Henry Adams, private secretary of the US Minister to the UK, to his brother, Charles.
London, September 30, 1864
When I study Sherman’s campaign, I shudder to think what a close thing it was, and how nearly desperate that superb final march was, in the sense of its being a last expedient. As you know, I had frequently despaired. How could I reckon on the mere personal genius of one man? Now that it is over, I feel almost incredulous, and do not wonder at all at the persistent conviction of the southern press that we should be defeated. If they were unable to hold that place, I cannot see where they look for the place they will hold; and if they could not in the whole Confederacy raise more than ten thousand men to reinforce Hood at the most excruciating pinch, where can they get men to meet our new levies? The courage of the rebs has been marvellous, but human nature has its limits and unless the sun shines a little, the devil himself would lose heart in such a case.
Meanwhile quiet still reigns supreme on this side. We hear nothing of any consequence. Your friend Mr. Y[eatman] has gone back to Richmond and Mr. S[cott] R[ussell] says he suspects his hand to be in various articles in Richmond papers looking peace-ward. There is a great financial crisis down in the City, all due to our war and the fall in cotton consequent on the peace panic. The rebel cotton-loan has fallen twenty per cent from its high estate, and brought down with it a flock of lame ducks on the stock-exchange. Old Mr. Bates meanwhile is dead and buried. You remember the gloomy magnificence of our call there, and how the poor old man sat in that sombre vastness and waited for death. I have seen few sights more rich in comments on human vanities than the picture of the good old gentleman dying; for of all England, and in spite of all the years he had lived here, and fed and entertained all the world, not an Englishman except his partners seems to have cared whether he lived or died. After all, his mourners are Americans, although he has probably founded an English family. . . .
