March 24, 1780

Rogers, Daniel Denison, 1751-1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Martha Rogers

To his sister, whom he calls Patty, a common nickname at the time for Martha. Comments on her impending marriage, his own bachelorhood, and shirts she has sewn for him. Roger's wife, Abigail Bromfield, was the subject of a famous painting by John Singleton Copley.

GLC01412.64.13

5 September 1780

Blake, Increase, fl. 1780

Autograph document signed

Title: Prisoners in Worcester Goal

List of five prisoners in the Worcester, Massachusetts, jail. Also mentions reasons for imprisonment: two for not paying ministerial taxes, one for desertion, one as a prisoner of war, and one for threatening the life of another person in Worcester.

GLC01412.64.14

24 April 1758

Reading, John, fl. 1758

Document signed

Title: [Commission of Alexander Anderson as lieutenant of foot]

Countersigned by Secretary Charles [illegible]. Assigns Anderson to the New Jersey Regiment under Captain John [illegible]. Partially printed document. Signed as President of the Council (governor) and "Commander in Chief of the Province of Nova-Caesarea or New-Jersey, and Territories." Reading was twice President of the Council.

GLC01412.64.15

1783-1815

Harrison, Benjamin, 1726-1791

Free frank

Title: to Jonathan Hudson or Benjamin Levy

This is the address leaf for a letter sent by Benjamin Harrison, a Virginian Continental Congressman and Declaration of Independence signer, to Jonathan Hudson or Benjamin Levy, merchants in Baltimore. It was sent using a free frank under Harrison's signature, which has partial text loss. Faint postmark includes the word "Phila" and the month "August." No year could be ascertained.

GLC01412.65

23 August 1711

Argyll, John Campbell, Duke of, 1680-1743

Document signed

Title: [Commission of James Des Pieres as lieutenant of foot for a regiment commanded by William Stanhope]

Countersigned by R. Arnold, authorized by the Secretary at War. Argyll's seal is completely worn off, and docket (on verso) is faded. Campbell signs as General and Commander in Chief of British forces in Spain.

GLC01412.66

13 August 1668

Charles II, King of England, 1630-1685

Document signed

Title: [Commission of George Lord Livingston]

Possibly created by Maitland, Duke of Lauderdale and Secretary of State for Scotland under King Charles II. Signed "Lauderdaill." Appoints Livingston to be "captaine of that Company In Our Regiment of foote whereof the Earle of LinLithgow is Colonell... You are therefore carefully & diligently to discharge the duety of a Captaine, By exercising the said Company, in Armes, both Officers & Soldiers, And to keepe them in good order and Discipline... Given at Our Court at Whitehall the 13 of August 1668 of his majties reign the 20th year..." Contains a damaged royal seal.

GLC01412.67

December 8, 1941

Hirohito, Emperor of Japan, 1901-1989

Document

Title: Declaration of War against the United States and Britain [in Japanese]

Imperial rescript of the Declaration of War declared on the United States and Great Britain on the Japanese date 16th year of Showa, 12th month. " ... we, the emperor, have now declared war upon the United States of America and Great Britain. The officers and men of our army and navy will concentrate their strength in engaging in battles, the members of our government will endeavor to carry out their assigned duties, our subjects throughout the empire will employ full strength to perform their respective tasks. Thus uniting one hundred million hearts and discharging the fullest strength of…

GLC01415

October 19, 1880

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gen. John Ramsay

Grant expresses the hope that New Jersey will vote for Garfield and Arthur, and keep the Democrats out. The letter mentions the impending Presidential election in New Jersey.

GLC01416

July 18, 1871

Agassiz, Louis, 1807-1873

Letter signed

Title: to William Claflin

Agassiz explains that the United States Coast Survey is attempting to "make us acquainted with the bottom of the Ocean, as thoroughly as we already are with the surface of the Earth." He requests a contribution of $20,000 from Massachusetts Governor Claflin to finance the preservation, for scientific purposes, of specimens discovered in the course of the surveys dredging, and fishing along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

GLC01417

May 11, 1776

Lee, Charles, 1732-1782

Letter signed

Title: to Edmund Pendleton

Letter discusses the differences in pay for Continental and state soldiers. Comments on the activities of "Mr. Agnew who was lately tryed by the Committee" and other Tories as they related to the British assault on Hog Island. Letter written to Pendleton as President of the Virginia Convention.

GLC01421

13 August 1856

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Document signed

Title: to the Senate

Based on a report from Captain M.C. Meigs, Pierce requests that the Senate appropriate $750,000 for "the Capitol extension."

GLC01188

April 30, 1808

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Letter signed

Title: to William Pinkney

Discusses congressional proceedings, foreign affairs, the Chesapeake affair, British and French aggression, and the Embargo Act of 1807. A portion of the letter has been written in code and is translated in another hand. Letter signed as Secretary of State. Pinkney was the U.S. Minister to Great Britain.

GLC01191

18 May 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Lincoln endorsement on letter concerning the remains of Captain W. G. Hewins]

Lincoln note written on a letter by the Governor of Massachusetts, John A. Andrew, dated 13 May 1863 from Boston. The letter is addressed to "All Officers in Command, of the United States, or of Volunteers," asking that Mr. Gibbs, who is bringing home the remains of Captain W. G. Hewins, receive all proper courtesies while on his journey. Lincoln's signed note on the second page reads, "Secretary of War please see Mr. Gibbs, with this letter from Gov. Andrew." Also with an autograph note signed by Major General Joseph Hooker and dated 21 May 1863, to Colonel Ingalls requesting that he…

GLC01195

October 26, 1879

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Emily Collins

Douglass offers his home as a place to stay during her attendance at the eleventh annual meeting of the American Woman Suffrage Association, to be held in District of Columbia in early January 1880. Emily Parmely Collins worked for women's rights in New York, Louisiana, and Connecticut.

GLC01197

July 9, 1778

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Francis Barber

Letter addressed to Barber in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, where he was recovering from a wound received at the Battle of Monmouth. Washington instructs Barber to obtain intelligence on the British movements across the Hudson river in New York while in New Jersey. He informs that any expenses will be repaid. Washington expresses relief that Barber's wound is healing. He states that, "Tho I wish for your services, I would not have you to rejoin the Army before your condition will admit of it, with the most perfect safety." Text of the letter and the address are written in the hand of Washington'…

GLC01201

January 2, 1801

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Boylston Adams

Docketed on page 4. Written as President to his son about the Convention with France which averted war. Adams quotes from jurist Vattell and mentions Grotius and Pufendorf. Also, The Law of Nations (book by Emer de Vattell).

GLC01204

March 12, 1777

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript document

Title: [Orders to submit a regimental return]

A working draft of a clerical copy of a circular letter from George Washington. These, or comparable, orders were given by George Washington on 12 March 1777 to various colonels of the Continental Army. (See Fitzpatrick and the GW Papers at the Library of Congress for numerous examples, which demonstrate slightly varied wording.) Instructs recipient to "march all the Recruits you have to Philadelphia, where they will be inoculated and receive farther Orders from the Commanding officers of that City ... Every Commanding officer should know where his inferior officers, and these where their…

GLC01205.04

February 5, 1841

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Stuart

Letter is written in blue ink. Discussing Illinois and Sangamon county politics, Lincoln says he and some others would like Bat Web (Edwin B. Webb) as District Attorney. He concludes by alluding to the "locos" (Democrats) in the upcoming congressional elections.

GLC01210

May 11, 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin M. Stanton

Curtis was replaced with Schofield in the Dept of the Missouri. Letter written on Executive Mansion stationery. Docketed on page 4 by Stanton.

GLC01211

October 24, 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Letter signed

Title: to Gen. David Hunter

Letter written after Frémont was relieved of duty. A draft in the hand of John Hay (Sec.) with corrections and an additional paragraph at the end in Lincoln's hand. Also, mentions command of Dept. of West & strategy suggestions.

GLC01212

July 7, 1882

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Colonel John E. Tourtelotte

Sherman writes to his former aide-de-camp about land ownership and taxes. He advises Tourtelotte to sell his land in Minnesota. Informs that he and his family have decided to settle down in St. Louis, Missouri. Talks of his retirement and remarks, " ... our military family must break up - It is better we should in good health, than by death." He states that Tourtelotte has no family and in some ways is more fortunate, because providing for a family is very expensive. Worries about his brother who fell from a ladder and is unconscious. Letter written on printed stationery of Headquarters, Army…

GLC01216

August 17, 1882

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Hopkins Morris

Sherman writes to Union General Morris about revising the Infantry Tactics. Informs that he has decided to not change the tactics during the short time he has remaining in office as it will take several years to process. He remarks, "Therefore I must beg you to hold your horses another full year when [Philip] Sheridan may think it wise to open up the subject." He compares the infantry tactics to clothing for the body, " ... a correct deportment for good society - yet we cannot afford to change our fashions as often as would the Tailor, or Master." Letter written on printed stationery of…

GLC01223

January 22, 1874

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Anne M. Bowen

Sherman tells Bowen that he forwarded the letter she wrote to the Postmaster General. Sherman included a superscription that will make sure it is read by the Postmaster General, an action that Sherman describes as the "usual Red tape process." He hopes Bowen succeeds in enacting her (unspecified) reform, but doubts she will. Letter written on printed stationery of headquarters of the United States army.

GLC01225

11 October 1867

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Memoirs of a battle near Chickamauga]

Possibly a leaf from Sherman's memoirs. Text is in pencil, signature, place, and date are in ink. "But Sherman pressed his attack to within pistol shot and advanced his left Division under Gen. M.L. Smith so as to cut off the Rebels from the Railroad bridge towards Chickamauga. The main object was completely gained by leading Bragg to weaken his center to support his Right."

GLC01226

June 17, 1850

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Printed letter signed

Title: to Robert Hallowell Gardiner

One circular letter addressed to Robert H. Gardiner from Daniel Webster dated June 17, 1850. Pertains to the debate whether slavery will be instilled in New Mexico and Texas, retorts statements published about his remarks on slavery from a speech earlier that year on March 7th.

GLC01231