Frazer.] O i O [Sept. 6. 



part of a river which was the natural outlet of this commodity, very 

 difficult and delicate. 



"Influence" was occasionally crushing those who carried out their 

 official instructions too zealously, for "influence" was invoked by 

 wealthy cotton brokers, both abroad and in the Northern States. A vast 

 quantity of cotton worth from $400 to $800 a bale, was known to be 

 stored on the plantations watered by the tributaries of the Mississippi. 

 As the most important of the material resources of the enemy, it was 

 invariably stored where its transportation by United States troops would 

 be most difficult, and where it could be most easily destroyed when its 

 defense was impossible. Hence the general orders of the United States 

 forces were to burn it wherever found. 



There was always a pretext for suspicion of collusion with the U. S. 

 officer in command of the district when cotton was raided and success- 

 fully carried from a rebel plantation to a Northern market. The unfortu- 

 nate officer was often placed in the most embarrassing position. As sub- 

 sequently appeared, agents, especially of the fair sex, were regularly era- 

 ployed by the financial schemers to negotiate with the rebel cotton owners, 

 and to hoodwink the Navy officers with the object of getting into com- 

 mercial circulation as much cotton as possible to the advantage of all 

 parties concerned, except the Navy man whom of course the actors in 

 these transactions sought to inculpate when they were baffled in their un- 

 dertakings. 



The "influence" which they could bring to bear, added to their un- 

 questioned charms of manner, made the lady solicitors very redoubtable. 

 In fact they succeeded in injuring many reputations, and without doubt 

 set free a large amount of cotton. Any officer of whom it can be said as 

 it can of the late Admiral Macauley that these difficulties were met and 

 mastered by him, can justly claim to be an incorruptible man and a skill- 

 ful diplomat. This was the real crux for the commander of a division 

 fleet. Compared with this the more legitimate occupations of patroling the 

 river, blockading the bay(ms, and preventing the passage of information 

 or material across the Mississippi within his jurisdiction (which Macauley 

 and the other commanders so successfully accomplished that Jefferson 

 Davis and his cabinet officers finally gave up the hope of being able to 

 cross into Texas), were but technical naval details offering noseiious diffi- 

 culties. 



On August 2, 1865, the war of the Rebellion having been ended by the 

 triumph of the national arms, the then Lieut. Commander was detached 

 from the Mississippi Squadron and placed on waiting orders. Tlience- 

 forward his connection with the naval service, though useful, as that of 

 so experienced an officer must needs have been, shares the interest of his 

 friends witli his Oriental studies, which were pursued in the desultory 

 manner necessary for an officer still on the active list. He was made 

 Commander in 186G ; Fleet Captain and Chief of Statt" North Atlantic 

 Squadron, 1867; Captain, 1873; Commodore, 1881, and Rear Admiral, 



