27 November 1776

Schuyler, Philip John, 1733-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Duane

Written by Major General Schuyler to Duane as a New York delegate to the Continental Congress. References Duane's letter that was delivered 26 November. Says he had to abandon the fortress on York Island because the enemy's strength was overwhelming. Defends his actions as the best he could have done in the situation confronting him. Compares himself favorably to Washington's defeat in New York in August 1776 saying "I wish Gen: Washington had adhered to his own opinion and rejected the Intemporate advice of people of more prowess than Wisdom. In such a situation of ours It is now Eligible…

GLC02544

7 March 1857

Daniel, Peter Vivian, 1784-1860

Autograph manuscript

Title: The opinion of Justice Peter V. Daniel of the United States Supreme Court in the famous Dred Scott case.

Daniel's original manuscript of his opinion on the Dred Scott case, bound into a book. Daniels, a passionate slavery advocate, argues that slavery had more protection under the Constitution than any other form of property. He supports the majority opinion of Justice Taney, but goes farther, asserting the unconstitutionality of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. Contains pencil notes, and numerous insertions and deletions in Daniel's hand, including slips of paper. With a later title page in another hand. This copy was used by the printers for the official printing of Daniel's opinion.

GLC02546.01

1861/03/07

Colfax, Schuyler, 1823-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gideon Welles re: recommendation of Mr. Stone as lieutenant of Marines

[vice presidents]

GLC02512.01

1846/09/12

Dallas, George Mifflin, 1792-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert J. Walker re: actions which he feels will sustain the tariff of 1846

[vice presidents]

GLC02512.02

1913/07/15

Fairbanks, Charles W. (Charles Warren), 1852-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frank W. Gunsaulus re: address on William McKinley's life and death

Written on personal stationery. [vice presidents]

GLC02512.03

1876/09/20

Hendricks, Thomas, fl. 1876

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nahum Capen re: politics in Indiana and Ohio

[vice presidents]

GLC02512.04

1879/01/27

Hobart, Garret. fl. 1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dr. Johnson re: rejecting an appointment

Written on "Senate Chamber" (of New Jersey) stationery [vice presidents]

GLC02512.05

1847/01/06

Johnson, Richard M., 1780-1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Y. Mason re: a recommendation for Edward A. Morrison

Vice President under Martin Van Buren. [vice presidents]

GLC02512.06

[1900?]/07/12

Morton, Levi P., 1824-1920

Autograph letter signed

Title: re: forwarding a note with his personal endorsement

[vice presidents]

GLC02512.10

1814/04/05

Tompkins, Daniel D., 1774-1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jasper Hopper

The Governor of New York notes that he ordered munitions stored near Oswego and orders Hopper to send muskets, cartridges, and powder from those stores to use to defend Oswego, New York, if attacked. Oswego was attacked and captured by the British on 6 May 1814. Tompkins later became vice president.

GLC02512.13

6 October 1862

Wheeler, William A., 1819-1887

Autograph letter signed

Title: [To the Adjutant General of the State of New York]

Possibly to John Titcomb Sprague, who served as Adjutant General for the State of New York during the Civil War. Wheeler recommends Lieutenant Henry Clark of the 106th Regiment, New York Volunteers, to the position of Adjutant. Writes, "He is a young man if high character and capacity & I earnestly hope he may be appointed."

GLC02512.14

[1860]/10/27

Wilson, Henry, 1812-1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: to "Webb" re: sending someone to speak in his place

(Autograph also available in GLC 4224, autograph album.) [vice presidents]

GLC02512.15

13 May 1805

Webster, Noah, 1758-1843

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Silliman

Webster mentions books he has received from Messrs. Bull & Co., and so no longer requires from Silliman. Asks Silliman to look for other specific books. Webster also mentions the majority by which Jonathan Trumbull had won the recent Connecticut gubernatorial election. Addressed to Silliman in England. Address leaf contains the note that this is a duplicate letter sent by the ship Polly. These books helped Webster in compiling his 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. Two black and white bust engravings of Webster included.

GLC02513

5 March 1862

Wirz, Henry, 1823-1865

Autograph document signed

Title: [Special order: Arrest warrant from a Confederate state military prison]

Orders that John Thomas be brought to the prison "dead or alive." Signed by Wirz as Sergeant of Post, at the Confederate Military Prison at Tuscaloosa, before he was promoted to Commandant of Andersonville Prison, where he gained notoriety. Accompanied by a seller's undated manuscript note describing Wirz as "The Demon of Andersonville." One black and white bust engraving of Wirz included.

GLC02514

17 October 1799

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Printed document signed

Title: [Appointment of William North as an Adjutant General with the rank of Brigadier General in the United States Army]

Partially printed engraved document signed by John Adams as President and countersigned by Secretary of War James McHenry. Engraved by Thackara & Vallance of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Features two detailed patriotic images. Docket signed by John Caldwell of the War Department.

GLC02516

12 December 1798

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Document signed

Title: [Privateer's commission for "the Concord"]

Signed by John Adams as President and countersigned by Secretary of State Timothy Pickering. Allows Ebenezer Sage and Benjamin Williams to outfit a privateer, the "Concord," to attack French shipping under a Congressional law passed on July 9, 1798. The 8 gun, 20 man crew will be captained by William Vandeursin. Allows the Concord to capture French ships on the high seas as well as recapture American ships seized by France. The American government sanctioned these actions at a time of heightened tension with France known as the Quasi War. Large embossed paper Seal of the United States at…

GLC02517.01

6 March 1801

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Document signed

Title: [Papers granting the ship "Hunter" voyage permission in four languages]

Countersigned by Secretary of State John Marshall, New York Port Collector Joshua Sands, and Notary Public John Wilkes. Partly printed document in four languages (French, Spanish, English, and Dutch). Papers give permission to Captain William Van Duerson, the commander of the ship "Hunter," to carry non-contraband goods to Demerara in British Guiana (present day Guyana). Written before Adams left the presidency on 4 March 1801, but countersigned in New York on 6 March 1804. Sands added a note that the new president, Thomas Jefferson, had approved the papers and allowed them to continue in…

GLC02517.02

1814/01-02/23

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: To: Richard Rush.

Written to the son of his close friend Dr. Benjamin Rush in January 1814 and finished February 23. An early portion of the letter is in a Sternian style (stream of consciousness) concerning dreams while ill. Adams concludes, slightly tongue-in-cheek by mentioning a 3 vol. work on him by a Mr. Taylor.

GLC02518

16 April 1857

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Brown

Has "been more prospered within a very few days than I had before been," thanks to a $7,000 loan from George L. Stearns to be used towards a free Kansas. Hears "that one of 'Uncle Sam's Hounds was at Cleavland on my track;' and I have been hiding a little so as to let my track get cold." However has "no great fear of being caught" and says "I trust that God will send me back with Irons in rather than uppon my hands." Hopes to return home soon. Brown hid for a week in Boston to avoid the rumored United States Marshall.

GLC02519

7 October 1787

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Clinton

Franklin, writing as president of the executive council of Pennsylvania, asks New York's Governor Clinton to aid in gathering evidence against conspirators in the Yankee-Pennamite war. The Pennamite Wars were organized (but not state-sponsored) battles between settlers from Pennsylvania and Connecticut who claimed land in the Wyoming Valley in northeast Pennsylvania. The day this letter was written, John Franklin, one of the Yankee leaders was sentenced by the Council of Pennsylvania to be kept in irons. The letter's verso and integral leaf show evidence that this is the original used in…

GLC02521

1 July 1863

Meade, George Gordon, 1815-1872

Manuscript document

Title: [Standing orders for the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg]

Clerical copy of the circular order for the Army of the Potomac for Gettysburg. Written before the battle took shape while Meade thought the major engagement would be fought at Harrisburg; orders a defensive stance. Explains the details this defensive position would take and provides specific orders for the movements of troops commanded by General Henry W. Slocum and General John F. Reynolds. Reprinted in Official Records Series I v. 27 pt. 3:458.

GLC02522

2 April 1799

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William North

Written by General Hamilton as commander of the Provisional Army to Brigadier General North. Says he has enclosed a letter from the Secretary of War that explains itself (the letter is not included here). Says he wishes to see North as soon he arrives in New York. Says if any measure is necessary for his temporary accommodation, in terms of a substitute, he will work with him. Says there is an immense need for someone to perform the duties of Adjutant General.

GLC02523

10 May 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Captain's commission for William North]

Partly printed document signed by Hancock as President of Continental Congress and co-signed by Charles Thomson as Secretary of Congress. This commission gives William North the rank of captain. A later note at the top of the document, by North's son, says "This Commission went with my father in his bosom through the War of the Revolution." The condition of the document attests to this note. It's been folded many times and has been repaired. The docket on verso is faded and hard to read.

GLC02524

6 August 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Resolve of Congress on General Gates's call for militia]

Written in the hand of William Churchill Houston as deputy secretary of the Continental Congress. Signed by Continental Congress President Hancock. It is noted that this is a copy from the Journals of Congress. Resolve issued in the aftermath of the fall of Fort Ticonderoga to the British. On 2 August 1777 Gates was given the permission of Congress to requisition from each state's militia the number of men he felt was necessary to defend against General John Burgoyne's advance. This resolve was sent to help Gates in his recruitment saying it is "impossible, in the present Circumstances of…

GLC02525

1830/10/18

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Header Record

Title: Letter by Andrew Jackson and engraving of him [Decimalized .01-.02]

A letter by President Andrew Jackson to Hardy M. Cryer, and an engraving of Jackson by A. B. Walter.

GLC02526