French Consuls To The Confederacy

Although the Confederate States were never officially delegated a French Embassy, or had official French ambassadors stationed in the capital, France sent seventeen consuls to the Confederacy in hopes of maintaining a diplomatic relationship with them. These French consuls stayed in the Confederate States throughout the Civil War, including during the Union's military campaign into the south.

This specific article discusses the personal account of Alfred Paul; one of seventeen French consuls assigned to the Confederate States during the American Civil War. He shares his experiences during the fall of Richmond, Virgina in 1865. He comments on his thoughts about both the state of the war and the competancy of the Confederate government. Paul is able to provide insight as someone who was affiliated with high ranking officials of the Confederate Government during the Civil War.

"Paul was perhaps in a unique position to observe the difference in potentials of the two sides. He made many trips overland between Richmond and Washington and many others by water to New York. On these trips he reported fully his impressions - impressions often sharpened by official decisions taken but not yet acted upon." (Spencer, 179)