13 January 1807

Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Dearborn

Asks Secretary of War Dearborn to "give the necessary orders for measuring the velocity of the waters of the Mississippi" by tracking the speed with which a wooden board tied to a line is carried away. He adds, "I hope this work will promote the interest of the country." Fulton, newly returned to the United States after twenty years in Europe, shared in the nation's enthusiasm for developing the vast territory recently acquired through the Louisiana Purchase (negotiated by his business partner Robert Livingston). Fulton was aware that steam-powered vessels on the Mississippi and its…

GLC03624

2 April 1796

Boudinot, Elias, 1740-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Bayard

Boudinot, director of the United States Mint, transmits Bills of Exchange (not included) to London to pay Bayard for copper imported to the United States. Reports that President George Washington refused to submit papers regarding negotiations with Great Britain to the House of Representatives (possibly referring to John Jay's Treaty). Refers to a recent speech praising Washington delivered by a Mr. Erskin (possibly Thomas Erskine) in London. Forwards a portrait of Washington (not included) for Erskin. Discusses family matters at length. Reports that "the British carrying the War so…

GLC03627

15 April 1873

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Joseph Woodyard, convicted of failing to cancel revenue stamps on empty spirit-casks.

(c/s Hamilton Fish)

GLC03634

14 May 1780

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Duane

Hamilton, serving as General George Washington's aide, asks Duane, a member of the Continental Congress, to help expedite a congressional action supplying Washington's army in anticipation of the arrival of a French fleet in June, 1780. Indicates that Washington will gladly consult with the Committee, but the Committee's powers should be framed so that such consultations will be infrequent and the military operations "trusted to as few as possible." Also notes the whims of Lafayette, who "wishes Congress to pass some resolution of thanks" for the captain of the frigate which carried him to…

GLC03636

28 May 1801

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Eppes

Writes to his daughter about her health, his desire for Maria's presence in capital, and planning for her to visit. Waterstaining slightly obscures the text.

GLC03641

[ 10 December 1807 ]

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph manuscript

Title: to NJ Legislature re: domestic & foreign affairs, gratitude [incomplete]

Dating from Bergh, Collected Writings of TJ, v. 16: 294-96. The last two paragraphs are lacking from this document. Discusses the Embargo Act (obliquely).

GLC03642

22 January 1809

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph document signed

Title: [Order to Militia officers to enforce the Embargo Act]

Indicates that a ship near Maryland and Virginia intends to violate the Embargo Act and orders it seized. The order was issued at the instigation of Charles Simms, a collector of customs in Virginia.

GLC03643

1806

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Book signed

Title: Message from the President...communicating discoveries made...by...Lewis & Clark

GLC03644

29 December 1780

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Meade

Discusses selection of an American envoy being sent to France. Congress had decided to send an envoy extraordinary to France to secure a loan and improve supply shipments. Lafayette tried to help Alexander Hamilton attain this post, but failed. Says that all admitted Hamilton was the "best calculated for this mission," but "he is not very popular" and not a "Southern Man" so he was not chosen by the Congress. Instead John Laurens was selected. Inform his "very good friend" that a French officer will soon be arriving to meet Meade. Happy to hear from Martha Bland that Meade will be in…

GLC03647

28 February 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: Presidential authority to the Secretary of State to affix the seal to pardon John Mardes].

GLC03648

09 August 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: to Edward Canby re: orders to allow exportation of Texas cotton

GLC03649

10 October 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Levi Underwood

Convicted of larceny and sentenced to one year in prison. Justice associates suggested Executive clemency, and recommended a pardon. Levi was granted a full and unconditional pardon by Lincoln (c/s Seward)

GLC03650

1824

Marshall, John, 1755-1835

Autograph manuscript

Title: Supreme Court Opinion, Osborn et al. v. the Bank of the U.S.

The case upheld the primacy of Federal law over the states. Not in Rhodes' calendar of Marshall's papers (1969). Compare: writings (1839) 315-42, Dillon, Complete Constitutional Decisions of Marshall, (1903) 466-511, and other sources.

GLC03653

circa 1862-1865

Hopte, John W., fl. 1862-1865

Map

Title: [Pencil illustration of the Cumberland Gap]

Depicts rolling mountainsides dotted with trees. Portrays forts, roads and other details specific to Civil War sites and events. Shows a rifle pit and an American flag waving atop a fortress. Signed by Hopte, who served in Company G, 42nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

GLC03604

1861-1864

Lyman Family

Header Record

Title: [Lyman family letters] [Decimalized .01- .32]

The three Lyman brothers came from Delaware, Ohio. They enlisted in the 18th U.S. Infantry Regiment and served in the Army of the Cumberland in Tennessee and Mississippi. The collection also includes letters from Sergeant Nelson Pierce, a friend from Delaware, Ohio, who died on 1 January 1863 from wounds sustained in the Battle of Stone River; Fred Bundy who was probably another neighbor; and George Ellis, whose relationship with the Lymans is not known. Ellis served in the Union Navy and saw action at Corinth, Mississippi, Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana. Letters also describe the…

GLC03606

1861-1863

Brigham, George, fl. 1861-1863

Header Record

Title: [Collection of George and Bart Brigham] [Decimalized .01-.08]

Letters are from George Brigham and H. B. Brigham to their sister Lucretia. With a hand-drawn "Plan of the Battle of Fredericksburg, VA."

GLC03607

1863-1865

Header Record

Title: Collection of three items related to Dighton Goddard [Decimalized]

GLC03608

September 1789

Rhode Island

Broadside

Title: An Act relative to a convention ratifying the Constitution

John Carter imprint.

GLC03609

October 1788

Rhode Island. General Assembly

Broadside

Title: State of Rhode-Island, and Providence-Plantations. In General Assembly, October Session, 1788.

This document is a copy of a proposed amendment to the proposed Constitution that was distributed to town-clerks throughout Rhode Island to provide information about what progress was being made towards ratification. This particular broadside contains an amendment proposed by the General Assembly of New York. The document was printed in Providence, Rhode Island by Bennett Wheeler and is docketed on verso.

GLC03610

5 May 1862

McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Sedgwick

Major General McClellan writes to Brigadier General Sedgwick to discuss his plans for attacking Yorktown. He directs Sedgwick to move toward Yorktown and take additional orders from General Franklin. Written on stationary marked "head-Quarters, Army of the Potomac".

GLC03612

21 December 1791

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Letter signed

Title: to the President and Directors of Bank of the United States

As Secretary of Treasury, Hamilton requests that the President and Directors of the Bank of the United States furnish the Collectors of Import and Tonnage throughout the United States with the signatures of the President and Cashier. This will enable them to detect counterfeits in cash notes of the Bank of the United States. Hamilton also mentions the payment details arranged with the Collectors of the District of Philadelphia, the city where the Bank was based.

GLC03613

1839-1875

Reynolds, Joseph, fl. 1839-1875

Header Record

Title: [Collateral collection of 18 items containing mostly printed general orders detailing other commissions and appointments of General Reynolds.] [decimalized]

Includes official notifaction of Joseph J. Reynolds commission to major general of volunteers, dated November 29, 1862, signed by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. The only letter in the collection (#16) describes various improvements to the city of San Antonio. GLC 3614 is the official commission of Joseph J. Reynolds, signed by Abraham Lincoln and countersigned by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, to the rank of Major General. This collateral collection contains mostly printed general orders detailing other commissions and appointments of General Reynolds. Reynolds, a West Point…

GLC03614.02

4 January 1864

Peyster, John Watts de, 1821-1907

Letter signed

Title: to Edwin D. Morgan

Encloses an address he delivered in Vermont on secession in Switzerland (not present) and asks Morgan to read it as an example for the United States. Writes, "I sincerely hope that you will do me the honor to read it in as much as the treatment and fate of Secession in Switzerland would have served as a complete lesson to our authorities had they been willing to profit by the experience of others." Printed illustration ("Battle of Pittsburg Landing, April 6, 1862") on blank leaf of paper.

GLC03615

circa 1861

Ellsworth, E. E. (Elmer Ephraim), 1837-1861

Header Record

Title: [Song sheets pertaining to the death of Colonel Elmer Ellsworth] [decimalized]

Includes 9 song sheets plus print on small card in one folder. Colonel Elmer Ephraim Ellsworth, a friend of Abraham Lincoln, was commander of the 11th New York Infantry, a unit of Zouaves from the New York City Fire Department. He was killed on 24 May 1861, attempting to remove a Confederate flag from the Marshall House, a hotel in Alexandria, Virginia.

GLC03617

31 July 1864

Williams, George W., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Williams

Williams, a Union soldier, informs his sister that he was taken prisoner during the Battle of the Crater by Confederate forces the previous day. Relates that he was not wounded, and is in excellent health. Instructs Mary to write to Mrs. L. F. Hand of Binghamton, New York, to inform her that her husband, Sherman P. Hand, was also taken prisoner. Cross-writing on verso reveals that Williams served in Company I of the 48th Pennsylvania volunteers, 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 9th Army Corps. Page three measures 10.6 x 7.1 cm. Envelope states "Care of Col Ould Com of Exchange C.S.A. to be…

GLC03618