John Harrison Wilson, The life of Charles Henry Dana

[190] reply that it was a ridiculous and impertinent effort to puff the general by words he had never uttered; that there was a gang around the Federal Capitol organized for the purpose of magnifying their idol; that he had not been ill or absent from his duties as the Herald had reported, and that it was a “funny sight to see a certain military hero in the telegraphic office at Washington last Sunday organizing victory . . . and capturing Fort Donelson six hours after Grant and Smith had taken it sword in hand and had victorious possession.” ...

Dana, while still in charge of the Tribune, made haste to give this letter to the country, and this further strengthened his relations with the administration. His retirement from the Tribune was announced a few days later, whereupon Stanton at once asked him to enter the service of the War Department, and this he resolved to do as soon as he could arrange his private affairs for leaving home.

On June, 16, 1862, the secretary sent Dana an appointment as member of a commission to audit unsettled claims against the quartermaster's bureau, and directed him by wire to proceed at once to Cairo, Illinois. His compensation was fixed at eight dollars per day, with the usual allowance of mileage while travelling on duty. His associates were Judge Stephen T. Logan, a distinguished lawyer of Springfield, Illinois, an intimate friend of Lincoln, and George S. Boutwell, afterwards Governor of Massachusetts, Secretary of the Treasury, and United States Senator. Shortly after the first meeting, Judge Logan was forced by illness to resign, whereupon Shelby M. Cullom, afterwards Governor of Illinois and United States Senator, was appointed to the vacancy. Cairo, situated at the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and thrust well forward towards the heart of the Confederacy, early became a point of great strategic importance.