1860-1866

Header Record

Title: Civil War Generals: 13 letters & docs [decimalized]

[decimalized 02455.01-002455.13]

GLC02455

February 12, 1862

Burnside, Ambrose Everett, 1824-1881

Letter signed

Title: to Henry Wise

Union Brigadier General Burnside, commanding Department of North Carolina, writes to Confederate Brigadier General Wise, commanding Chowan District, Department of Norfolk. Agrees to a written request from Wise of the day before that the bodies and effects of fallen Confederates from the Battle of Roanoke Island (7-8 February 1862) be sent to him. In reference to another request Wise made about prisoner exchanges, Burnside asks that Wise forward an enclosed proposition (not present) to his superior, Major General Benjamin Huger. Writes, "The condition expressed in this proposition that…

GLC02455.01

13 December 1862

Burnside, Ambrose Everett, 1824-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Buel Franklin

Orders written the morning of the Battle of Fredericksburg. Burnside is "this moment preparing orders for you," and tells Franklin to "Make no movement except for defense until they arrive." Also hopes "to be with you this morning." Franklin was in charge of a large portion of the army during this assault. After the bloody Union defeat, accused Franklin of disobeying orders and blamed him for being partly responsible for the Union defeat. Burnside demanded that Lincoln either remove Franklin and a number of other officers or relieve Burnside of his command. Lincoln chose to replace…

GLC02455.02

28 November 1863

Dix, John Adams, 1798-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Wager Halleck

General Dix, Commander of the Department of the East, encloses a confidential report (not included) by a detective from Buffalo, New York. Informs Halleck, General in Chief of the Union army, that the detective "has seen, as you will observe, a large number of prominent rebel refugees, and, having been with them at the South, had free communications with them." Writes "I shall... send a small body of troops to Fort Montgomery at Rouses Point. [Bumont?] has been provided for by the Governor. There is, however, need of guns for a Company of artillery just recruited, and I will endeavor to…

GLC02455.04

January 27, 1862

Halleck, H.W. (Henry Wager), 1815-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ulysses S. Grant

Major General Halleck transmits orders to Brigadier General Grant permitting the discharge of volunteers who desire to be recruited by the Navy for work on gun boats. The discharges must be distributed so they do not disrupt the efficiency of any single company. Asks Grant to have Commodore Andrew H. Foote send a recruiting officer to St. Louis. Written on stationery marked "Head Quarters, Department of the Missouri."

GLC02455.05

20 April 1866

Hood, John Bell, 1831-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Philip Henry Sheridan

Former Confederate General John B. Hood writes to Commander of the Military Division of the Gulf, General Philip Sheridan (1865-1867). Requests permission for Colonel Harding to visit Mexico on business. Includes initials after post script that relates: "Sorry I missed you & Kautz" (possibly referring to General Augustine Valentine Kautz).

GLC02455.06

5 November 1861

Hooker, Joseph, 1814-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Blaisdell

General Hooker, division commander in the Army of the Potomac, writes to Lieutenant Colonel William Blaisdell of the 11th Massachusetts Infantry. Asks why Blaisdell opposes the commission of Daniel E. Granger as 2nd Lieutenant in his regiment, as Blaisdell, with other officers, had recommended Granger. Writes, "Will you please inform me if you have changed in this respect & what influences have caused it. Today is the first intimation I have had of it."

GLC02455.07

13 August 1864

McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George D. Ramsay

As a private citizen, McClellan writes to Chief of Ordnance General George D. Ramsay to introduce Mr. Adolph Schniewind, who "has it in his power to arrange for imparting our government the secret of the great superiority manifested by the Prussian projectiles in the recent war with Denmark."

GLC02455.08

24 November 1864

Meade, George Gordon, 1815-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Rawlins

Meade, commanding the Army of the Potomac, writes to General Rawlins. Recently received intelligence from an officer of Confederate Nathaniel Harrison Harris's Brigade, William Mahone's Division. Reports that the officer was in Petersburg the previous day, and heard nothing of a Confederate Brigade being moved, or of troops being detached from Robert E. Lee's army. Relates that this information is supported by others. Mentions a newspaper report regarding William T. Sherman's operations in Georgia (Sherman's March to the Sea commenced mid-November 1864). Written on Headquarters, Army of…

GLC02455.09

23 June 1862

Ricketts, James Brewerton, 1817-1887

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin Morgan

General Ricketts writes from the Headquarters of the 2nd Division, Department of the Rappahannock, near Manassas, to Morgan, Governor of New York. Recommends the appointment of John A. [Veress?] to Colonel Adrian R. Roots's 94th Regiment, New York Volunteers. Writes, "I am enabled to judge, without making any invidious comparisons, that a competent field officer must be found beyond the limits of the regiment..."

GLC02455.10

5 July 1862

Stevens, Isaac Ingalls, 1818-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alfred F. Sears

Informs Sears that his "company and effects will be embarked on the Holmes." Two weeks after the Union defeat at the battle of Seccesionville they began evacuating James Island, just off the coast from Charleston. Sears company was sent out on the ship Holmes. Sears is addressed as a colonel, when in fact he was a captain.

GLC02455.11

7 June 1862

Sumner, Edwin V. (Edwin Vose) 1797-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Randolph Barnes Marcy

General Sumner writes from 2nd Corps Headquarters to General Marcy, Chief of Staff under General George Brinton McClellan. Writes, "Your dispatch received, informing me that the 29th regt Mass Vols is assigned to Richardsons division." Possibly written in Virginia.

GLC02455.13

1846-1888

Header Record

Title: Civil War generals from border states: 33 letters and documents [decimalized]

[decimalized 02456.01-02456.33]

GLC02456

22 April 1861

Anderson, Robert, 1805-1871

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Abner Doubleday.

Encloses instructions for Lieutenant Hall "which I shall thank you to hand to him." Says he will "be down as soon I feel well enough to do so." Addressed to Doubleday at Fort Hamilton. Written eight days after Fort Sumter fell. Two bust engravings of Robert Anderson incldued as collateral.

GLC02456.01

10 July 1865

Blair, Francis Preston, Jr., 1821-1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Letter to Lorenzo Thomas with autograph endorsement of Ulysses S. Grant]

Blair informs Thomas, United States Adjutant General, "I hereby tender my resignation as a major Genl U. S. Vols to take effect in the 1st of August next. Under orders already received the 17th A.C. which I have the honor to command will be mustered out of service by the first of Augt. next and I desire to terminate my career as an officer with that of the command to which I have been so long attached." Grant, Commander-in-Chief of the United States Army, approves Blair's request with an autograph andorsement signed on verso.

GLC02456.02

19 May 1865

Buckner, Simon Bolivar, 1823-1914

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Caute Reynolds

General Buckner, commanding the District of Arkansas and West Louisiana, Trans-Mississippi Department, writes to Reynolds, Confederate Governor of Missouri. Advises Reynolds to move off of the main road. Docketed by Reynolds. Says"...Every thing here is uncertain. The Missourians are still true, but I doubt if they will move. I am tied here as yet, by duties from which I have no right to shrink." Relates that General Smith (possibly Edmund Kirby Smith) has been sent to Houston, and he must wait to hear from Smith before he departs. Autograph letter signed, on verso, Reynolds reply, from…

GLC02456.03

14 November 1862

Buford, John, 1826-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William P. Bacon

General Buford, Chief of Cavalry, Army of the Potomac, writes to Lieutenant Bacon, adjutant of the 5th New York Cavalry. Remarks, "I would cheerfully recommend your advancement- But fear my good word will have but little weight During your service with me I was much pleased with your manner, and became satisfied of your ability- I would like to see you promoted feeling confident that you can command the respect of your soldiers and win with them a proud name." Buford writes from Headquarters, Army of the Potomac. One bust engraving of Buford included as collateral.

GLC02456.04

9 July 1864

Canby, Edward Richard Sprigg, 1817-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to L. J. Cist

General Canby replies to a note from Cist, in St. Louis, Missouri. Writes, "The date of my commission as Brig Genl. is March 31. 1862 and as Major General May 7. 1864." Written on Headquarters, Military Division of the West Mississippi stationery; this title has been struck, and Department of the Gulf has been written in its place. One bust engraving of Canby included as collateral.

GLC02456.05

28 September 1861

Crittenden, Thomas Leonidas, 1819-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Beriah Magoffin

Crittenden, General of Kentucky Militia, writes to Magoffin, Governor of Kentucky. Asks Magoffin to accept an enclosed resignation (not included), noting hat Mr. Barr "cannot accept any office that would take him away from here." Docket notes "accepted," and contains Magoffin's name (possibly his signature). One bust engraving of Crittenden included as collateral.

GLC02456.06

4 September 1861

Emory, William H. (William Hemsley), 1811-1887

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lorenzo Thomas

Lieutenant Colonel Emory reports his arrival to Thomas, United States Adjutant General. Writes, "Before the receipt of the authority from you to visit the rendezvous I had completed the organization of the companies... & prepared to move Hd. Qts of the Rgmt to Bladensburgh, and circumstances made it necessary to do so. I have therefore not visited the rendezvous... and request to do so..." Emory writes from Headquarters of the 6th Cavalry. One bust engraving of Emory included as collateral.

GLC02456.07

7 December 1863

Ewell, Richard Stoddert, 1817-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jubal A. Early

Confederate Lieutenant General Ewell writes to Confederate Major General Early to report that Major Green has been put in charge of prisoners. Asks Early to report to Major Green about his division's prisoners as soon as possible. One bust engraving of Ewell included as collateral.

GLC02456.08

17 April 1862

Fagan, James Fleming, 1828-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to General Daniel Ruggles

Written near Corinth, Mississippi. Fagan, Colonel commanding the 1st Arkansas Regiment, writes to Ruggles, commanding the 2nd Division, Army of Mississippi. Relates that General Braxton Bragg, commander of 2nd Corps, Army of the Mississippi, ordered Fagan to move his regiment to join other regiments forming the 1st Brigade of Ruggles's division, and to assume command of the brigade. Orders reflect preparation for operations against Corinth. One bust engraving of Fagan included as collateral.

GLC02456.09

January 19, 1862

French, William Henry, 1815-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Philip J. Parisen

Brigadier General French writes to Major Parisen from headquarters of the 3rd Brigade, Sumner's division: "Understanding that the Lieutenant Colonel of the 57th N. Y. Volunteers, has been mustered out of service, and you being the next Field officer in the regular line for promotion, I beg to hope you will receive the appointment on account of your constant labors to promote the efficiency of your regiment and for the zeal and energy displayed in duties connected with this Brigade..." One bust engraving of French included as collateral.

GLC02456.10

19 April 1862

Hunter, David, 1802-1886

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Major General Hunter writes, "Will the surgeon in charge of the Hospital please send me a bottle of paregoric, and a small piece of camphor." Two bust engravings of Hunter included as collateral.

GLC02456.12

5 May 1862

Johnson, Richard W., 1827-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to J. B. Fry

Informs Fry, "I am very much in want of a Commissary for my Brigade. Understanding that my former Commissary, Capt. Palmer, has returned, I would respectfully request that he be ordered to my Brigade. I have no officer in the Brigade who can perform the duties of Commissary, hence my request." Endorsed by Brigadier General Alexander McDowell McCook. One bust engraving of Johnson included as collateral.

GLC02456.13