August 5, 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Horatio Gates

Letter written by Hancock as President of the Continental Congress to Gates as Commander of the Northern Department. Says enclosed resolutions (which are not included here) give him command of the army. Gates was in a struggle for control of the Northern Department with General Philip Schuyler, which he won on August 4, 1777 after storming into the halls of Congress to plead his case. His victory came partially because Schuyler had lost Fort Ticonderoga to General John Burgoyne's invading forces. Congress's resolutions ended the squabble for power and allowed Gates to concentrate on defeating…

GLC01498

15 May 1776

Hart, John, 1708-1780

Autograph document signed

Title: to the Treasurers of the Provincial Congress of New Jersey

Certifies payment to Augustine Stevenson for his service as a member of the New Jersey Committee of Safety.

GLC01499

10 March 1762

Hopkins, Stephen, 1707-1785

Document signed

Title: to the sheriff of Newport County

Informs that King George III has commanded troops be raised in the colonies. Indicates that Major General Jeffrey Amherst calls for 178 men to serve from Rhode Island. Orders the sheriff to give notice to the members of the general assembly in the county to meet at the courthouse in South Kingstown on 23 March about the matter. Note on verso dated 20 March 1762 and signed by Josias Rogers, Deputy Sheriff, certifies that he has informed the assembly members of the meeting.

GLC01500

December 5, 1792

McKean, Thomas, 1734-1817

Letter signed

Title: to John Hay

McKean, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, instructs Hay, Treasurer of York County, to pay Henry Miller for service as a Pennsylvania elector during the first Presidential election.

GLC01501

December 24, 1780

Harrison, Benjamin, 1726-1791

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Letter written by Harrison, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates. Says he will need the recipient's assistance when he goes before Congress, the French Ambassador, and the Generals of the Continental Army to communicate the wants and needs of the southern states. Wants information on the troops under the recipient's command. Would like a full report on their status, place of origin, and supplies. Says the assembly is "straining every nerve to send you a respectable body of men, to cloth them well and to lay in the necessary stock of…

GLC01502

February 16, 1776

Williams, William, 1731-1811

Autograph document signed

Title: [Document allocating funds for the construction of a naval galley]

Williams, a Lebanon, Connecticut city clerk and Selectman, reports that at a previous meeting, the Governor and Council of Safety of Connecticut voted that the Committee of Pay Tables should collect money to build a galley for use by the colony. States that the sum will be accounted for by Captain Jonathan Lester. Instructs that Lester draw his order on Constable Jabez Hough of Norwich. Lester signs on verso, stating "Please to pay or Discount the within to Jabez Hough." Hough also signs, underneath an order to the treasurer for the amount requested. Docketed 15 March [1776].

GLC01503

1862-1868

Header Record

Title: Items pertaining to James Sanks Brisbin. [Decimalized .01-.04 (20 items)]

GLC01504

August 11, 1862

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Captain Brisbin writes to his wife following the Battle of Malvern Hill, which he describes as "the memorable occasion when General [George] McClellan changed his base of operations from the York to the James River." Refers to Captain Kantz (possibly August V. Kantz), Captain Gregg, and [Lieutenant Kermin]. Describes the stench of rotting corpses and witnessing the death of a severely wounded soldier. Recounts delivering his Company to safety during a mission by ordering them to take off their blue shirts, exposing grey shirts underneath, thus disguising themselves as Confederate soldiers.…

GLC01504.01

1864-1868

Mills, Albert L., 1854-1916

Header Record

Title: [Collection of typed military transcripts regarding James Sanks Brisbin] [Decimalized .01-.17]

These records are typed and witnessed by Albert L. Mills, first Lieutenant and adjutant of the first cavalry. Includes information regarding General James Sanks Brisbin's service in the Civil War. Brisbin's leadership, possible promotion in rank, wounds obtained during battle, and success as a recruiter are discussed, among other topics. These documents are written by Brisbin and by various political and governmental officials. These typewritten copies date to circa 1887-1891 based on Mill's rank and assignment at the time.

GLC01504.02

circa 1864

Object

Title: [James Sanks Brisbin's epaulets]

Consists of two gold colored brass epaulets. Each epaulet contains (on the epaulet's top) a brass button and an eagle embroidered with silver thread. Measurements reflect epaulet as positioned on a shoulder (width is measured from inner shoulder). The underside of each is padded with red satin. Epaulets are contained within an oval-shaped tin container equipped with a front clasp for closure. The container includes an illegible inscription.

GLC01504.03

circa June 1864

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Photograph

Title: Photograph of Brisbin in Brigadier General uniform [damaged]

Brisbin fought at Gettysburg. (Photograph damaged.)

GLC01504.04

1861-1864

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Header Record

Title: Letters from Brisbin to his wife Jane detailing Civil War battles [Decimalized .01-.06]

GLC01505

November 18, 1863

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Complains that he has not received a letter from Jane, his wife, in two weeks. States "If I thought you had been so careless as not to write in all that time I would feel like casting you off- but I think you certainly have written and your letters miscarried." Relates seeing Beaver, Captain Patterson, Bayard Edmunds and other members of the Centre Company. States that he will soon see Major Jack, and encloses a note (not included) from Colonel Murray. Instructs Jane to save the note, revealing that the Colonel owes him money. Informs Jane that her colt is being trained. States "I hope we…

GLC01505.03

March 4, 1864

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Informs Jane, his wife, that he is in great distress due to the fact that he has not received a letter from her in over a month. States "It is now a Month since I stood on the back platform of the car at Milesbury and saw your sweet form vanish from my sight ... it seemed after you were gone as if I had left the world and when I met the snow shoe Cars I could hardly help going back on them ... You are young and sometimes foolish but what you do is done in the innocence of your heart I know you would not wrong your poor husband for the world." Promises to send money, and instructs Jane to…

GLC01505.04

April 11, 1864

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Discusses the Battle of Sabine Crossroads with Jane, his wife. Writes, "We have had a great battle. Three days fighting. The 1st day we whipped them. The 2nd day they whipped us and the third day we whipped them. The fighting was dreadful and we have lost terribly. In the 2nd days fight, my horse had his head blown off by a shell and fell on me holding me fast. I came near being captured but got my leg out from under him and mounted on a rebel horse whose rider had been shot, I escaped from the field. I have the horse, saddle and bridle." States his company lost supplies and personal money in…

GLC01505.05

September 22, 1864

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Brisbin informs his wife, Jane, that his regiment arrived at Mount Sterling that day, and that they leave for the battle front (possibly referring to an advance on Saltville, Virginia) under General Stephen Gano Burbridge tomorrow. Writes, "The expedition has so far been badly managed and I fear will be a failure." Relates that General McClean (possibly Nathaniel Collins McLean) fares poorly. States "If I fall in the Expedition I have some money in Lilfords Bank" located in Lexington, Kentucky.

GLC01505.06

10 March 1792

Russell, Benjamin, 1761-1845

Newspaper

Title: Columbian centinel. [Vol. 16, no. 52 (March 10, 1792)]

Prints the federal act to establish the U.S. Post Office and post roads in the United States. Also includes local news, news from France and England, shipping news, and public notices.

GLC01508

5 March 1861

Greeley & McElrath, 1841-1866

Newspaper

Title: New-York Tribune. [Vol. XX, no. 6196 (March 5, 1861)]

Includes Abraham Lincoln's inaugural address and news about the inaugural ceremony. Other articles detail military news, local reports, Congressional updates, public postings, and advertisements.

GLC01509

1783/11/29

Newspaper

Title: Independent New-York Gazette, Num. II

Published by John Holt, printer to the state of New York. Prints the Treaty of Paris on front page. Also contains Governor Clinton's proclamation of a cessation of hostilities between the U. S. and Britain.

GLC01510

1841

Header Record

Title: Letter signed and judicial review concerning the case of Alexander McLeod [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC01512

1841

Tallmadge, Daniel B., fl. 1841

Pamphlet

Title: Review of the opinion of Judge Cowen, of the Supreme Court of the State of New-York, in the case of Alexander McLeod

A review of the New York Supreme Court acquittal of Alexander McLeod, a Canadian fighting for the British who boasted that he had murdered an American in New York State during the 1838 border skirmishes.

GLC01512.02

September 18, 1866

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Fitz-John Porter

Pierce, former President of the United States, discusses General Porter's court martial and conviction for his actions at the Battle of Second Manassas. Writes, "There are reasons why I am disinclined at at [sic] present to address any request to the President, altho' I concur with his views upon the issues which now particularly Engross the public mind." Transmits a "brief expression of my convictions with regard to yourself- your services and the infamous sentence with which these services have been rewarded" (document not present). Remarks that if Porter wishes, he may send the enclosed…

GLC01513

August 27, 1916

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Miss Treadwell

On his Sagamore Hill letterhead, Roosevelt thanks Treadwell for her letter to him and his wife. Written from, or just after a trip to France during World War I: "your letter brings vividly before my eyes the terrible suffering and high heroism of France, and the joy in service felt by you and the men and women like you. This war has shown that the right type of woman can do her full share of the work of war just as the right kind of man does his." He closes by condemning all pacifists as German collaborationists, and adds, "if I had my way I would disenfranchise all the pacifists of both…

GLC01518

1933, 1946, 1947

Coolidge, Grace Goodhue, 1879-1957

Header Record

Title: [Collection of three letters of Grace Coolidge] Decimalized

GLC01522

circa July 13-21, 1804

Burr, Aaron, 1756-1836

Autograph letter

Title: to Joseph Alston

Burr writes in partial cypher to his son-in-law after his duel with Alexander Hamilton. In the text that is not in cypher, Burr states that the jury has adjourned until Monday, July 23, and that the results will determine whether or not he flees. He indicates that there is sentiment against him by Governor DeWitt Clinton and his allies. He thanks him for an earlier letter of support. At the end of the text is "Enclose to Ch. Biddle, Phila." Charles Biddle was a friend of Burr's. The second and third pages are in cypher. Date is from docket. The letter was written no earlier than July 13, 1804…

GLC01523