But the manufacturing trade was, presumably, a more serious anxiety and if cotton became hard, or even impossible to obtain, a serious situation would demand consideration.
In the generally accepted view of a "short war," there was at first no great anticipation of real danger.

But beginning with December, 1861, there was almost complete stoppage of supply from America.

In the six months to the end of May, 1862, but 11,500 bales were received, less than one per cent.

of the amount for the same six months of the previous year[673].

The blockade was making itself felt and not merely in shipments from the South but in prospects of Southern production, for the news came that the negroes were being withdrawn by their masters from the rich sea islands along the coast in fear of their capture by the Northern blockading squadrons[674].