One hundred and fifty years ago today, on March 10, 1864, President Lincoln signed an executive order promoting Ulysses S. Grant to the rank of Lieutenant General, making him the commander of all Union troops. The rank hadnt been awarded, except on a temporary basis, since John Adams gave it to George Washington in 1798. Congress agreed to revive the use of the rank on one condition: that it be awarded to Grant and no other. Grant wasnt Lincolns first choice; he had wanted to nominate Henry Wager Halleck instead. He feared Grant was already too popular, and there were rumors around the capital that the Republican Party was considering nominating Grant for president in the next election. But Congress wouldnt budge, and, after Grant publicly stated that he had no interest in the presidency, Lincoln agreed. Grants leadership style marked a significant strategic shift from that of previous commanders. His predecessors had been indecisive, and their dithering had cost the Union several battles. Grant, on the other hand, had scored key victories in western Tennessee and at the Siege of Vicksburg. He took control of the Mississippi River on behalf of the Union, effectively dividing the Confederacy in two. For Lincoln, the last straw came when Major General George Meade failed to mobilize in time to pursue Lees army after the Battle of Gettysburg. The Confederate forces eluded Meade, and lived to fight another day. When Grant was promoted, Meade offered to step down rather than stand in the way of Grant filling his post with the right man for the job. Grant wouldnt accept his resignation, however, and later said Meades offer garnered him more respect than his victory at Gettysburg. A few days after Lincoln signed the executive order, The New York Times reported on Grants promotion, saying, The country will look anxiously for speedy and happy results as the consequence of these fundamental changes in command. After a series of bloody but successful campaigns, Grant accepted Lees surrender at Appomattox in April 1865, and the Civil War officially ended two months later.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 13:13:30 +0000
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