10 July 1864

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriet Moore

References receiving her latest letter. Says they have a vegetable garden on St. Catherine's Island. Says he recently spirited off 10 contrabands and sent them north to Port Royal. Says he has received orders to look out for the "Florida" and "Alabama," as they might be trying to run the blockade. Hopes to be home by the end of the summer. Written while aboard the USS "Fernandina".

GLC03836.69

15 December 1864

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Showbergh [?]

Recipient's name is illegible. Gives his condolences for her husband, Henry R. Showbergh's [?] death.

GLC07483.22

7 January 1867

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to C[?] Van W[?]

Asks recipient to send money to England because his daughter is spending a year in Europe. Recipient's name is illegible.

GLC07483.23

8 August 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Received 2 letters from his mother and four from his sister Mary. Says he went up to Washington and got the box sent to him. Says Captain Parrott left and has been replaced with Captain Haggerty. Has not been able to form an opinion on his character. Also says their first lieutenant has left and their second lieutenant, Miller, has replaced him. Says the entrenchments in town are getting along well and that they are called Fort Dahlgren. Says "I am getting very impatient at our present occupation, which consists of doing nothing at all, just lying at anchor and looking at the town, and this…

GLC03836.14

17 September 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Is at Hampton Roads for repairs. Gives an account of the collision. When on board the USS "Flag," he noticed the ship was not well disciplined. Describes the crew. Goes on to describe in detail how the frigate USS "Susquehanna" and the "Flag" came to collide. Says the "Flag" sustained damage to the "upper works" and "was in no danger, her elongated bow and cutwater having acted as a fender for her timbers and planking." Sums the situation up by saying "The rule for two steamers meeting to avoid collision is perfectly clear and simple, viz, both ships put their helms aport, the effect of…

GLC03836.22

20 September 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Says there has been a major shuffling of commands. Commodore Stringham and Captains Nicholson of the USS "Roanoke," Mercer of the USS "Wabash," and Hull of the "Savannah," have all been detached. Says Goldsborough is to become flag officer and that the captains have been detached because they are all senior to him. Is happy that the navy is being innovative and taking on the "old officers." Says the blockade has been very inefficient up to this point. Says "Goldsborough is considered about the best officer in the service, among naval officers, and is said to be a man of great energy."…

GLC03836.23

5 November 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Sent this letter by a prize they took that morning. The prize was being sent back to Hampton Roads. Several hours after reporting for duty on the USS "Alabama," he was sent to Charleston to relieve the USS "Susquehanna," which was having engine troubles. Thinks the fleet that amassed in Hampton Roads is heading to Port Royal. Says Charleston is greatly effected by the presence of Union ships. Reports that "Some fugitive slaves who came off in the night, report that they had been employed throwing up entrenchments at Port Royal but had been obliged to leave as they were discovered by the…

GLC03836.26

1861-1865

Garrison, Francis Jackson, 1848-1916

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Morse

Francis J. Garrison, William Lloyd Garrison's son and biographer informs Morse that he has found a room in a boarding house for him on Highland St. for $10 a week. Describes the room in detail. Asks if he would like to arrange to see it and to notify him soon. Writes that he will be in town at the Anti-Slavery office tomorrow. States of the landlady, "I understand that she sets a very good table, if that is any inducement to you." Written from Rockledge, the Garrison home in Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts.

GLC07483.09

29 March 1866

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Anna to her brother Henry. She seems to have had a meeting with "Mr. Welles" -- possibly the Secretary of Navy Gideon Welles. She thinks one of the charges brought against Henry was disloyalty. She is surprised because "you and Pa at the first out break of the war opposed secession." She mentions that their father was president of a Union meeting early in the war. Says there was a "reign of terror" in West Virginia when Confederate forces came through, making arrests. She says it was well known that Henry always did what he felt was right. Also mentions that their father is…

GLC03523.21.55

7 April 1866

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Anna to her brother Henry. Says their father wants him to send home an allotment ticket. Says their father would be able to put the payment, which is in gold, to good use, maybe to purchase land. Continues letter on 18 April 1866. References his letters of 1 February and 11 February, both of which had photographs in them. Henry seems to be thinking about settling in the East Indies. If that is the case, their father would not have thought his resignation such a mistake. Says their Baltimore friends consider his resignation a mistake. Everyone is afraid of the glut of surgeons…

GLC03523.21.56

26 May 1866

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Anna to her brother Henry. Hopes he comes home from the Pacific soon. Says the newspapers include exciting accounts of mining in Nevada and Colorado. Says the papers are filled with news of war in Europe (Austria and Italy). Mentions that their father conditionally sold 850 acres of mountain land. There is concern about the rights to coal and oil on the land. Updates him on new faces and stores in town, as well as recent marriages. Stained and faded.

GLC03523.21.57

4 June 1866

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Anna to her brother Henry. Is upset that he does not write more often. Says "I have no one else but you to look to. Pa often tells me he is old and is not able to work as he once did, and cannot live much longer." Goes on to say "you know we we are not well off and tho' I have tried to keep things comfortable as I could on small means we have had to live very, very plainly." Says their father is practicing medicine less because he is pushed aside by the younger members of the profession. Claims their father has 7,000 dollars in government bonds, but that he won't cash them or buy…

GLC03523.21.58

8 July 1866

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Anna to her brother Henry. Says there has been hot weather lately and that their father is in good health. Says he has not answered whether he would like to take advantage of an investment opportunity in a house in Baltimore for 200 dollars. Their father has rented a nice house until 1 October. Says she is putting off all enjoyments until he gets home. Mentions that there are several cases of cholera in Baltimore. Continues the letter on 17 July 1866 -- Says she read in the Sun that the "Wyoming" (Henry's ship) was involved in a collision in Nagasaki, Japan and she hopes it is…

GLC03523.21.59

28 December 1866

McSherry, Willie, fl. 1866

Autograph note signed

Title: to mother

Letter written by Willie McSherry to his mother on one side. Verso has a second letter by one of Willie's sisters (the letter is signed, but the signature is too faded to read). Their mother, probably Eliza, appears to be in Martinsburg visiting her sister Anna McSherry and her father Richard McSherry. Willie says they are going to keep the Christmas tree up for her until she arrives. Asks for a cape or a new pair of gloves from her. Says "saint nicklous" gave him a nice Christmas gift. Wants to know if the boys of "jime" belong to a baseball club. Second letter says they have been keeping…

GLC03523.21.61

20 March [no year]

Autograph note

Title: to Mrs. Thackmorton

Two separate letters with the same GLC number. First one was written by an anonymous member of the U.S. Navy who served with Henry McSherry to a Mrs. Thackmorton. In response to a previous letter from Mrs. Thackmorton, he says she will write a letter to "Mr Welles" -- probably Gideon Welles -- about "Dr McSherry." She thinks there will be no problem getting Henry's resignation withdrawn because "he has been a good and faithful officer throughout the war." The creator says he served with McSherry through the Mississippi Campaign and in the North Atlantic Blockade Squadron. Claims there is…

GLC03523.21.63

30 April [no year]

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Anna to her brother Henry. Updates him on local marriages. Gives him other local news as well. Ends by saying "Pa does not say anything decided about your staying in China. I believe he thinks the risks are quite a balance to any advantage."

GLC03523.21.64

13 August 1880

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Wants the recipient to have a "national life" and thinks that Jimmie has put himself in a situation to only have a "provisional life." Says recipient has great talent. The recipient appears to be a Congressman. Writer uses a new pen on second page. Mentions recipients love of history and says historical knowledge will be valuable to him as a legislator. Creator mentions reading Miss Strickland's "Mary Stuart." There is a second scrap of paper (2 p., 10 x 14.6 cm.) marked as belonging with this item, but it appears to not be related.

GLC03523.21.66

30 April 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Thanks his family for the letter and the trunk of food they sent him. He has packed his winter clothing and will be sending it home so as to not carry it around during the summer months. Writes that there is rumor that his regiment will join the main Army in Murfreesboro. In a separate letter dated the evening of April 30th, Wheeler describes seeing "the darkies" dance to the music of his regiment's band. He also writes that General Rosencrans' wife announced that fighting had commenced in Murfreesboro.

GLC07460.026

5 May 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Writes that furloughs have begun and three men will be allowed to go from each company. His brigade will be kept in Gallatan for the time being, as Gallatan is a very important position to keep. Writes that there will soon be a fight at Murfreesboro and is confident that Confederate General Braxton Bragg's army is equal to and possibly stronger than Confederate General Joseph Wheeler's. Describes an incident in which an escorted mail delivery was attacked by rebels, but the escorts managed to drive the rebels back. Describes seeing an Indiana soldier being carried to his grave, followed…

GLC07460.027

8 May 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister Martha [Spohn]

Thanks his sister for sending him a letter and food with a fellow soldier. Playfully writes to his sister that as he is writing he is being distracted by a chunk of maple sugar sent to him by his aunt. He writes that while on picket he has found the perfect place to eat his pie and wishes that his family were there to join him as long as they brought their own food. Discusses the furlough of Charles Siedel, a fellow soldier and friend from home. His furlough was granted on the grounds that his wife was very ill and it was necessary for him to return home. Requests that his sister send…

GLC07460.028

1861-1865

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Anna to her brother Henry. References his letters dated 1 & 8 September. Says both him and his sister Kate sent letters, which appear to have been lost in the mail. Mentions that Henry is going to China and Japan and that he asked what souveniers to bring back. Asks for pretty silk items. Makes reference to his resignation. Writes on 3 November and says Henry's letters from 12 & 15 September and says several letters were sent to him at Batavia, Java. Writes again on 7 November. Says the Navy has received his resignation, but has not acted upon it yet. Updates him on family…

GLC03523.21.47

1861-1865

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry [incomplete]

Written by Anna to her brother Henry. Updates him on friends and family. Says this will be the last letter he sends to Batavia, as he said he would leave in November. Will send next to China. Says their father will sell $1,000 of stock and sell Noble Tabb's house because the taxes are too much. Tells him "there is not so much business since the war. Mr Donnet(?) told Pa he had made a mistake in bringing such a stock of wines." Makes a reference to the citizenship oath in West Virginia. Letter ends mid-sentence on page 2. Unsigned, but creator inferred from content.

GLC03523.21.48

29 November 1865

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Anna to her brother Henry. Says their father told him to write in every letter that Henry should not resign from the Navy. He fears that some letters will be lost and wants to make sure Henry hears his views. The resignation has been withheld until he gets home. It appears he wanted to get involved with business with his cousin William. Both Richard and Henry's father say they are not ready and are accustomed to living as gentleman. Fears they won't be ready for the jump. Says "Cousin Wm. is talking of selling his farm and Pa is so afraid that he will let everything slip thro' his…

GLC03523.21.49

24 December 1865

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Anna to her brother Henry. Says he has not heard from him in some time. Last letter from Henry was dated from Singapore. Mentions that their father wants him to withdraw his resignation. Is worried about him. Makes reference to friends and family members. Says she is going to the opera. Page 4 is dated from 27 December and then 31 December. Says she heard his ship, the USS "Wyoming" will be assigned to the East India Squadron and fears he won't be home for quite some time. Further updates on family and friends. Tells him the nuns have a new convent about 2 miles from Wheeling, West…

GLC03523.21.50

September 1862

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister Martha [Spohn]

Wheeler writes that a few men from his hometown of Sycamore, Illinois are at camp including his brother-in-law Darius Spohn. He reports that while the soldier's wives visit, they mend and alter clothes, and accompany their husbands to the city at night. He reprimands his sister for writing bitter letters to Darius and complaining about Lysander and Darius volunteering. Wheeler expresses that he would rather be dead than "have nothing to do in putting down this accursed Rebellion". In defense of Darius, he writes that his brother-in-law is "engaged in the noblest work he can be next to…

GLC07460.001