body in a little more than three weeks after his attention was called to
the subject by Governor Morgan, was thus noticed editorially in the New
York Herald of January 25, 1862:--

"The report of the engineer-in-chief, General Arthur, which appeared in
yesterday's Herald, is one of the most important and valuable documents
that have been this year presented to our Legislature. It deserves
perusal, not only on account of the careful analysis it contains of the
condition of the forts, but because the recommendations, with which it
closes, coincide precisely with the wishes of the administration with
respect to securing a full and complete defence of the entire Northern
coast."

Governor Morgan appointed General Arthur state inspector-general in
February, 1862, and ordered him to visit and inspect the New York troops
in the army of the Potomac. While there, as an advance on Richmond was
daily expected, he volunteered for duty on the staff of his friend,
Major-General Hunt, commander of the Reserve Artillery. He had
previously, when four fine volunteer regiments had been organized under
the auspices of the metropolitan police commissioners of of the city of
New York, and consolidated into what was known as the "Metropolitan
Brigade," been offered the command of it by the colonels of the
regiments, but on making formal application, based on a desire to see
active service in the field, Governor Morgan was unwilling that he
should accept, stating that he could not be spared from the service of
the State, and that while he appreciated General Arthur's desire for
war-service, he knew that he would render the country more efficient aid
for the Union cause by remaining at his State post of duty.

When, in June, 1862, the situation had an unfavorable appearance, and