Thaddeus H. Stanton (1835–1900), was Paymaster-General of the United States Army 1895–1899. Stevens began his active life as a Republican newspaperman and politician in Iowa. During the Civil War he joined the Union Army, serving as Paymaster. After the war, he transferred to the Regular Army, serving in the Paymaster Department. During the Big Horn Expedition 1876, he served in the field, receiving a

brevet Brevet may refer to: Military * Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay * Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college * Aircre ...

promotion for bravery.

Early life

Stanton was born in Liberty, Indiana, and moved to Mount Pleasant, Iowa in 1851. In Mount Pleasant he became the

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of an antislavery paper. Later moving to Washington, Iowa, Stanton edited the Republican ''Washington Press''. At the beginning of the Civil War he enlisted and served for three months. Returning to Iowa, Stanton was elected as a Republican to the State House of Representatives for the period 1862–1864.

Civil War

During his three months enlistment, Stanton served as a Private in the

3rd District of Columbia Infantry Battalion The 3rd District of Columbia Infantry Battalion was an infantry battalion that served in the Union Army between April and July, 1861, during the American Civil War. Service The battalion was organized at Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyl ...

. When returning to military service, it was as Captain in the

19th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment The 19th Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 19th Iowa Infantry was organized at Keokuk, Iowa and mustered in for three years of Federal service on August 25, 18 ...

from August 1862. Stanton did not stay long in the infantry, becoming an Additional Paymaster in the Volunteer Army in October the same year. His service as Paymaster lasted until April 1867, when he transferred to the Regular Army.Heitman, Francis B.(1903). ''Historical register and dictionary of the United States Army.'' Washington: Government Printing Office, p. 916.

Regular Army

In the regular army, Stanton served as Major, Paymaster from 1867 to 1890, when he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, Deputy Paymaster General. Further promotions were to Colonel, Assistant Paymaster General, 1893. In 1895, he succeeded William Smith as Paymaster General and was promoted to Brigadier General, In spite of serving in the Paymaster Department, Stanton acted as representative of

General Sheridan General of the Army Philip Henry Sheridan (March 6, 1831 – August 5, 1888) was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War. His career was noted for his rapid rise to major general and his close as ...

, the Commanding General of the Military Division of the Missouri, in the field during the Big Horn Expedition 1876, serving as Chief of Scouts, and also, on General Crook's behest, as a reporter for the '' New-York Tribune''. He received a brevet promotion for gallantry at the

Battle of Powder River The Battle of Powder River, also known as the Reynolds Battle, occurred on March 17, 1876, in Montana Territory, United States. The attack on a Cheyenne Indian encampment by Colonel Joseph J. Reynolds initiated the Great Sioux War of 1876. Althou ...

, and later commanded the citizens who joined Crook, but did not thereafter serve at the frontier.

Death

Thaddeus Harlan Stanton died in

Omaha Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest city ...

on January 23, 1900, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stanton, Thaddeus Harlan Paymaster-General of the United States Army Members of the Iowa House of Representatives 1835 births 1900 deaths Burials at Arlington National Cemetery 19th-century American politicians