ALS to Hon. J.R. Lewis, 1863, re political event in support President Lincoln.: Scarce signature by the most successful union general west of the Mississippi

ALS to Hon. J.R. Lewis, Sept 20, 1863, 7.5x10". Declining [Judge] Lewis's invitation to attend a Washington D.C. political event in support President Lincoln.

"Our soldiers in the field will look with great anxiety at the endorsement which their friends give at the ballot box, when I and confident Iowa will heartily respond favorably to their cause. /// Hoping that you will cast a united vote for the Union ticket and thereby convince the rebels that we of Iowa stand firmly in favor of our cause and country."

Samuel Ryan Curtis [1805-1866] was the most successful union general west of the Mississippi, remembered mostly as the victor at the battles of Pea Ridge [1862] and Westport [1864]. But Curtis was far more than just a successful general. He played a key role in the opening and exploitation of the American West, as an engineer, politician, railroad advocate. He was also one of the first Republicans elected to Congress, serving three terms the 1st Iowa congressional district In September, 1862, Curtis was given command of the District of Missouri, but Lincoln was soon forced to reassign him, after Curtis's abolitionist views led to conflict with the governor of Missouri. He was reassigned to command the Department of Kansas & Indian Territory. In late 1865, he returned to Iowa where he became involved with the Union Pacific Railroad and an advocate of the Trans-Continental Railroad – he had hoped to pay a significant role in national reconstruction efforts, but succumbed to a heart attack in 1866.

Hon. Joseph R. Lewis was present at the organization of the Republican party in Iowa City, Iowa, in 1856 and worked to help establish the principles of the national Republican party. He was active in Iowa politics during the Lincoln campaign of 1860 but moved west in 1868 because of health problems. In April, 1869 President Grant appointed him as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Idaho. In 1872 he was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Bench of the Territory of Washington, ascending to Chief Justice of that court in 1875.

Condition: Fine; folded to fourths, with recipient annotation in Lewis's hand.