General James S. Wadsworth (born 1807) was killed in battle during the Overland Campaign on May 8, 1864. George William Curtis (1824–1892) was a civil servant, writer, and political editor of Harper’s Weekly. ALS, three pages on two adjoining sheets, 5 x 8, November 20, 1866. Curtis writes to Wadsworth’s widow. In part: “The clerk of the House of Representatives … writes me to know if in a late article I speak with knowledge of the letter from Mr. Lincoln to General Wadsworth, which is said to have been found upon the General’s person after his fall. Mr. Bancroft doubts the truth of the report. In a matter of serious importance, I feel very sure … that you will pardon the intrusion of the enquiry which I make whether such a letter was found, and whether it has been correctly published. There is no man to whom Mr. Lincoln was more likely to write such a letter than to your husband, as there is no one of all the noble army of martyrs who will be longer and more gratefully remembered.” Tear to one page touching a few words (archivally repaired from reverse) and faint mounting traces to reverse, otherwise fine, clean condition. R&R COA.
