Larson, Cooke, 119-51, esp. 124-27.
The idea of attracting small investors for public debt was not unheard of at the time. The initial investments in the Erie Canal came from middling investors. See Larson.
The best account of the operation of the loan is still Oberholtzer, Jay Cooke, 1: 133-325, especially 151, 163-64, 187-88, 193, 229, 231.
Salmon Chase to J. Cooke, Nov. 21, Dec. 16, 1861, Cooke to Chase, Nov. 5, 1861, r. 18.
Chase to J. Cooke, Feb. 2, 7, 9, March 7, 8, 22, 1862, J. Cooke to Chase, Feb. 8, March 10, 22, 1862, Chase Papers, r. 19.
Cooke to Chase, June 28, 1862, Cooke Papers.
Chase to Cooke, Nov. 13, 1862, Chase Papers, r. 23.
Oberholtzer, Jay Cooke, 1:255-63.
Chase to Cooke, June 1, 1863, r. 27, Chase Papers.
Oberholtzer, Jay Cooke, 1:273-75.
Cooke to Chase, June 1, 1863, Chase to Cooke, June 2, July 8, 1863, r. 27, Chase Papers.