Adam Badeau, Grant in peace: from Appomattox to Mount McGregor, a personal memoir

[79] There were times when he probably did not concur with Grant, but he deliberately subordinated his own opinions to those of the soldier on all military points. Sometimes when Grant was too far away to be easily reached, Stanton, probably by Halleck's advice, made dispositions or appointments that Grant did not approve, but if subsequently Grant wished these steps reversed, Stanton never objected. During Early's invasion of Maryland telegraphic communication between Washington and City Point was interrupted for a while, and great confusion and alarm prevailed at the capital. Several movements were ordered without Grant's knowledge, all of which proved abortive. In this emergency Stanton finally appealed to Grant. He directed Charles A. Dana, then Assistant Secretary of War, to say to Grant that unless he gave positive directions and enforced them the result would be ‘deplorable and fatal.’ When Grant placed Sheridan in command in the Valley he did it knowing that his own confidence in that officer's capacity was not shared by the Government, but neither Lincoln nor Stanton interfered, and all this, though Stanton was an imperious man, fond of power, used to authority, and never doubting his own judgment in civil affairs. But he had made up his mind to intrust plenary authority to Grant, and he carried out his intention heartily and absolutely. Grant fully appreciated this course.

They had one little difference at Chattanooga when Stanton insisted on controlling the cipher operator at Grant's headquarters, but this was soon forgotten; and Stanton always directed Grant's telegraphic orders to subordinate commanders to be taken off the wires as they passed through Washington, so that he might inspect them. Grant sometimes would have preferred to withhold the information these dispatches contained, lest it should be made public too soon; but Stanton was within his rights, and the subject was never broached in their correspondence or conversation. At every serious point their harmony was undisturbed.