Iowa Heritage Digital Collections
State Library of Iowa

07. Petition to Lincoln recommending appointment of Samuel R. Curtis as brigadier general

Title

07. Petition to Lincoln recommending appointment of Samuel R. Curtis as brigadier general

Description

Petition of William McLaughlin (and other officers of the 1st & 2nd Ohio Volunteer regiments) to Abraham Lincoln recommending appointment of Samuel R. Curtis to the office of Brigadier General in the U.S. Army. July 8, 1861. Curtis was a West Point graduate (1831) and had served as an officer in the Mexican War. Moving to Iowa after that conflict, he had represented Iowa in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1856 until 1861. Curtis was an early member of the Republican Party and a Lincoln champion in 1860. Lincoln directed his secretary of war, Edwin Stanton, to arrange promotion for 15 politician-officers, including Curtis, to the ranks of the Voluntary Army's generals on July 29, 1861. Autograph Document Signed.

Date

1861-07-08

Contributor

Becki Plunkett and Stephen Vincent

Rights

Copyright State Historical Society of Iowa. Information at http://www.iowahistory.org/libraries/services-and-fees/conditions-for-image-reproductions.html

Digital Reproduction Information

Original scanned at 600 dpi w/ sRGB color space.

Repository

State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines

Repository Collection

Special Collections: Samuel R. Curtis Papers

Digital item created

12/8/2008

Transcription

His Excellency[,] Abraham Lincoln[,] President of the United States The undersigned commissioned officers of the 1st and 2nd Regiments of Ohio Volunteers now at Camp Tipton N.E. Virginia respectfully request Your Excellency to appoint Colonel Samuel R. Curtis of Iowa Brigadier General of the Army of the United States. Mr. Curtis is now in command of a Regiment of Iowa Volunteers in the United States service, commanded an Ohio Regiment in the War with Mexico, acquitted himself with high honor, is a graduate of West Point and a Gentleman of high reputation. His appointment would give to us great pleasure and would be of great utility in the Army of the United States[.] Campt Tipton[,] N.E. Virginia[,] July 8th 1861 [Names, ranks, units of 28 officers]