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I afterwards received a letter from him dated the 11th of November, stating that he would be in New York on the following Saturday,1 and I had the honor of a call from him at the time indicated.
He tendered me his congratulations upon our success in keeping the peace on election day, and then informed me that he had means, which I could understand, of knowing that I could be Secretary of War if I would accept the office.
He said that there had been so much stress in the campaign put upon Stanton's severity of action toward the rebels that it might be necessary for the pacification of the country to make a change.
I replied to him in substance that I had no reason to change the determination which I had given him in the spring, namely, that I should hold no office except an active command in the army until the war had terminated.
I said that the great encomiums I had received had not turned my head or changed my views as to my loyal duty to my country or to myself; that Stanton had loyally stood by me in everything, and that in ordinary gratitude I could not think of taking his place, in any event, until it was certain that he would leave it whether I took it or not; that in that case it was more than doubtful, in view of the opposition of the officers of the regular army under which I was suffering, whether I could do as well as Stanton had done, he having partially overcome a like opposition to himself; that the only change in regard to the treatment of the rebels which the President would get from me would be that I should act more promptly in punishing rebel offenders.
Mr. Cameron said he had had a personal conversation with the President upon this subject, and that he was very sure that he would regret my determination.
I replied to him that when I saw the President I believed that I could convince him that what I was doing was the best for himself and the best for his cause.
Cameron answered: “Well, General, you stick to your text like an old rusty weathercock.”
We discussed for a considerable time the political situation and also the condition of the war. I expressed to him my opinion,
1 See Appendix No. 93.
A. M. Thayer and Co. 1892.
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