Military History - 25 July 1866 - General of the Army of the United States Established

On July 25, 1866, the U.S. Congress established the rank of "General of the Army of the United States" for General Ulysses S. Grant. His pay was four hundred dollars per month, and his allowance for fuel and quarters except when his headquarters are in Washington, shall be at the rate of three hundred dollars per month. When appointed General of the Army, Grant wore the rank insignia of four stars and coat buttons arranged in three groups of four.