Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant; April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885) was the 17th President of the United States (1869–1877) as well as military commander during the Civil War. Made the commander of the Western Front after the "Army of Tennessee" was pushed out by determined Confederate Army in late 1863 (see Battle for Chattanooga). The effort in the west, in holding onto California and its gold (the only state threatened by Confederate troops), gained Grant respect throughout the union. This would lead to a post-war appointment by president Lincoln to be his new Secretary of War when Edwin M. Stanton resigned over differences with Lincoln's approach to reconciliation with "the rebels" to the south.