinois Land was advertised, and tell us the amount of his wealth.

PS. This is an example of a "Coded Message", that was sent in plain English, that I tried to explain in another post.