as the civil war became imminent in early 1861, president abraham lincoln considered banks for a cabinet post, despite a negative recommendation from governor andrew, who considered banks to be unsuitable for any office. lincoln rejected banks in part because he had accepted the railroad job, but chose him as one of the first major generals (maj. gen.) of volunteers, appointing him on may 16, 1861. many of the professional soldiers in the regular army were unhappy with this but banks, given his national prominence as a leading republican, brought political benefits to the administration, including the ability to attract recruits and money for the union cause, despite his lack of field experience.