The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 73, July 1969 - April, 1970 Page: 459
605 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Cotton on the Border, 1861-1865
Quintero's work-and Vidaurri's potential-that he appointed the Cu-
ban permanent agent in Monterrey, the Nuevo Le6n y Coahuila cap-
ital.'" The trade with Mexico had started slowly, but with Quintero
in Monterry, it rapidly increased.
A number of merchants in Matamoros and Monterry were eager
to profit from the hardships of war. Late in 1861 Quintero reported
that the Monterrey firm of Lorenzo Oliver and Brothers probably was
in the best position to supply the Confederacy. The company already
had contacts all over northern Mexico and considerable experience
in Texas and New Orleans. The Oliver Brothers offered lead, blankets,
shoes, sulphur, saltpeter, and firearms at what Quintero considered
reasonable prices. Assistant Secretary of State William M. Browne
authorized Quintero to negotiate, but Jose Oliver was so anxious to
sign a contract that he left for Richmond with samples of his goods."1
The Confederacy could make no deal with Oliver, because he would
not promise to deliver the goods, although he insisted that he be paid
in advance with cash or cotton. Secretary Benjamin concluded that
Oliver was "fearful of responsibilities." Still he recommended that the
southern authorities continue negotiations with him because of his
potential use to the country."
Quintero did not wait to hear about Oliver before making other
commercial agreements. Patricio Milmo, Governor Vidaurri's son-in-
law, was anxious to trade flour for cotton. Other merchants presented
favorable contracts, and Quintero reported in November that he could
purchase rifle and cannon powder at a fair price, but suggested instead
that the Confederacy buy saltpeter and sulphur, because the Mexican
powder was not as dependable as that made by the Confederacy. Later
he wrote that he could trade for "everything with the exception of
small arms."'"
"Quintero to R. M. T. Hunter, August 19, 1861; Quintero to Browne, June i, 1861,
John T. Pickett Papers (Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.); Quintero to Edward
Clark, July 11, 1861, Governors' Letters (Archives, Texas State Library, Austin); Owsley,
King Cotton Diplomacy, 116-117.
"Quintero to Hunter, November 4, 11, 1861; Quintero to Browne, November 6, 1861,
Pickett Papers; Quintero to Francis R. Lubbock, November g, December 2, 1861, Gover-
nors' Letters; Browne to Quintero, December 9, 1861, in Oficial Records of the Union
and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion (31 vols.; Washington, 1894-1927),
Ser. II, III, 30o8; hereafter cited as O.R.N.
"Benjamin to Mansfield Lovell, March 22, 1862, O.R.A., Ser. I, VI, 863-864.
a"Quintero to Hunter, November 11, 1861, Pickett Papers.459
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 73, July 1969 - April, 1970, periodical, 1970; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117147/m1/505/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.