To Simon Cameron1Jump to section
The Government has already accepted ten Regiments from the State of Indiana. I think at least six more ought to be received from that state. Two to be those of Col. James W. McMillan & Col. William L. Brown, and the other four to be designated by the Governor of the State of Indiana; and to be received into the volunteer service of the U.S. according to the ``Plan of organization,'' in the General Order of the War Department No. 15---when they report to Major General McClellan, in condition to pass muster according to that Order. And, with the approval of the Secretary of War to be indorsed hereon, and a copy left in his Department, I direct that the whole six, or any small number of said Regiments be received. A. LINCOLN.
Annotation
[1] ALS, RPB. On the same day Cameron communicated to Governor Oliver P. Morton, Lincoln's call for six additional regiments, two of them commanded by Colonel William L. Brown and Colonel James W. McMillin (OR, III, I, 265). Morton to Lincoln, June 19, 1861, protested Lincoln's appointment of colonels: ``Without intending to cast any reflections upon the character or fitness of the men appointed, I beg leave to state that I know of no reason making it necessary to take the appointing power from the Executive of the State. . . . '' (DLC-RTL). Cameron to Morton, June 23, assured the governor that he regretted the embarrassment, `` . . . nothing could have been further from the intention of the President or of this Department. . . . '' (OR, III, I, 291).