organization was soon manifest. There was no lack of men or of money,
but it needed organizing powers like his to mould them into disciplined
form, to grasp the new issues with a master-hand, and to infuse
earnestness and obedience into the citizens, suddenly transformed into
soldiers. His accounts were kept in accordance with the army
regulations, and their subsequent settlement with the United States,
without deduction for unwarranted charges, was an easy task. It was by
his exertions, to a great extent, that the Empire State was enabled to
send to the front six hundred and ninety thousand men, nearly one fifth
of the Grand Army of the Union.

There were, of course, many adventurers who sought commissions, and some
of the regiments were recruited from the rough element of city life, who
soon refused to obey their officers. General Arthur made short work of
these cases, exercising an authority which no one dared to dispute.
Neither would he permit the army contractors to ingratiate themselves
with him by presents, returning everything thus sent him. Although a
comparatively poor man when he entered upon the duties of
quartermaster-general at New York, he was far poorer when he gave up the
office. A friend describing his course at this period, says: "So jealous
was he of his integrity, that I have known instances where he could have
made thousands of dollars legitimately, and yet he refused to do it on
the ground that he was a public officer and meant to be, like Caesar's
wife, above suspicion."

When the rebel ironclad steamer Merrimac had commenced her work of
destruction near Fortress Monroe, General Arthur, as engineer-in-chief,
took efficient steps for the defence of New York, and made a thorough
inspection of all the forts and defences in the State, describing the
armament of each one. His report to the Legislature, submitted to that