The incumbent was the elderly Winfield Scott, who retired in November 1861.
Lincoln replaced him with George McLellan, but soon took certain responsibilities off him.
For a few months, there was no General-in-Chief - it was notionally Lincoln himself.
In July 1862, he appointed Henry Halleck, as a reward for the victories in the West.
In March 1864, he replaced Halleck with U.S. Grant, who served in that postuntil the end of the war.
Ulysses S. Grant was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General March 2, 1864 and was appointed General in Chief of the Federal Armies on the 10th of that month.
Grant's successful campaigns in the West convinced Lincoln that Lee would not intimidate him.
Technically, yes. For example, in spring 1862, there was no General-in-Chief of the Union armies. Lincoln was effectively in that job himself. But he didn't want to be (unlike the opposing President), and he handed over the task to a qualified West-Pointer as soon as he could.
general grant
After the victory over Confederate forces at Chattanooga in November 1863, President Lincoln was convinced that the Union finally had a general who could crush the Confederates. In March of 1864 Lincoln brought Grant to Washington and gave him command of all Union armies.
Ulisses S. Grant.
US President Lincoln was impressed by General Halleck's performance in the West. He appointed him to be general in chief of all Union military forces on July 11, 1862. The previous general in chief had been General George B. McClellan.
Ulysses S. Grant was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General March 2, 1864 and was appointed General in Chief of the Federal Armies on the 10th of that month.
Santa clasue
Grant's successful campaigns in the West convinced Lincoln that Lee would not intimidate him.
Technically, yes. For example, in spring 1862, there was no General-in-Chief of the Union armies. Lincoln was effectively in that job himself. But he didn't want to be (unlike the opposing President), and he handed over the task to a qualified West-Pointer as soon as he could.
Lincoln was the US President, directing the Union armies. These armies lost both the Battles of Bull Run.
general grant
Notionally, yes. In the last phase of the war, Lee was General-in-Chief of the Confederate armies, while Lincoln, as US President, was automatically Commander-in-Chief of the Union armies. In practice, Lee was facing Ulysses Grant, whom Lincoln was most unlikely to over-rule.
Ullyses S. Grant was the general of the Northern armies (Union) who went on to become president
As the US Civil War unfolded, it was necessary for President Lincoln to make generalship appointments. For the most part he used genius, intellect and character to make many of these decisions. However, the nation being as it was, Lincoln had to make "political appointments" to generalships. This usually ended up badly for the Union's war effort.
After the victory over Confederate forces at Chattanooga in November 1863, President Lincoln was convinced that the Union finally had a general who could crush the Confederates. In March of 1864 Lincoln brought Grant to Washington and gave him command of all Union armies.