John Harrison Wilson, The life of Charles Henry Dana

[198] and as the result of their consultations with Dana, Lincoln issued his proclamation declaring all commercial intercourse with the States in rebellion to be unlawful, except when conducted in compliance with regulations to be prescribed and carried into effect by the Secretary of the Treasury. It, is to be noted that these regulations were generally efficacious, but the navy, operating on the Mississippi and its tributaries, had its own law of prize under which it took possession of all cotton within reach as captured property. Military commanders and quartermasters of outlying districts still occasionally engaged in or connived at the trade, and in certain cases shared in the profits, but the new regulations and orders were generally observed in good faith, to the great benefit of both the army and the public interests. Valuable as were Dana's services afterwards in connection with the military administration, it may be well doubted if in any single instance they were worth more to the Union cause and especially to the Treasury Department than they were in connection with the illicit cotton trade which he did so much to break up or bring under proper regulation.

Having received assurances that his views in reference to the cotton trade would be carried into effect, Dana returned to New York, and arranged with his partners to withdraw from the business. The profit which they had realized was hardly worth the effort made to get it, but the renewed relations which it speedily led to with Stanton were most important.

It is well known that Grant, who had by the beginning of 1863 come to the front as one of the most important officers engaged in active operations against the Southern Confederacy, although a good and successful general, was a poor correspondent. He had but few friends and no intimates connected with the government, and notwithstanding his great victories was more or less in disfavor. Besides, he