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should rather be to get every Democrat possible in the war. Get leading Democrats and they will bring in their rank and file, their clientele, who believe in them and would rally about them.”
He said: “There is meat in that,” which, by the by, was a favorite expression of his; “but what would you advise me to do?”
“Well, I will begin with myself; I am out of a job. I have a movement in mind that I hope you will put in my hands.
But it cannot be done, and you cannot even put it in anybody's hands, until you get some men; and it ought to be begun at least early in the spring, the preparation being made for it during the coming fall or winter.
Give me the authority and the money to organize and pay the troops with, and I will go to New England and enlist six to ten thousand men. I will have every officer a Democrat,--that is, if I can have the appointment of the officers, subject to your approval.
I won't reject any Republicans that want to be enlisted, but I will have four fifths of every regiment good, true Democrats, who believe in sustaining the country and in loyalty to the flag of the Union, and who will fight for their country under command of officers I shall choose.
And if I succeed, you had better try it in a good many other States.”
“Well, but what will you do with the governors?”
“I won't have any difficulty with the governors of any of the States in New England but one.
I will try not to have any difficulty with him, but I do not believe I shall succeed, but I shall enlist as many men as I want notwithstanding him.”
“I suppose you refer to Governor Andrew?”
“I do; and if he knows the project in which I am enlisting he will not only try to stop it in our State, but he will try to interfere with it everywhere.
He is covering your table now with complaints of your administration and of your manner of carrying on the war. I shall be glad if you will assist me in this by asking the governors to aid me and appoint such officers as I desire to have appointed.”
Said he: “I think you had better do it; draw such an order as you want.”
And thereupon I drew one and had it signed by the Secretary of War, and approved by the President.
The order was as follows:--
A. M. Thayer and Co. 1892.
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