George Stanton Denison Letters, 1860-1865

George Stanton Denison served as acting collector of Internal Revenue in New Orleans during the Civil War. This collection includes photocopies of Denison's correspondence with various politicians, family, and friends from 1860-1865.

George Stanton Denison (1833-1866) was a Unionist abolitionist serving as an official in the United States Treasury during the Civil War. Stationed in New Orleans, he served several roles, including special agent for the Treasury Department, acting surveyor and then acting collector of Internal Revenue, and later special agent for the State of Texas Treasury. His letters span his time in New Orleans during the Civil War.

This collection contains photocopies of Denison's correspondence with Salmon P. Chase, Lincoln's Secretary of the Treasury and Denison's cousin who had sent him to New Orleans to work for the Treasury. Additional correspondents include Dudley Chase Denison, George's uncle and Salmon's cousin, who later served as a member of Congress from 1875-1879, as well as other associates and friends. Many of Denison's letters describe the general mood in New Orleans, economic problems, and other political issues. The collection also contains an article entitled "The Southern Rebellion" from Vermont's Burlington Free Press, and a copy of an August 9, 1864, letter from Lincoln to General Nathaniel P. Banks concerning support for the new constitution adopted in Louisiana.

The originals of these letters, of which the Illinois Historical Survey has photocopies, are from the George S. Denison Papers held in the Library of Congress.