John Harrison Wilson, The life of Charles Henry Dana

[183] which preceded the war he should not absent himself from the country under any pretext whatever, but should find a field nearer home in which he could more suitably display his patriotism. Chase wanted to employ him in connection with the Treasury, and suggested that it would be an important service to the country if he would interest himself in purchasing and bringing out cotton from such parts of the Mississippi Valley as had been occupied by the Federal army. England, having early thrown her influence against the Union, was undergoing a crisis in her textile trade for want of raw cotton, and our government thought it good policy to placate her by doing all it properly could to keep the market supplied with that staple. As our own mills were also constantly short, and cotton goods of every sort were rising rapidly in value, the supply of raw cotton was a question of great concern to the country. But Dana was reluctant to embark in the business, and declined to do so till he had discharged certain other important duties assigned to him by the Secretary of War.

Shortly after leaving the Tribune Dana made a trip to Washington with a party of friends, and while there had interviews with the President and several members of the cabinet in regard to the distribution of the political offices in New York. He had previously had some correspondence with Stanton, growing out of an editorial which he had written for the Tribune and sent by letter to Stanton on his appointment to the War Department. The letter called attention to certain facts which Dana thought the department ought to deal with, but as it has not been found I cannot give it in this narrative. The editorial was an important one, and may be summarized as follows:

Edwin M. Stanton yesterday (January 20, 1862) entered upon the full discharge of his duties as Secretary of War. He was formally presented to the army officers on duty in Washington, who received him with cordiality. They