A few days after the inauguration of Mr.Lincoln, Colonel Forney came to my quarters and, having passed the time of day, said: "The Secretary of War wishes you to be at the department to-morrow morning as near nine o'clock as you can make it." "What does he want, Colonel Forney ?" I asked.
"He is going to offer you the position of private secretary to the Secretary of War, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, and I am very desirous that you accept it." He went away leaving me rather upset.

I did not sleep very soundly that night.

"So," I argued to myself, "it has come to this, that Forney and Cameron, lifelong enemies, have made friends and are going to rob the Government--one clerk of the House, the other Secretary of War--and I, a mutual choice, am to be the confidential middle man." I still had a home in Tennessee and I rose from my bed, resolved to go there.
I did not keep the proposed appointment for next day.

As soon as I could make arrangements I quitted Washington and went to Tennessee, still unchanged in my preconceptions.

I may add, since they were verified by events, that I have not modified them from that day to this.
I could not wholly believe with either extreme.