In these transactions the quartermaster-general issued 23,000,000 bushels of corn, 78,000,000 bushels of oats, 93,000 bushels of barley, 1,520,000 tons of hay, and 1,600,000 tons of straw, and other articles in proportion. The salaried employes in his Department numbered 110,000, of whom 83,837-a large army-were discharged under Stanton's reduction order of April 28.

The operations of the other Departments were on the same grand scale. Indeed, the preparations of the winter of 1864-5 to crush the insurrection at one irresistible sweep-to wipe out the Confederacy-were stupendous. In his review of them Stanton reported to Congress that he had on hand material and munitions. sufficient to last three years; wagons and machinery enough for the use of two millions of soldiers; a food supply that would last two months; and horses and other animals coming in at the rate of five hundred per day!

Thus the wonderful story of the war is not of its sieges and marches, its battle above the clouds, its fight from the tree tops of Port Hudson, the wild charge at Petersburg, or the frightful slaughter at Gettysburg, but the immeasurable executive and administrative capacity which furnished, equipped, fed, transported, and paid the armies which knew and developed the resources of the nation according to the necessities of the hour!

The heart and soul of it all was Stanton, and his second report of 1865 is the most eloquent history of the Rebellion ever printed. It shows the transactions of his Department to have been prodigious; and in concluding he made this discriminating prophecy, which was fulfilled to the last measure by the Spanish war:

Henceforth there is no room to doubt the stability of the Union. No new rebellion can ever spring up that will not encounter a greater force for its reduction, and a foreign war would intensify the national feeling and thousands, once misled, would rejoice to atone for their error by rallying to the national flag. The majesty of the national power has been exhibited; and the foundations of the Federal Union have been made eternal.

He mentions with pride the success of his efforts to return the country almost in a day to a peace basis, a feat that astonished the world. European critics did not believe it could be done without rioting, bloodshed, and industrial revolution, and, at home, governors of States and many distinguished men requested him to provide troops to maintain order.

"He did not view these fears as well-founded, and made reply, in substance, that if the soldiers who subdued the Rebellion could not be trusted, the life of the Republic might as well be yielded," says General Vincent, and he sent ten thousand a day back to their respective communities without any effort to watch or restrain them, and there was no disorder, social or industrial.

CHAPTER LI.

FAITHFUL LIEUTENANTS.

The uniformly high grade of Stanton's personal appointments is as noteworthy as any feature of his administration, During the war the members of his staff never failed in probity or capacity, and, without exception, those who survived the contest became prominent and distinguished leaders in their chosen callings. Could there be a surer test of Stanton's foresight and ability?

While there is no known match for his physical and mental endurance and the unflagging force of his will, his lieutenants, constituting as effective and harmonious a staff as ever served a war minister, kept wonderfully well up to his pace and contributed materially to his success.*

Peter Hill Watson, assistant secretary, a native of Scotland who was banished from British soil for participating in the Canadian Rebellion of 1837-an abolitionist and an intense patriot-was second only to his chief in energy, capacity, and the spirit of selfsacrifice.

Charles A. Dana, at first confidential agent at the front and then assistant secretary, was confessedly the most brainy, far-seeing, and profound investigator and spy of the generation.

Edward D. Townsend, acting adjutant-general,† faithful and true to the last and a model Christian, possessed unlimited capacity for discharging routine duties with unerring hand and unruffled

*During the opening weeks of his administration he held daily meetings with his bureau chiefs, thus learning the actual conditions of the several divisions and getting up high pressure and synchronous action throughout the Department; but afterward, when he had measured their individual capacities, he advised with them separately, according to the matter in hand and trusted them implicity to carry out details.

†General Lorenzo Thomas was technically adjutant-general, but in order to have available the remarkable qualities of General Townsend, Stanton always kept Thomas, whose condition was feeble, away from Washington on detached duties.