Description:

Cameron Simon

Simon Cameron, Lincoln's Secretary of War, ALS requesting discharge of Marine in 1871

 

1p ALS on a cream 5.25" square paper sheet inscribed overall and signed by former Secretary of War Simon Cameron (1799-1889) as "Simon Cameron". In near fine condition, with light paper folds. Minor mounting traces at top verso. From the collection of the Norman Boas Estate, as indicated by a stamped note attached verso.

 

Simon Cameron, then a Pennsylvania Senator, wrote an unknown correspondent on June 24, 1871 from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Cameron requested the early discharge of a Philadelphia Marine currently posted on the U.S.S. Congress. Because this was a personnel question, we might assume that Cameron's correspondent was acting Secretary of the Navy George Maxwell Robeson (1829-1897), who managed the department between 1869-1877.

 

"My dear sir:

 

I am requested by some very good friends in Phila to ask for the discharge of John Kome, a Marine now on board the 'Congress' in Boston harbor.

 

The request to me is placed on the plea of 'charity to his family.' If he can be discharged without injury to the service I would be very much pleased to have you do this.

 

Yours truly,

Simon Cameron".

 

The 3,000 ton screw sloop U.S.S. Congress was launched from the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1868. After its commissioning and a maiden voyage to the South Atlantic, the vessel traveled to Boston in late May 1871. That summer, it had been assigned to transport supplies for an Arctic expedition from New York City to Greenland. If Cameron's request was granted, Marine John Kome was not on board.

 

Simon Cameron served three separate terms as a Pennsylvania Senator, and is credited with establishing a new Republican Party stronghold in his home state. His most famous posting, however, was as Lincoln's Secretary of War between March 1861 and January 1862.

 

Provenance: Ex Christie's, December 5, 2017 sale

   

                   Ex Norman Boas Estate

 

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