After the civil war began he was often in Washington, and he was untiring in his devotion to his country, and we find him in correspondence with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and with others in official positions. June 11, 1861, he wrote to Colonel Thomas A. Scott, then Assistant Secretary of War, at Willard's Hotel, Washington, D. C.: "Pardon me for repeating in this letter some of the suggestions which I made to the President, yourself, and other members of the Cabinet during my late visit to Washington; "1. The government to immediately seize all the despatches on file in the telegraph offices which have been sent from Washington, Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, New York, Hartford, Boston, and other cities within the last six months, as I feel confident they will on examination prove many persons not now suspected to have been acting as spies and traitors. "2. The government to establish as soon as possible telegraphic communication, by means of submarine cables, between some of our principal ports on the sea-board and the nearest telegraph line communicating with Washington, so that the department can almost instantly communicate with the commanding officer at any particular point desired. "3. In each department of the government to adopt a cipher with its confidential agent at important points of the country, so that they can communicate confidentially by telegraph. "I consider it very important that the government should have the most reliable telegraph communication with its principal forts on the Atlantic coast. "If there is any information that I possess that would be of service to you in carrying out the wishes of the government in regard to telegraph matters it will afford me pleasure to give it. "I presume you are aware that there are very few persons in this country who have had any experience in the manufacture, working, or laying of submarine cables of any great importance. "Very respectfully "Your obedient servant, "CYRUS W. FIELD." June 16th, while in Washington, he received a pass "beyond the pickets and to return, good for five days." On July 30th he wrote to Captain G. V. Fox, of the Navy Department: "In a letter I wrote the Secretary of the Treasury on the 11th of May last I used these words, viz.: 'For the government to send at once a confidential agent to England, with a competent naval officer, to obtain from the British government by purchase, or otherwise, some of the improved steam gun-boats and other vessels to protect our commerce and to assist in blockading Southern ports.'" It was at this time that his firm in New York wrote to him that a debt of $1800 had been paid and that $1000 was in silver. Such a payment would hardly be appreciated now.