Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

McDowell, Irvin (1818-1885) to Ulysses S. Grant

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03021 Author/Creator: McDowell, Irvin (1818-1885) Place Written: Vicksburg, Mississippi Type: Letter signed Date: 8 June 1868 Pagination: 2 p. ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Signed as Brevet Major. Discusses reconstruction and politics in Mississippi. McDowell writes that the Mississippi Governor, despite having no patronage or money, is seeking to defeat a new constitution. He believes that removing the governor would result in "political martyrdom," and actually increase his influence. Writes that in case he is wrong, he recommends General Adelbert Ames as military governor. Written on Headquarters 4th Military District, (Department of Mississippi and Arkansas) stationary. Note in pink ink by the Cipher Operator states that a duplicate was sent my mail to Memphis to be telegraphed from there.

[excerpt]
...Immediately after the sudden death of his wife, Genl. Kautz left the District with her remains, and will not return till too late for the purpose suggested -
The Governor in this State is now without any control, patronage, power or funds - He has only the bare prestige of his nominal office, and the loss of this, would, I think be more than made up by the prestige he would acquire of political Martyrdom - [2] In either case he would exert his personal influence - which is all he has - against the adoption of the Constitution and that influence will only be increased by his removal -
If I find I am wrong in this view, or you will telegraph me that you think I am - I will remove him and appoint Brevet Major General A. Ames as the most suitable officer I now have available for the place...

McDowell, Irvin, 1818-1885
Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885
Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933

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