Framed Western Union telegram and engraving of U. S. Grant
date: label: date made
content: 1864
label: date made
content: August 1867
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: Western Union telegram dated August 1867 from General Ulysses S. Grant to General Edward O. C. Ord. Framed with an engraving of Grant, seated in front of a tent and dressed in a military uniform. Transcription: "Western Union Telegraph Company. / 18 via Memphis / Dated Washington, DC 5 / Received at Vicksburg, August 5 1867 / To Gen E. O. C. Ord / You cannot be relieved from your present duty[.] push the work entrusted to you with your usual energy and according to the clear meaning of the law + and you will be supported[.] / US Grant / 32 v 392 collect". Edward Otho Cresap Ord (October 18, 1818 – July 22, 1883) commanded the XIII Corps during the siege of Vicksburg and was one of Grant’s trusted subordinates. By 1867 Ord had been assigned as commander of the 4th Military District, headquartered in Vicksburg. Grant, not yet president, was still in command of the US Army. Hence the phrase “clear meaning of the law”. Ord may have been expressing frustration with Alvan C. Gillem, a subordinate who supported leniency toward ex-Confederates and may have been protected by President Andrew Johnson, a fellow-Tennessean.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Electricity
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1990.3168.01
label: catalog number
content: 1990.3168.01
label: nonaccession number
content: 1990.3168
objectType: label: Object Name
content: telegram
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: overall: 14 1/4 in x 19 in x 3/4 in; 36.195 cm x 48.26 cm x 1.905 cm
label: Measurements
content: telegram: 6 1/2 in x 5 1/4 in x in; 16.51 cm x 13.335 cm x .0254 cm
label: Measurements
content: engraving: 8 1/2 in x 6 1/2 in x in; 21.59 cm x 16.51 cm x .0254 cm