Autograph letter, signed. Fine copperplate script on Bank of the Republic letterhead, dated May 9, 1861. Written by James A. Norris, senior clerk at the Bank of the Republic in New York City, to his brother William Norris, a Savannah, Georgia financier.
The letter offers a fascinating insight into the flight of money from North to South on the outbreak of the Civil War. Only a month after penning the letter, Norris would flee New York for Savannah. Norris’ boss, Gazaway Bugg Lamar, headed the Bank of the Republic and was known in the Union press as the ‘Arch-Rebel.’ Using the same communication networks revealed in the letter, Lamar successfully moved the state gold reserves of both Georgia and South Carolina out of New York and back to the South, where they helped finance Confederate arms imports and blockade runners. Even as Lamar fled New York, Norris and a few other Bank of the Republic clerks were putting the finishing touches on the scheme and preparing to leave the city.
Given the timing of this letter, it would have been one of the last letters sent legally from north to south, regarding some of the final lawful transactions between Confederate agents and northern banks.
Letter reads, in full: “Dear William, | Your kind letter of the 3rd just was this day rec’d by express with check Sixty Six 18/100 dollars for your kind attention to which you do not know how how much I am obliged to you for, as it has relieved me of a load of anxiety for the present at least. A few days since I wrote Mr. Paine by Express and forwarded mail via Louisville enclosed to him in each letter Charlotte’s order for One Thousand dollars which surely was to be taken out of the Books Mother has of hers in Our Possession. I wrote her about it but presume she may not know how the same can be fixed, can I ask the favor of you to attend to it for us. | The idea is this, to draw One Thousand dollars out of the Savings Bank (on those books) and remit a check on this place for proceeds of that amt, So that we can have something to fall back on in case the War cuts off all communication between the North and South, the impression here appears to be War will be of short duration say 40 or 60 days but I who know our people know differently. The excitement here is very great and I do not write any thing about it fearing the letter may not be allowed to go forward. Will write you more fully by express tomorrow. The Children all join in Love to You, Mother, Quincy requests me to say particularly he requests to be remembered to You and says all he wants is an opportunity for him to fight for Georgia between You & his Uncle Dick in the Horsemen. | Yours Truly, Jas A. Norris | [P.S.] If the amt of one thousand dollars is drawn on the books Mother has of Charlotte’s, please ask Mr. Paine to return the two drafts of hers for one thousand dollars each & send them to Mother under any circumstances if both are received only one would have to be used, I think you will fully understand the Idea.” This lot has a reserve.
