Letter Reporting on Fort Fisher and Dutch Gap Activities

Commissioner's Office U.S. Direct Tax

District Virginia - Official Business

Norfolk, Jan. 21st 1865

Friend William,

Yours of the 14th was received yesterday and its contents noticed. I wrote you some days ago in detail in regard to the manner I proposed to proceed in buying under the sales ordered by the U.S. Court as confiscated property and then buy it in from sale of Tax commerce process. I see nothing yet. But that will be the best way. U.S. Court sales commence on the 30th, a week from Monday. They require 1/4 down nothing said about the balance. Pay must be in greenbacks which I can get by drafts once. The commonplace sales can be paid by certificates of U.S. indebtedness. You sent the necessity of having the funds here by the 30th if we avail ourselves of the U.S. court sales say 6or $7 thousand. I regret our wool at Chicago has not sold but I suppose you can reign the money in some way. I have concluded not to have anything to do with the company before I received yours. But to some the machine on our own account. I am a making discoveries every day. And if I buy and double it up at a year or 2 at most I shall disappointed. I regret to hear that you are making no effort to avoid a draft. I fear there will be wailing when the draft takes place. I had a conversation with NAP similar to the help you sent me from the adventure. The taking of Fort Fisher has taken the starch out of the Rebs in this city and I think the war will end at farthest in one year and we had better shape our businesses accordingly. I have been near the front as possible. I went to Aikens landing but owing to the high water I could not go from the river as the whole country was inundated. I was about a mile from Dutch Gap and have no force within 1/2 mile of the Gap and they told us it was dangerous to go there as the Reb sharpshooters picked off everyone that showed themselves at the Gap. I was about 3 miles from Green but could not get there on account of the water. The pontoon bridge was carried away. The canal is considered an entire failure. I regret that Butler is removed as there is no doubt about his executive abilities if there is about his military capacity.I think we had better use about $20,000 in our speculation here if everything looks right. I think we can stand that is we'll be only $4,000 apiece and shall not buy unless I am very sure of doubling our money in a year or two.

Your friend,

Leonard Searing