Any real tendency to the secessionist cause, however, could be refuted when he turned down Virginia Governor John Letcher's offer to become chief of ordnance for the Virginia Provisional Army.
Enhver hang mod rebellerne kunne imidlertid afvises, efter at han havde afvist et tilbud fra Virginias guvernør, John Letcher, om at blive chef for materielkommandoen i Virginias Provisional Army.