The President had the right under the law to fill the office of Lieutenant-General by selection, and he was not bound even by usage to regard any claim based only upon seniority of commission.
General Halleck's distinction had not been won by service in the field.
He was a graduate of West Point with a good record in the Mexican war.
He was appointed Major-General at the outbreak of the Rebellion on account of his well-known ability and the presumption of his fitness for high command--a presumption which proved to be not well founded.
Meade had gained his commission by the splendid victory of Gettysburg.
Sheridan, besides earning his commission by his brilliant success in the valley of Virginia, had been personally and most impressively commended by President Lincoln: his success was in fact political as well as military, for it totally destroyed General McClellan as a candidate for the Presidency.

Thomas had received his promotion on account of the great victory at Nashville, without which Sherman might have been seriously embarrassed in his march to the sea.

General Hancock was commissioned after the war for general efficiency as a soldier and for heroism on many battle-fields.

No task could be more invidious than to decide between officers of merit so marked.

If Mr.
Johnson could have had the opportunity, it was well known that he would appoint Thomas to succeed General Sherman; not so much from love as Thomas as from hatred of Sheridan,--a hatred which did honor to Sheridan.