[ Private. ]
Executive Mansion , June 5 , 1861.
Lieutenant-General Scott.
My dear Sir : Doubtless you begin to understand how disagreeable it is for me to do a thing arbitrarily when it is unsatisfactory to others associated with me.
I very much wish to appoint Colonel Meigs quartermaster-general, and yet General Cameron does not quite consent. I have come to know Colonel Meigs quite well for a short acquaintance, and, so far as I am capable of judging, I do not know one who combines the qualities of masculine intellect, learning, and experience of the right sort, and physical power of labor and endurance, so well as he.
I know he has great confidence in you, always. sustaining, so far as I have observed, your opinions against any differing ones.
You will lay me under one more obligation if you can and will use your influence to remove General Cameron’s objection. I scarcely need tell you I have nothing personal in this, having never seen or heard of Colonel Meigs until about the end of last March.
Your obedient servant,
A. Lincoln.
Evidently General Scott used his influence with Sec retary Cameron in the way desired , as Meigs was appointed .