29 August 1863

Maitland, James M., 1815-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph M. Maitland

Criticizes Clement Vallandigham. Predicts that there will not be a draft in Ohio, as the quota of troops Ohio has to meet can be filled with volunteers. Reports that his old chaplain died. Recently heard news of "unnecessary destruction of Property by soldiers as they passed through Louisiana and Mississippi," calling such actions a "relic of Barbarism." Notes that when Confederate generals went into Pennsylvania, they forbade the destruction of civilian property. Relates that John Martin, possibly a family member, has been appointed Brigade Quartermaster and that Elhanan Mast, his brother-in…

GLC03523.10.098

30 August 1863

Coleman, George W., fl. 1857-1886

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph M. Maitland

Writes to "cousin," possibly Joseph M. Maitland, based on content. Writes, "I made a Union Speech which was well received by all except Vallandighammers of whom I will notice before I close... I am all over for Brough the union Candidate for Gov. & I am of the opinion that all Union men are. [Clement] Vallandigham is a more infamous traitor than Jeff Davis [Jefferson Davis] & Peugh is not one whit behind Val he is stumping the state for Val. & himself for Lieut. Gov. & all his cry is that Negroes wont fight & cries out in bitter language against the arrest of Val. [Clement…

GLC03523.10.099

24 July 1861

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from Camp Tremont outside St. Louis. Mentions cooking for the soldiers when he has nothing else to do even though there are five cooks for each company. Says they just received their uniforms and bayonets. Explains in great detail several expeditions and marches. Remarks the rebels were hiding in swamps and fleeing. Comments the local women visit their camp and many had never seen the "stars and stripes." States the local women are very pretty, but doesn't know if "...it goes more than skin deep or not." Discusses the friendliness of the "darkies" and their…

GLC03523.31.08

22 August 1861

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from Camp Tremont outside St. Louis. Thanks her for the magazine she sent him. Reports Confederate General Gideon J. Pillow has a strong army in the state. Says St. Louis is under martial law and a very dangerous place. Informs they are expecting an attack at any time. Letter is faded and the bottom portion of all four pages is missing.

GLC03523.31.09

10 November 1861

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from a hospital in Mound City, Illinois. Reports he has been sick with fever for six weeks. Says the hospital is three stories high and capable of treating 6000 patients. Comments that war "...tries men's souls." States his regiment marched from Cape Girardeau to Frederick, Missouri where a "colored" woman told them the rebels were 6000 strong and waiting to ambush them just outside the town. Describes the battle in detail. Reports on the battle at Columbus, Kentucky which he considers to be "...one of the greatest battles of the present war..." Explains the…

GLC03523.31.10

25 December 1861

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from Camp Lyon in Illinois. Apologizes for using the word "love" in his letters to her. Responds to her inquiry about the hospital in Cairo, Illinois. Expresses doubt that the rumors of poor treatment for the soldiers are true, even though he has never been there. Says he is sending her a box of products from the south. Mentions that most of the officers have their ladies with them. Letter is very faded and illegible in sections.

GLC03523.31.11

February 5, 1862

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from Fort Henry, Tennessee. Mentions Union General Halbert E. Paine leaving with the sick soldiers and supplies. Reports on his trip to Cairo, Illinois by steamer on the Ohio River. Says the boat was so crowded they had to stand for two days and two nights during constant rain with no shelter. Informs they moved onto Paducah, Kentucky where a large addition was made to their fleet. States Union General Ulysses S. Grant issued orders for the entire fleet to advance. Writes about killing a group of rebel spies with a well-directed shell. Letter is faded in…

GLC03523.31.12

circa February 1862

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from Fort Donelson, Tennessee. Reports his troops are pushing forward to Nashville, Tennessee. Refers to the battle and capture of Fort Henry, the first important Union victory in the Western Theater. Informs that cannons are all drawn by horses. Mentions he carries her likeness in his coat pocket. States that a number of wounded and dead have been sent home. Comments the weather is lovely and springlike. Date of letter is inferred based on content. Letter is incomplete. Written at Fort Donelson

GLC03523.31.13

April 21, 1862

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from the General Hospital in Savannah. Reports on the Battle of Shiloh, "...a day never to be forgotten by me." Says the battlefield was littered with dead and wounded. Informs his right arm was wounded on the battlefield, and he was taken by boat to the hospital. Comments he is being cared for by a female physician. Says Confederate General Albert S. Johnston was killed and his second in command, Confederate General Pierre G. Beauregard was badly wounded. States his regiment of one thousand men has only two hundred left. Expects a furlough soon. Letter has a…

GLC03523.31.14

31 July 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, brother, and sister

Writes that the company is back in Lavergne and was able to return to the log buildings they had built there a month ago. Discusses General [William Thomas] Ward, his sixteen year commission, and his refusal to report to General Morgan. Writes that the capture of Confederate General [John Hunt] Morgan was a good thing and wishes he had been killed instead. Gives details of prices for various vegetables and comments that it has been difficult to raise any food in the area. Of the war he writes " war is a desolater, and the South are beginning to feel it, but not enough."

GLC07460.041

7 August 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister Martha and family

He writes that it is his one year anniversary of enlistment and that he is glad he made the decision to enlist. Comments that the soldiers forage for most of their food, living "almost independent from Unkle [Uncle] Sam". Reports that Lieut. Culver will be replacing Captain Mason as captain. Writes that his company is going up in numbers as hospital and detailed men are being sent back in.

GLC07460.042

25 March 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: [Certification concerning James Livingston]

Certifies that Livingston served in the artillery since the beginning of 1777. Lists Livingston's promotions, noting that he is now discharged at his own request by the commander in chief (George Washington).

GLC02437.09547

21 December 1863

Terry, Robert B., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sister

Discusses his sister's trip to Washington, which is possibly to visit a suitor named Willie, noting that he himself may not be granted a pass to come up and see her. Details that they have been sleeping in Sibley tents, which are very good quarters. Mentions that "Isaiah want you to come by all means."

GLC03523.08.88

21 December 1863

Terry, Robert B., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sister

Communicates to his sister that he is disappointed that she and their mother did not come to Washington, and that Isaiah, possibly his sister's suitor, and his family were upset as well. Describes his Christmas dinner, detailing that they had turkey and mince pie. Informs her that he was sent out yesterday with the Army of the Potomac with many prisoners. Reports that M.K., possibly a family friend or a romantic interest of his, sends her love.

GLC03523.08.89

February 25, 1864

Terry, Robert B., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louisa B. Terry

Writes to his sister "Lou," telling her that "Washington's Birthday passed off just the same as any other day." Reports that there are a couple of men who decided to re-enlist, "but I do not feel inclined to follow in their footsteps..."

GLC03523.08.93

5 December 1864

Terry, Robert B., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Brother

Writes to his brother, "you must read this letter yourself. And dont let none of the girls read it to you. You say your are in the first division And if that the case you can read this letter for it is big enough for a blind man to read." Instructs him not to spend all his money before Christmas and not to "wear your Boots out." Remarks that he doesn't think his regiment will ever see the city of Washington and speculates that they will stay at Camp Pierpont in Fairfax, Virginia all winter. Written on stationery with an image of the United States Capital at the top.

GLC03523.08.97

12 July 1784 - 13 July 1784

Hull, William, 1753-1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Letters exchanged between William Hull and Frederick Haldimand]

Marked as a copy, but written in Hull's hand. Hull asks Haldimand, Governor of the Province of Quebec, "when each of the Posts within [United States] Territories now occupied by his Britanic Majesty's Forces will be delivered up agreeably to the definitive Treaty of Paris..." Also proposes the exchange of cannon and stores at the posts. Contains Haldimand's answer from Quebec, dated 13 July 1784. In his reply, Haldimand encloses a letter to Knox (not included) giving reasons why the matter is out of his power.

GLC02437.03028

17 August 1784

Fitch, Jabez, 1737-1812

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Certification pertaining to Governor Trumbull]

Fitch attests that on 24 February 1778, he informed Governor Jonathan Trumbull (of Connecticut) of the release of Lieutenant Gove from captivity, and of Gove's "readiness to Enter into the Service in the Continental Army."

GLC02437.03035

17 August 1784

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

States he received a letter from General Henry Knox asking "whose map of the River St. Croix was used as an authority by the ministers who negotiated the Peace." Knox asked that Jay send his answer to General Lincoln. Jay says that the map was one compiled by Mitchel and believes that it only showed one river with the name St. Croix. Concedes that there may be more than one river with that name but thinks the river included in the peace treaty can be answered by this map.

GLC02437.03043

August 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Result of negotiations between Henry Knox, Benjamin Lincoln, and the Penobscot Indians]

Knox writes, "General Lincoln and myself were appointed to treat with the Penobscot indians, in order to induce them to relinquish the lands from the head of the tide 40 miles up the river- In our stretch Oreono, an old man half indian and half french of the [Castine] breed, made the following reply." In the reply, the Penobscots express concern "about the agreement what was made at the first of the War with Genl Warner at Watertown. The Genl desired that we would not suffer any person to come on our land The Almighty placed us on the land and it is ours... Now why should we not hold the…

GLC02437.03046

4 September 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: The substance of the commissioners speech to chiefs of the Penobscot Indians 4 September 1784

Lists the Penobscot Chiefs as Oronoe (Orono), Squire Orson, Nicktumbowit, John Nepton, Peelsock, Wine [Measum] (possibly the Wine Meesor of other sources) and Wine Aremooglit. Congratulates the Penobscot tribe on their conduct during the Revolutionary War. Asserts "That it was said [the Penobscots] were in possession of more lands than were necessary for their purposes and that they seemed fully to be of this opinion themselves, as we were informed they had sold considerable tracts..." Adds, "but if they really possessed more lands than were necessary, or were desirous to change their…

GLC02437.03048

4 September 1784

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Manuscript letter

Title: [Speech delivered to the Penobscot Tribe]

Written at the Penobscot River, present-day Maine. Lincoln, a commissioner chosen to negotiate land boundaries with the Penobscot Tribe, praises the Penobscots' involvement in the Revolutionary War. Continues, "It is said that in your own Opinion the Lands you occupy far exceed the Quantity necessary for your own Use; and that you have suffered pretended purchases for trifling Considerations, to engross Part of them... the Sovereign Power of this Commonwealth... will not suffer Individuals to purchase those Lands which you are permitted to occupy." Offers the option for the Penobscots to…

GLC02437.03049

30 September 1784

McLean, James, ?-1804

Manuscript document signed

Title: Monthly return of the corps of invalids commanded by Captain James McLean

Lists men fit for duty, sick present, sick absent, on command, absent with leave, and absent without leave.

GLC02437.03052

9 October 1784

Mitchell, John, fl. 1755-1790

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Receipt for traveling expences]

The State of Massachusetts pays Mitchell for expenses incurred on his trip to Boston. Mitchell traveled to Boston to give evidence regarding his previous survey of the St. Croix River. Henry Knox was recently appointed by the State of Massachusetts as a commissioner to examine whether people of Nova Scotia encroached on Massachusetts (present-day Maine) lands.

GLC02437.03056

8 November 1784

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nathaniel Tracy

Thanks Tracy, the financier from Newburyport, Massachusetts, for his "attention & politeness" during William's recent episode of mental illness. Relates his plans for sailing to America. Instructs Tracy to contact Edward Byrne if he travels to Dublin, Ireland.

GLC02437.03069