. Should not
the Government make another requisition? They will be needed, I fear,
and a short and vigorous campaign round Washington will be advantageous
in the highest degree.

I am, very truly, your obedient servant,
GEORGE S. BOUTWELL.

HAVRE DE GRACE, _April_ 26, 1861.
HON. SIMON CAMERON:

_Sir:_ I have obtained an order from General Wool to garrison the
forts and arsenals, but it is of the utmost importance to obtain
authority to purchase at least three steamers and equip them for coast
defense. This can be done at a moderate cost and the merchants of
Boston are anxious to secure so great a protection to commerce. They
can be used effectively upon the Southern coast. I trust that you will
transmit an order to Governor Andrew by the bearer of this, Mr.
Augustus H. Bixby.

I am, your obedient servant,
GEORGE S. BOUTWELL.

[* This revolver gave me and my friend, Ebenezer F. Stone, then
Adjutant-General of the State, more anxiety than all things else
connected with the expedition. It never occurred to me to return the
pistol. I discharged the barrels and laid the weapon away, only too
glad to have it out of sight. Some years after the war, the Adjutant-
General's department was investigated, and a shortage of arms was
discovered. I received a letter asking me if I had a pistol belonging
to the State. I returned the weapon which I neither wanted nor needed,
and to that extent I relieved General Stone.]

XXVI
THE MILITARY COMMISSION OF 1862 AND GENERAL FREMONT

In the month of May, or early in June 1862, I received a message from
Mr. Stanton asking me to report in Washington, prepared to serve upon
a commission at Cairo, Illinois. Upon arriving at Washington, I was
informed that it would be the duty of the commission to examine claims
that might be preferred against the Government, from the States of
Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. These claims had
arisen from the operations of General Fremont and they were of great
variety. At the end the commission were of the opinion that he was
an expensive commander. Charles A. Dana was chairman of the
commission, and Judge Logan, of Springfield, Illinois, an old friend
of President Lincoln, was my associate. The health of Judge Logan
soon failed, and he was succeeded by Mr. Cullom, afterwards Governor
of Illinois, and a member of the United States Senate.

Our life at Cairo was disagreeable to an extent that cannot be
realized ea