en route to richmond, fremantle passed through wilmington, north carolina, and petersburg, virginia, before arriving in the confederate capital two days after leaving charleston. on the day of his arrival, he was granted a meeting with confederate secretary of state judah p. benjamin. during the audience, benjamin assured fremantle that british diplomatic recognition of the c.s.a. would terminate the war without more bloodshed, though the british officer was concerned about a possible union invasion of canada. benjamin also complained to his guest about revelations about his gambling habits made by the former correspondent of "the times", william howard russell. benjamin then took fremantle to see president jefferson davis, with whom he spoke for an hour. from fremantle's account, it is possible to conclude that the confederate leaders may have been trying to impress their british visitor on the matter of diplomatic intervention, without real consideration of his lack of power to do so.