The book contains six letters and a postscript McRae sent while serving as a financial agent for the Confederate government in Europe; also included are copies of relevant correspondence from James Williams to McRae, as well as a few accounting...
The letter vaguely discusses efforts to secure bail or parole for Jefferson Davis (who is never directly named). The author of the letter spent two weeks in Washington, D.C., meeting with the president, attorney general, and chief justice. The...
In the letter McRae discusses the news he has received in Europe about recent Confederate losses in the war: "...we have had a succession of bad accounts causing many of our friends here to despair of ultimate success. I am not among that number...
In the letter, written February 11, 1862, Lapsley discusses the supply of coal, saltpeter, and sulphur available to the Confederate government if it decides to establish an armory in Selma, Alabama. He ends by expressing the need for more weapons:...
In the letter Catherine discusses visits with family and friends; the price and availability of goods; troops who have been stationed in the area ("to watch the Yankees, and keep the negroes from running off"); local slaves who have run away; and...
In the letter O'Conor discusses an unexplained resolution, probably related to the trial of Jefferson Davis. O'Conor served as senior counsel for Davis.
The letter vaguely discusses efforts to secure bail or parole for Jefferson Davis (who is never directly named). He mentions a trial date in October and suggests that "Letters to me on this subject should not be entrusted to the mails." O'Conor...
In the letter McRae asks Bloodgood to inquire about the reputation of a French banker who has made a financial proposition to the Confederate government.
In the letter McRae explains that he will not return to the United States now that the war has ended: "Brother John continues to urge me to come back, but it is useless. I could not do so if I would & I would not if I could. There are reasons which...
In this letter McRae discusses transactions, customers, and payments of their firm. At the end he mentions a cavalry company Boykin is attempting to assemble.
In the letter McRae asks his mother to copy a letter to send to some business associates, and he mentions travel plans, family members, and supplies he is sending to her.
In the letter McRae encourages the president to establish an armory at Selma, a proposal he had unsuccessfully made to the Confederate government before: "I therefore take the liberty of again addressing you on the subject and to urge the absolute...
In the letter McRae discusses public opinion after the surrender of Vicksburg: "The news that we have received by the way of New York is of much later date and is of such a character as that to cause many Confederates on this side of the water to...
In the letter Minor mentions a government contract with J. E. Murrell of Mobile, authorizing an exchange of cotton to purchase nitre. Minor also commends McRae's efforts to have the Confederate government establish an armory at Selma. He explains...
In the letter Erwin, a purchasing agent for the Confederacy, explains the difficulties he has encountered while trying to take a load of bacon to Confederate soldiers in Alabama. He also discusses several men who might be available to work at the...