BRIGADIER GENERAL HORACE PORTER - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 04/02/1897 - DOCUMENT 112379

 

GENERAL HORACE PORTER
Typed letter by Horace Porter, President of the Grant Monument Association, regarding invitations to the dedication of Grant's Tomb. Accompanied by an invitation to the laying of the cornerstone of Grant's Tomb. Porter was a Brigadier General and General Ulysses S. Grant's aide-de-camp during the American Civil War; he was later President of the Grant Monument Association.
TLS: "Horace Porter," 1p, 5x8. New York, 1897 April 2. To John P. Allen, New York. In full: "I have your letter making applications for seats for Mr. Beck at the dedication of the Grant Monument. The City of New York appropriated the money to pay for the ceremonies, and all the details are in charge of the Mayor and Committee appointed by him. My only function is to complete the Monument and turn it over to the City. I think, however, if you will make application to the Mayor you will obtain the seats desired." Accompanied by: Printed invitation signed by two officers of The Grant Monument Association: "James C. Reed," Secretary, and "Horace Porter," President. on a card, 1p, 8x5½. New York, 1892 April 27. In full: "The Grant Monument Association has the honor to invite you to be present at Riverside Park, upon the occasion of the Laying of the Cornerstone of The Tomb of General Grant by The President of the United States, on Wednesday, April 27, 1892, at 2 o'Clock, P.M." Printed in blue with light red image of an artist's conception of the completed tomb. Names of the eight member Committee of Arrangements are listed on verso. Porter was aide-de-camp to General Grant during the Civil War, Assistant to Secretary of War Grant, and President Grant's Military Secretary. In 1902, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his gallantry at Chickamauga in 1863. Grant was buried in New York City because, as he wrote a month before he died in 1885, "the people of that city befriended me in my need." He died in Mount McGregor, New York, on July 23, 1885, and was buried in Riverside Park on August 8, 1885. More than 90,000 people donated money to build the monument, which cost $600,000 and was completed in 1897. Grant's wife, Julia Dent Grant, is buried next to him. Invitation in fine condition; letter lightly stained, including signature portion. Two items.