During the months General Grant struggled to compose his memoirs, a stenographer named Noble Dawson became his indispensable aide and friend.  Dawson was a quick and accurate scribbler, but there’s more to his story than his devoted assistance to the ex-president. During the Civil War, Dawson served in the 19th Iowa, was captured by the rebels and found himself imprisoned at Camp Ford, Texas, the Confederates’ largest POW camp west of the Mississippi.  Noble Dawson is almost overlooked by history. Camp Ford is virtually forgotten. Grant Cottage tour guide Steve Trimm will talk about the man, the prison camp, and why both ought to be remembered.

The suggested donation for Grant Cottage Porch Programs is $5 per person. These programs are made possible thanks to a grant from the Adirondack Trust Community Fund. Our events are supported with funding from the New York State Park and Trail Partnership Program (NYSPTPP) and New York’s Environmental Protection Fund. The NYSPTPP is administered by Parks & Trails New York, in partnership with the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.