Men of Our Times; Or, Leading Patriots of the Day Being narratives of the lives and deeds of statesmen, generals, and orators. Including biographical sketches and anecdotes of Lincoln, Grant, Garrison, Sumner, Chase, Wilson, Greeley, Farragut, Andrew, Colfax, Stanton, Douglass, Buckingham, Sherman, Sheridan, Howard, Phillips and Beecher.

CHAPTER XI.--EDWIN M. STANTON.

Chapter 11115 wordsPublic domain

Rebel Advantages at Opening of the War--They Knew all about the Army Officers--Early Contrast of Rebel Enthusiasm and Union Indifference--Importance of Mr. Stanton's Post--His Birth and Ancestry--His Education and Law Studies--County Attorney--State Reporter--Defends Mr. McNulty--Removes to Pittsburg--His Line of Business--The Wheeling Case--He Removes to Washington--His Qualifications as a Lawyer--He Enters Buchanan's Cabinet--His Unexpected Patriotism--His Own Account of the Cabinet at News of Anderson's Move to Sumter --The Lion before the Old Red Dragon--Appointed Secretary of War--"Bricks in his Pockets"--Stanton's Habitual Reserve-- His Wrath--"The Angel Gabriel as Paymaster"--Anecdotes of Lincoln's Confidence in Stanton--Lincoln's Affection for him-- The Burdens of his Office--His Kindness of Heart within a Rough Outside--The Country his Debtor. 363