Stanton: Life And Times of Lincoln's Secretary of WarAt the time of his death, renowned Lincoln biographer Benjamin Thomas was at work on a life of one of the most controversial figures in American history: Edwin McMasters Stanton, the man who marshaled the military forces of the Union in the Civil War and played a crucial role in the only presidential impeachment trial in our history. Harold Hyman, himself a prize-winning historian, undertook to carry on from the advanced point in research and writing that Thomas had reached. The result of their collaborative efforts is a monumental work worthy to stand beside Thomas’s own Lincoln as a truly outstanding American biography. Continuously absorbing and written with clarity and grace, Stanton gives an objective, full-scale portrait of this complex and enigmatic figure. Stanton could be explosive and domineering or gentle or considerate; he was at once single-minded and self-doubting. That Stanton should be “controversial” is curious, for he served with distinction under three Presidents; Lincoln offered him unquestioning trust and warm personal friendship. Yet Stanton’s name is commonly associated with duplicity rather than with selfless patriotism, including charges that he connived in Lincoln’s murder, betrayed each of the Presidents he served, antagonized such generals as McClellan and Sherman, and thwarted opportunities for the peaceful reconciliation of North and South. This biography puts legend and prejudice in clear perspective by going directly to documentary evidence, by probing into Stanton’s motives and methods, and by evaluating his accomplishments and failures. It is a judicious and honest portrait of a stubborn, dedicated man; but it also brings to light many important details about the times in which he lived. |
Contents
A Tower of Strength | |
Jacksonian Reformer | |
1v At the Heights of the | |
First Blow for the Union | |
vr From Critic to Colleague | |
vn Secretary of a | |
Organizing Victory | |
Stantons Lincoln | |
Shermans Truce | |
Justice | |
DiSCOTd | |
They Must Muster Me | |
Fruits into Ashes | |
The Root of Bitterness | |
Off the Sharp Hooks of Uncertainty | |
1x Failure and Frustration | |
Relentlessly and Without Remorse | |
Discouraged But Not Despairing | |
xn My Way Is Clear | |
War in Good Earnest | |
xrv Trampled by the Hoof of | |
His Iron Mask Torn | |
The Misfortune of That Station | |
In Suspense | |
No One Will Steal It | |
Cling to the Old Orifice | |
Campaigning for Grant | |
The Obsequies Have Been Enlarged | |
A Note on the History of Stanton Biographies | |
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Common terms and phrases
Andrew antislavery appointment April asked Barlow Papers Blair Buchanan Buell Burnside Butler cabinet Cameron Chase Papers Chattanooga civilian command Confederate Congress court Dana Democratic Department Diary Edwin election Ellen enemy enlist force Frémont general’s Governor Grant Halleck Harpers Ferry Hitchcock Holt Hooker Hunter influence July Lee’s letter Lincoln and Stanton loyal March McClellan McClernand McCook Meigs military nation Negro never Northern Ohio Pamphila party persons Pittsburgh political Potomac President President’s provost provost marshals radical railroad rebel recruiting reported Republican resignation Richmond river Rosecrans Scott Secretary Secretary of War Senate sent Seward Sherman slavery slaves soldiers soon South Southern Stanton felt Stanton MSS Stanton wrote Steubenville Sumner Tappan telegraph Thomas Thurlow Weed took troops Union armies victory Virginia War Department War Secretary Washington Washington Star Watson Whigs White House William Stanton Wolcott WPHM York