In Gorham's Life of Stanton, it appears that the Cabinet advised
against the restoration of McClellan, and that a vigorous protest was
signed by three members, which, however, was not presented.
During the autumn and winter of 1862-3, I was in the habit of calling
at the War Office for news, when I left the Treasury--usually between
nine and eleven o'clock. Not infrequently I met Mr. Lincoln on the
way or at the department. When the weather was cold he wore a gray
shawl, muffled closely around his neck and shoulders. There was great
anxiety for General Grant in 1863, when he was engaged in the
movement across the Mississippi. At that time I went to the War Office
daily. One evening I met the President in front of the Executive
Mansion, on his way back from the War Department. I said:
"Any news, Mr. President?"
"Come in and I will tell you!"
I knew from the tones of his voice that he had good news. He read the
dispatch, and then by the maps followed the course that Grant had
taken. The news he had received was from Grant himself. From the 4th
of March, 1861, I had not seen Mr. Lincoln as cheerful as he was when
he read the dispatch, and traced the campaign on the map. He felt,
evidently, that the end was approaching--although it was nearly two
years away.
As I had been elected to the House of Representatives in November,
1862, I resigned my office of commissioner of internal revenue March
3, 1863.
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