22 November 1844

Pillow, Gideon Johnson, 1806-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Andrew Jackson

Concerns the statements of Abbot Lawrence criticizing James Polk's treatment of enslaved people. General Pillow, formerly Polk's law partner, defends Polk. Attests that Polk inherited his enslaved people, treats them well, and has never participated in slave dealing. Relates several accounts of Polk selling enslaved people so they may be with their families. Challenges Lawrence to retract his criticism of Polk.

GLC02605

11 May 1805

Sevier, John, 1745-1815

Manuscript document

Title: [Affidavit of innocence]

Affidavit prepared for Tennessee Governor John Sevier as defendant in a case against Jenkin Whiteside. Co-signed by James Sevier as clerk that the contents of the affidavit were "sworn in Open Court." The case Jenkin Whiteside v. John Sevier revolved around money lost in a card game. This legal document states that Sevier was intoxicated at the time when he signed a promissory note. Says that Matthew Atkinson, a subscribing witness, can attest to the situation. Claims he never got any "Consideration" for the said bill and that the transaction was fraudulent. Says that after an investigation…

GLC02606

February 12, 1864

Pleasonton, Alfred J., 1824-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to L. S. Perley

Major General Pleasanton transmits his autograph with a letter taken from a Confederate post office to Perley, Chairman of the Autograph Committee of the Soldier's Aid Society of Northern Ohio, for a benefit fair. Informs Perley that "It always gives me great pleasure to render any assistance to the Sanitary Commission, as the important benefits conferred by that institution upon our Armies in the field, have alleviated much of the misery, hardship, and suffering, to which our noble & gallant soldiers have been exposed."

GLC02607

1863-1866

Header Record

Title: Items pertaining to the Union League of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [decimalized]

GLC02608

9 February 1864

Rodes, Robert Emmett, 1829-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eugene Blackford

Confederate General Rodes thanks Major Blackford for a note and cake he sent through Captain Halsey. Writes that he arrived in Hanover Junction to protect Richmond, Virginia. Hopes "soon to be in my old place however with the Div: reassembled... I am glad to learn that the operations you have had performed are likely to be so successful..." Hopes Blackford will soon be back with his regiment. Mentions Riley's Company and the Greensboro Company. Mentions a discussion he had with McCall.

GLC02615

28 September 1863

Preston, William, 1816-1887

Letter signed

Title: to Jefferson Davis

Signed by John Gallaher as an official copy (possibly John N. Gallaher, aide and assistant adjutant general to General Simon Bolivar Buckner). Preston writes to Confederate president Davis, recommending the appointment of Colonel Robert C. Trigg from Virginia as Brigadier General. Includes the 30 September 1863 endorsement signed by General Simon Bolivar Buckner, written from the Headquarters of Buckner's command, near Chattanooga. Bucker supports Trigg's promotion, and relates that no brigadier has been assigned to the command Trigg seeks since the resignation of General Davis (possibly…

GLC02616

January 18, 1863

Southgate, William Wallace, 1834-1896

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. W. Southgate

Written by a soldier in the 12th Vermont Militia. Argues that soldiers generally oppose the emancipation of enslaved people. Mentions James Ewell Brown [Jeb] Stuart's Cavalry charge upon them but says it did not turn into anything as they were rerouted. Envelope dimensions 6.5 x 10.8 cm. Graphic language warning: Includes expletive racial slurs when referring to Black people.

GLC02617

12 July 1781

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Morris

Major General Wayne discusses the campaign that led up to the Battle of Yorktown. Discusses forcing Lord Cornwallis to retreat, justifies his unorthodox tactics, and describes an amazing escape at the battle of Green Spring.

GLC02620

16 August 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Letter signed

Title: to Samuel Hodgdon

Knox, Secretary of War, instructs Quartermaster General Hodgdon to send food, including chocolate, port wine, sherry, and coffee, to the hospital department in Pittsburgh.

GLC02621

January 11, 1794

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Letter signed

Title: to Samuel Hodgdon

Sends a copy of a letter (not included) he sent to the Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton and asks Hodgdon to comply its requests regarding public clothing from contractors for the present year. Signed as Secretary of War.

GLC02622

11 September 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Letter signed

Title: to unknown

Knox signs as Secretary of War. Writes "The want of instructions to Harleman was indeed an omission- No more stores are to be sent to Georgia at present. The returns of Clothing forwarded to the frontiers is enclosed. You will please to return it after copied. I am glad to learn your health- I am also well... " Written in the War Department.

GLC02623

26 June 1864

Adams, William Wirt, 1819-1888

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jefferson Davis

Confederate General Adams discusses a concentration of Union forces at Natchez, Vicksburg, and Memphis. Expects Davis, President of the Confederate States, to transfer troops from the Trans-Mississippi Department to Jackson, Mississippi. Discusses transporting troops across a river (possibly the Mississippi). Writes "I have ventured to make this suggestion in view of the possible contingencies of our struggle and in the hope that it may possibly assist you in the great labors... of your position."

GLC02625

11 March 1862

Banks, Nathaniel Prentiss, 1816-1894

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Plan to trap Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson near the Strasburg road. Written just after Jackson began his Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Three days earlier Jackson had defeated Fremont at Battle of McDowell, the beginning of his Valley Campaign. Banks believes Jackson will now try to retreat and that "his only escape" is to "reach Strasburg, and then by the way of Woodstock go down to Harrisonburg and Staunton." Banks plans to cut Jackson off along this route, and defeat him there. Believes this position on the Strasburg road "is now perfectly safe...There is now no danger of an enemy in the…

GLC02626

14 September 1861

Elmore, Edward Carrington, fl. 1861-1865

Manuscript document

Title: to Alonzo B. Noyes

Confederate Treasurer Elmore sends a list of 10 signatures that appear on Confederate Treasury notes. Clerically signed by James Simons on behalf of Elmore; with actual signatures of R.L. Delaney, C.C. Thayer, J. Ellett, Henry [Sparniak?], R. McRae, R. Hill, Jr., L. J. Levin, H.H. Goodloe and R.H. Tighe. One additional signature is illegible. Created to detect counterfeit bills. Written on Confederate States of America Treasurer's Office stationery.

GLC02628

19 December 1862

Birney, David Bell, 1825-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gross

Discussing the "terrible battle" of Fredericksburg, which had occurred six days earlier. States that "Our troops behaved well." Also "My old Division true to prestige drove back the enemy and retook the lost ground & held it under Artillery & rifles." Encloses a map (GLC02630.02) of the battle. Reports his "loss was 982 kill & missing," and has now returned to "same camps" as before the battle. Wishes to know if the division he now commands "Sustained Chantilly reputation." This refers to Chantilly, the last battle the division fought under its previous commander, General…

GLC02630.01

19 December 1862

Briscoe, James C., ?-1869

Map signed

Title: Position held by the 1st Divn. 3rd Corps After Having Repulsed the Enemy Decb. 13th 1862

Map sent with a letter written by Union General David B. Birney (see GLC02630.01). Shows the Union position on the battlefield at the Battle of Fredericksburg. Various picket lines, topographical features, and the locations of troops under generals Doubleday, Birney, and Sickles appear. Shows General William B. Franklin's headquarters and pontoon bridges over the Rappahannock River at "The Folly." Fredericksburg is at the far right. Signed by Briscoe as First Lieutenant, acting engineer under Birney. Drawn at a scale of 500 yards to the inch. Date from letter.

GLC02630.02

30 March 1866

Stone, William M., 1827-1893

Document signed

Title: Joint resolution, ratifying the amendment to the consitution of the United States abolishing slavery

Document of the eleventh General Assembly of the State of Iowa ratifying the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States which abolished slavery. The 13th Amendment resolution is quoted at the center of the document. Signed in ink by Iowa's Governor, William M. Stone, Iowa's Speaker of the House, Ed Wright, Iowa's President of the Senate, B. J. Lee, and Iowa's Secretary of State, James Wright. The names of the members of the House and Senate who voted in affirmative are printed at left. Printed by F. W. Palmer, state printer, register office, Des Moines. With a few small…

GLC02631

8 August 1780

Arnold, Benedict, 1741-1801

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Conclusion of letter to Brigadier General Henry Knox ] [incomplete]

Concluding portion of the letter including only the close and signature, stating, "Please to present my best respects to Mrs. Knox ... " With initialed postscript by Arnold, "A line from you at any time when you are at leisure will be very acceptable." Date from docket.

GLC02633

1776/07/03

Danielson, Timothy, fl. 1776

Letter signed

Title: to John Hancock re: supporting a declaration of Independence

GLC02635

1779/11/09

Hunter, Samuel, ?-1784

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Reed

Outlines the best positions for troops to defend the area, reports on Indian attack and scalping, and fears another attack.

GLC02636

18 April 1864

Ingalls, Rufus, 1818-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Pitt Fessenden

General Ingalls writes to Fessenden, a United States Senator from Maine. Writes, "In my letter of today I probably should not have referred to the President at all, and beg you will excuse me- It is certain that Generals Hooker, Burnside and Meade wished to have me remain in the Qr. Mrs Dept" (referring to Generals Joseph Hooker, Ambrose Everett Burnside, and George Gordon Meade).

GLC02464.09

6 May 1861

Mansfield, Joseph K.F., 1803-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lorenzo Thomas

Mansfield informs Thomas, Adjutant General for the United States, that he accepts the appointment of Brevet Brigadier General conferred upon him from the United States President (Abraham Lincoln). Accepts the title "with the hope that in so doing I can better serve my country in the trying circumstances in which it is placed."

GLC02464.11

22 March 1864

Washburn, Cadwallader Colden, 1818-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to H. M. Benedict, Esq.

General Washburn replies to a note from Benedict, a lawyer in Albany, New York. Writes, "I regret that I had not sooner received it that I might have concentrated even in a very small way to the great charity with which you are connected. As you mention that the purchasers of Albums have been promised autographs which might arrive after the fair, I enclosed you a few of mine."

GLC02464.19

December 31, 1863

Wright, Horatio Gouverneur, 1820-1899

Autograph letter signed

Title: Statement concerning the service of Lieutenants Hayden and Hubbell

Major General Wright confirms that Lieutenants T.L. Hayden (possibly Thomas Lloyd Hayden), 7th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers, and Henry Wilson Hubbell, 40th Regiment, New York Volunteers served as Wright's aides-de-camp from January 1862 to August 1863, and "are entitled to pay as such during that period."

GLC02464.21

1 May 1865

Augur, Christopher Columbus, 1821-1898

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Barnes

Augur, commander of the Department of Washington, Twenty-second Army Corps, writes to General Barnes, commander of the prisoner-of-war camp at Point Lookout, Maryland. Authorizes Barnes to allow a Major from the 28th Regiment, United States Colored Troops, to travel to an unspecified city to attend to business. Written on Headquarters, Department of Washington, 22nd Army Corps stationery. Marked as a telegram at the top.

GLC02465.01