Edwin Stanton was an Ohio Democrat and previously Democrat Pres. Buchanan's Attorney General.
Now, as the Civil War approaches its conclusion with Confederates' "unconditional surrender", many key Union figures will share in the credit for victory.
Among those will be Sec. of War, Edwin Stanton -- noted for his blunt aggressive personality, Stanton was key in organizing the Union's logistics, including manpower recruitment & conscription, industrial production and railroads transporting troops, their equipment & supplies.
After Lincoln's assassination, Stanton clashed with Pres. Johnson over Johnson's perceived leniency towards the defeated Confederates, and Johnson tried to fire Stanton, leading to Johnson's impeachment.
When removal of Johnson failed in the Senate, Stanton resigned from the War Department and returned to practicing law.
Pres. Grant thought highly enough of Stanton to nominate him for the US Supreme Court in 1869, and Stanton was confirmed, however he died just four days later, age 55.
Stanton's views on "Little Mac", Union Gen. George McClellan:
- "If he had a million men he would swear the enemy has two millions, and then he would sit down in the mud and yell for three."
