Iowa State Senator

Assistant United States Secretary of the Interior

Typed Letter Signed

(1833-1915) He was elected to the Iowa State Senate in 1858, and to the Democratic National Convention of 1860, which nominated Stephen A. Douglas for the presidency. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was appointed by the governor of Iowa to command the militia in southeastern Iowa, with rank of lieutenant colonel, and on August 10, 1861, he was mustered into the Federal service as colonel of the 3rd Iowa Cavalry. He commanded a small force in addition to his own regiment at the battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas and was in command of a brigade of cavalry during Steele's expedition against Arkansas Post. After a few months in charge of the District of Eastern Arkansas, Bussey commanded a cavalry division of the Army of the Tennessee during the Vicksburg campaign. He was appointed brigadier general of volunteers on January 5, 1864, and during the remainder of the war he was in divisional command in Arkansas where he restored discipline and fought the corrupt practices of contractors and cotton speculators. After the war he served as President of the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce for 6 years, was a delegate to the Republican National Conventions of 1868 and 1884, and as Assistant Secretary of the Interior of the U.S.

Typed Letter Signed: 7 1/2 x 9 1/2, on imprinted letter sheet, signed in ink.

Cyrus Bussey
Assistant Secretary

Department of the Interior
Washington

December 15, 1890

Mr. J.C. Buttre,
32 Cortland St.,
New York

Dear Sir:

Your letter of Dec. 9th concerning my steel plate is received. If I knew where to find Mr. Stewart I would get a written order for the plate. It was distinctly understood with him at the time I ordered it that I was to have the plate after he was through with it. I do not know that the Iowa State Historical Society contemplates any immediate use of the plate. They desire to preserve it and I should be very glad to have it for them. I would greatly appreciate the favor if you will send it to me. I will be responsible between you and Mr. Stewart.

Very truly yours,
Cyrus Bussey
Assistant Secretary

There is a pencil notation at the lower left edge: asked for time to write to Iowa, Dec. 17- wrote to C. Aldrich.

Light age toning and wear.