63. U.S. Rep. John A. Kasson to Lincoln on promotion of Gen. Grenville M. Dodge to major general and response to Lincoln's Springfield letter

63. U.S. Rep. John A. Kasson to Lincoln on promotion of Gen. Grenville M. Dodge to major general and response to Lincoln's Springfield letter

Letter from U.S. Rep. John A. Kasson (Republican, Iowa) to Abraham Lincoln on promotion of Gen. Grenville M. Dodge to major general, referencing accompanying letter of Gen. Richard Oglesby and related remarks by Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. Also noted is positive response to a public letter by Lincoln (later known as "the Springfield letter"). September 4, 1863. In the Springfield letter Lincoln defended the Emancipation Proclamation and the controversial enlistment of African-American soldiers as necessary steps taken to preserve the Union.

1863-09-04

Becki Plunkett and Stephen Vincent

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

Original scanned at 600 dpi w/ sRGB color space.

State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines

Special Collections: Grenville M. Dodge Papers

11/5/2008

Des Moines, Iowa, 4th September 1863 Personal His Excellency, A. Lincoln Dear Sir[,] The enclosed personal letter from Major General [Richard James] Oglesby has been placed in my hands to forward to you. I respectfully ask your personal attention to the other military papers in the case. General Grant has publicly stated that he had placed General [Grenville] Dodge first in his recommendation for promotion. It has also been stated by an army officer that General Grant had placed an official record that to General Dodge more than to any other one man he was indebted for his successful seige [sic] of Vicksburg. He had a partial education at a military academy, which he has since perfected in the field and greatly desires a place in the regular service for his permanent profession. I mention this in case it should seem right to you to nominate him a Brigadier in that service. Allow me to add that in this state your Springfield letter, just published, is calculated to produce an excellent effect, and will aid us in our state canvass now vigorously prosecuted. We entertain no doubts of our success. I have the honor to be Your friend and ob[edien]t s[er]v[an]t[,] John A. Kasson