He arranged for an intermediary to inquire into Grant's political intentions, and once assured that he had none, Lincoln promoted Grant to the newly revived rank of Lieutenant General, a rank which had been unoccupied since George Washington.
hiː ɚɹˈeɪndʒd fɚɹən ˌɪntɚmˈiːdiːɚɹi tʊ ɪŋkwˈaɪɚɹ ˌɪntʊ ɡɹˈænts pəlˈɪɾɪkəl ɪntˈɛnʃənz, ænd wˈʌns əʃˈʊɹd ðæt hiː hæd nˈʌn, lˈɪŋkən pɹəmˈoʊɾᵻd ɡɹˈænt tə ðə nˈuːli ɹᵻvˈaɪvd ɹˈæŋk ʌv luːtˈɛnənt dʒˈɛnɚɹəl, ɐ ɹˈæŋk wˌɪtʃ hɐdbɪn ʌnˈɑːkjʊpˌaɪd sˈɪns dʒˈɔːɹdʒ wˈɑːʃɪŋtən.