[325] He appointed Elihu B. Washburne Secretary of State and John A. Rawlins Secretary of War.[326] Washburne resigned, and Grant appointed him Minister to France. Grant then appointed former New York Senator Hamilton Fish Secretary of State.[326] Rawlins died in office, and Grant appointed William W. Belknap Secretary of War.[327] Grant appointed New York businessman Alexander T. Stewart Secretary of Treasury, but Stewart was found legally ineligible to hold office by a 1789 law.[328][y] Grant then appointed Massachusetts Representative George S. Boutwell Secretary of Treasury.[326] Philadelphia businessman Adolph E. Borie was appointed Secretary of Navy, but found the job stressful and resigned.[329][z] Grant then appointed New Jersey's attorney general, George M. Robeson, Secretary of Navy.[331] Former Ohio Governor Jacob D. Cox (Interior), former Maryland Senator John Creswell (Postmaster-General), and Ebenezer Rockwood Hoar (Attorney General) rounded out the cabinet.[332]
Grant nominated Sherman to succeed him as general-in-chief and gave him control over war bureau chiefs.[333] When Rawlins took over the War Department he complained to Grant that Sherman was given too much authority. Grant reluctantly revoked his own order, upsetting Sherman and damaging their wartime friendship. 