Journalist (1819-1897) best known for his support of Grant during the Civil War and his aggressive postwar political advocacy through the New York Sun newspaper. Civil War-dated ALS signed “C. A. Dana,” three pages on two adjoining sheets, 5 x 8, November 24, 1862. Addressed from New York, a handwritten letter marked "Private" and sent to journalist Adam S. Hill regarding rumors of Dana’s appointment as Assistant Secretary of War and referencing Hill’s present association with war correspondent George Smalley. In full: "Many thanks for your kind note & for its flattering expressions. I doubt whether I shall ever occupy any office in Washington. My present tendency seems rather to be to Albany. Will you tell me from whom you learned the report that I was to be Asst. Sec. of War? I suppose it was from Gunaski. I think you will find Mr. Smalley a very agreeable person to work with. There is no man in the press whom I have entertained more respect for, than for him." In fine condition.
In early 1862, Dana stepped down as managing editor of the N.Y. Tribune to work as a special commissioner of the War Department and as a liaison to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. Dana spent much time at the front where Lincoln called him the ‘eyes of the administration.’ He accompanied Grant on his campaigns and, at Dana’s urging, Grant was appointed overall commander of Union forces in 1864. From 1862 to 1864 rumors circulated that Stanton was going to appoint Dana as Assistant Secretary of War. In fact, Stanton had entertained the idea in 1862. However, when the proposed appointment leaked to the press as a fait accomplis, Stanton considered it a breach of trust and changed his mind. Dana spent the next two years trying to regain Stanton’s confidence. Given this background one can see how the chastised Dana was eager to see the source of the new rumor, It was not until January 1864 that Dana did eventually earn the referenced post.
The letter’s recipient, Adam S. Hill, was a journalist and night editor of the N.Y. Tribune until 1872, and later Professor of Rhetoric at Harvard. George W. Smalley was one of the greatest correspondents of the Victorian era. At the time of this letter he was a war correspondent for the Tribune and was sending his reports back to Hill for publication. Smalley later was the American correspondent to the Times of London and became a close friend and advocate of James McNeil Whistler.
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