Lincoln instructed Seward to begin direct communications with Garibaldi. The U.S. minister at Antwerp, Quiggle's superior, Henry S. Sanford, was instructed to offer the red-shirt hero "a Major-General's commission in the Army of the United States, with its appointments and the hearty welcome of the American people."( ... ) "It has been a source of sincere satisfaction to the President that circumstances have rendered him able to extend to him [Garibaldi], if desired, an invitation which would enable him to add [to his already towering reputation] the glory of aiding in the preservation of the American Union." Seward also notified Sanford that he could reveal that one thousand pounds sterling had been put aside for the "expenses" of Garibaldi and his retinue.