Friday, December 8, 2017

Edwin M. Stanton to Alexander K. McClure, July 22, 1863


War Department
Washington City
July 22d, 1863
Dear Sir,

I have received your note of the 20th, but not the papers referred to therein.  I doubt not that you will be able to render in the Editorial Chair efficient service to the government, and also to give sensible advice to some of your friends that very much need it.

As long as General Meade remains in command he will receive the cordial support of the department but since the world began no man ever missed so great an opportunity of serving his country as was lost by his neglecting to strike his adversary at Williamsport.

I shall take occasion to furnish such patronage to your paper as the service will admit.  It has always been my opinion that the advertising should not be confined to the newspaper press of cities, but ought to be diffused in such rural districts as produce the materials required for the support of the service and directions have been given to the Chiefs of Bureaus in accordance with this view.

Yours truly,
Edwin M S[tanton]
Secretary of War
Hon. A. K. McClure
Chambersburg Pa

SOURCES: Stanton, E. M. (1863) Edwin McMasters Stanton Papers: Letterbooks, 1863 to 1865; 1863; 1863, June 4-Sept. 9. June 4. [Manuscript/Mixed Material] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/mss41202040/, images 46 & 47.  This letter was among a lot of 4 letters that were listed for auction on Sotheby’s, December 2, 2014.

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