At some earlier point, he had begun selling farm products to the White House, and he had recently made the acquaintance of President Abraham Lincoln, so he was well-positioned to seek a job at a time when the war had filled Washington with place-seekers.
Mõni aeg varem oli ta hakanud varustama põllumajandustoodanguga Valget Maja ning tutvunud president Abraham Lincolniga, mistõttu olid tal tööotsinguks head šansid, ehkki sõda täitis terve linna tööotsijatega.