Wounded and captured at Port Hudson, La.

Candidate for President of the United States in 1880

Mayor of Portland, Maine

Autograph Letter Signed

(1804-97) Born in Portland, Me., he was known as the "Napoleon of Temperance," and the "Father of Prohibition." An ardent abolitionist, his home was a stop on the "Underground Railroad." Appointed colonel of the 13th Maine Infantry in November 1861. The following February he was assigned to the command of General Benjamin F. Butler's expedition for the capture of New Orleans. He was promoted to brigadier general to rank from April 28, 1862 and assigned to command the captured Rebel forts of Jackson and St. Philip. After serving for a time as commander of the District of Florida, he took part in the siege of Port Hudson, La. During the Union assault on May 27, 1863, he was wounded and taken prisoner. He was a P.O.W. for eight months at Richmond and Mobile before being exchanged for General Robert E. Lee's son, General "Rooney" Lee, in March 1864. His health was badly degraded from his prison experience and he resigned from the army in November 1864. He is well known as a staunch advocate of temperance and the "Father of the Maine anti-liquor law." He served as mayor of Portland, Me., and was the Prohibition Party's candidate for President of the United States in 1880.

Autograph Letter Signed: 5 x 4, in ink.

Portland, 17 March/88

Dear Sir,

I lose no time in acknowledging the rec. of your note of the 10 which reached me this morning. I do not understand why this note of yours should come while my New York mails have not arrived since a week ago.

Respectfully yours,
Neal Dow

Light age toning. Very fine.