[Autograph Letter, Signed, from Nebraska Territory Pioneer George L. Miller to Nebraska General Samuel Ryan Curtis, Reporting on Some Dirty Politics and Including a Brief Appraisal of the Frontier Town of Omaha]

Fort Kearny, Ne: October 28, 1862. Very good plus.. [4]pp., on a single folded sheet of lined paper. Light wear and toning, old folds. An interesting manuscript letter written by Dr. George Lorin Miller (1839-1920), a leading Nebraska pioneer and instrumental figure in establishing Fort Kearny. Miller also served as the fort's sutler during the Civil War, and helped to recruit the First Nebraska Regiment. Miller was a physician, politician, editor and land owner who arrived in Omaha in 1854, the year the city was founded. Miller himself founded the Omaha Herald, which later became the Omaha World-Herald, and was. staunch Democrat who became adept at harnessing the power of the press.

Here, Miller writes to an unnamed general in Helena, Arkansas, who was most likely Samuel Ryan Curtis. Miller's letter is well-written, providing insights into and details of the politics, war news, and other information of the period. He is friendly to his correspondent, noting that the two men had been political opponents in the past, but Miller states that he supported the candidacy of his correspondent as "Colonel of our Regiment because I believed you capable and patriotic." Miller praises him for being recognized by no less than the President for "gallant services authenticated as they were by the best officers of the service" and then bemoans the fact that the correspondent was denied an appointment by the Senate due to the "mendacious meanness" of a Nebraska politician named Samuel G. Daily, who apparently worked against his confirmation. Then Miller notes that Daily had to answer for his denial of the correspondent's appointment on the recent campaign trail, where Daily "had to meet your case in the canvass at every turn -- apologized, lied and smoothed it over as he best could. Denying everything and admitting nothing saved him by about 100 votes...." He continues to encourage his correspondent with supportive language, and then closes with a short appraisal of their shared hometown in the Nebraska Territory: "Omaha is changing much, but it will not outrun your recollection of it. When you return you will see, as I see, that it is a real home after all, however changed its appearance.