The first of the Gruesome Twosome, George Opdyke, had learned the clothing business, as a tailor, in New Orleans. Money and power greased the skids of awarding government contracts and bribing the officials in positions of oversight was the name of the game. Civilian contractors lined the corridors at the Presidential Offices and Lincoln could direct some of these petitioners to Secretary of War Stanton, however many of the political elite audienced with the President directly. These captains of industry, represented media and manufacturing based in New York and the revenue generated through that Port Authority was the most significant in the United States. Logistics and supply were avenues that had to be addressed in order to arm, clothe and feed the new Union Army and literally millions of dollars would be spent meeting these needs. All who participated in Lincoln’s victory in 1860, now wanted to be rewarded handsomely for their support. Lincoln had the ability to juggle political benefactors and speculators deftly, while trying to manage a national divide, bloody conflict and civilian dissention. President Lincoln dealt with many war profiteers during the Civil War and a couple will be discussed as the Gruesome Twosome.
