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Soon after the 1st Rhode Island regiment was mustered out of service, I was appointed by
President Lincoln to the office of brigadier-general.
My commission was given to me on the 6th of August, 1861, and I was ordered to report to
General McClellan, who placed me in charge of the division and brigades which were formed of the new troops as they arrived in
Washington.
My duty was to look after the drill and discipline of these brigades, with a view to giving the men the efficiency necessary for assignment to the older divisions of the army, which were then organizing in
Washington under the name of
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Union lookout, Hatteras Beach.
From a war-time sketch. |
the Army of the Potomac.
The duty was interesting in some respects, but was in the main somewhat tame, so that I very naturally desired more active duty.
One evening in the following October,
General McClellan and I were chatting together over the affairs of the war, when I mentioned to him a plan for the formation of a coast division to which I had given some thought.
After giving him a somewhat detailed account of the plan, he asked me to put it in writing as soon as possible, which was done.
The next day it was presented to him, and it met his approval.
He laid it before the
Secretary of War, by whom it was also approved.
The general details of the plan were briefly as follows: To organize a division of from 12,000 to 15,000 men, mainly from States bordering on the
Northern sea-coast, many of whom would be familiar with the coasting trade, and among whom would be found a goodly number of mechanics; and to fit out a fleet of light-draught steamers, sailing vessels, and barges, large enough to transport the division, its armament and supplies, so that it could be rapidly thrown from point to point on the coast with
a view to establishing lodgments on the
Southern coast, landing troops, and penetrating into the interior, thereby threatening the lines of transportation in the rear of the main army then
