Description:

Grant Ulysses 1822 - 1885 Just after Gen. Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox, Gen. Grant seeks to insure payments for an important contractor Autograph Letter Signed "U.S. Grant / Lt. Gen.," 1.5 pages, 7.75" x 10", separate sheets. Washington, D.C., May 9, 1865. On "Head Quarters Armies of the United States" letterhead. To William Dennison, Postmaster General. Pin holes in upper left. Fine condition.

In full, "Col. A. H. Markland, Special Agt. of the P.O. Dept., has followed the Armies under me, with their Mails, from the breaking out of the rebellion to the present day. How well he has performed his duties I need not tell you. It has been performed more than satisfactorily to me. Now that he is about settling with the Govt. for his past service, I beg to state that from my knowledge of the nature of his duties a less sum than Five dollars ($5.00) per day would not remunerate him for his extra expenses."

Accompanied by a Manuscript Letter Signed "Alex. W. Randall" as First Assistant Postmaster General, one page, 7.75" x 9.75". Washington, May 17, 1865. On "Post Office Department, / Appointment Office" letterhead. To A.H. Markland, Special Agent P.O. Dept., Washington, D.C. In full, "The Postmaster General has this day made an order that you be allowed and paid the sum of $4.00 per day for your necessary travelling and incidental expenses while actually employed, from and after the first day of July 1865." Fine condition.

President Abraham Lincoln had appointed William Dennison Postmaster General on September 24, 1864. Staying on after the assassination, he left the Cabinet after he decided he could no longer support the policies of President Andrew Johnson. Denison was succeeded by Alexander W. Randall, the writer of the second letter here offered, on July 25, 1866; Randall served until Grant's inauguration in 1869.

"Fourteen-year-old Ulysses S. Grant first met Absalom H. Markland, three years younger, when both were attending Maysville Seminary in Maysville, Kentucky. Grant was in Maysville for less than a year, and they did not meet again until fall, 1861, when Markland, recently an attorney in Washington, D. C., arrived in Cairo as special agent of the Post Office Department to weed out disloyal employees. As he left for the Tennessee River expedition in February, 1862, Grant placed Markland in charge of delivering mail to his army. Through the remainder of the Civil War, Markland continued as special agent of the Post Office, forwarding mail to armies in the field, earning the honorary title of colonel and the gratitude of many officers, especially Grant and William T. Sherman, who appreciated the effect on soldier morale of prompt mail delivery." --- The Ulysses S. Grant Association Newsletter, X, 3 (April, 1973).

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