Four Letters Regarding Wentworth Guns; General Grant; Death of Stanton

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HEWITT, Abram S. (1822-1903) was a teacher, lawyer, an iron manufacturer, chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1876 to 1877, U.S. Congressman, and a mayor of New York City. He was the son-in-law of Peter Cooper (1791–1883), an industrialist, inventor and philanthropist. He is best known for his work with the Cooper Union, which he aided Peter Cooper in founding in 1859, and for planning the financing and construction of the first subway line of the New York City Subway, for which he is considered the "Father of the New York City Subway System".Four Autograph Letters Signed “Abram S. Hewitt,” to Assistant Secretary of War, P.H. Watson, all VG. The letters include, December 1, 1862, inpart “Of course the success of this gun is the doom of the Armstrong gun ... The principle of the Whitworth projectile is very simple ... sure these guns will put shells through the most obstinate material ...” ... plus, November 12, 1863, in part “The proposed basis ... by General Ramsey ... the story is only partly told in Dyer’s and Ramsey’s report ...” ... plus, November 27, 1863, in part “The news from Grant is so good that he may tarry awhile in the west, in which case you will be along in your glory. I shall always insist that the battle of Chattanooga was won under your administration. ....” ...plus, ... December 30, 1869, in part “Mr. Stanton’s death must be a heavy blow for you as it is an unexpected event to the whole community. We regret to hear that he died poor, but we hope to raise $100,000 in New York for his family. He was rather hard on Cooper and me but we always admired his pluck & energy, & did all we could to second his efforts, and as you know in no selfish spirit. He gets the credit of course of your great and disinterested labors & sacrifices, but such is the rule of history.....”

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