16 May 1876

Lee, Samuel Phillips, 1812-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Maury re: pardon and restoring political rights to C.S. Naval Officers.

GLC03694

9 March 1862

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

Says there was a big fight at Newport News the day before. Says the "Merrimac" came down with the "Yorktown," "Jamestown," and other boats. Reports that "Merrimac ran into and sunk Cumberland killing half her crew, raked the Congress fore and aft till she struck her colors. Minnesota aground, but fought till dark and flies the colors this morning." Says the "Congress" is burned and her magazine blew up. Says the 20th and 99th New York were deployed as Confederate troops were reported landing above Newport News and advancing from Yorktown, but they did not come. Says "The Ericson battery [the…

GLC03681.01

10 March 1862

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter

Title: to his mother

Not signed by Asa Smith. Says they are to remain there because of the "Monitor" and that if they can get through tonight they will be secure. Describes the sinking of the "Cumberland" and the burning of the "Congress" by the "Merrimac." Says the broadside from the Union ships "glanced off without doing much of any damaged and this seemed to satisfy them that our vessels could not hurt them." Says the "Cumberland" went down gloriously, firing her aft guns as the bow went under. Report that "During the evening or camp was full of sailors, and they were the hardest looking set of men I ever saw…

GLC03681.02

11 March 1862

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

Continuation of his letter from GLC03861.02 - he numbers the pages 5-8. Goes on to describe the situation involving the Confederate attack near Newport News, as well as the action of the CSS "Merrimac" and USS "Monitor." Says the 20th and 99th New York infantry were sent to deal with a supposed Confederate attack near Newport News. Says "few eyes were closed that night as it was known that troops were advancing from Yorktown and a fight was expected in the morning, very little was said, but many an oath of revenge was registered." Says half the regiment wrote home last night because they…

GLC03681.03

31 May 1862

Elbert, fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his wife

Soldier "Elbert" writes concerning the death and destruction of the Peninsular campaign. Includes small map.

GLC03682

15 June 1862

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter

Title: to Mrs. Smith [incomplete]

Written to his mother on patriotic stationery reporting on his movements from the time of leaving camp until his arrival at the site of the Battle of Fair Oaks.

GLC03683

18 December 1862

Borary, P., fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Johnny Borary

Describes the Battle of Fredericksburg and Stonewall Jackson.

GLC03684

July 1863

Corbin, Elbert, 1836-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Emily Corbin [Incomplete]

Lists some of the men and their injuries, all of which came from the 1st Regiment, Light Artillery, N. Y. S. Volunteers (Pettit's Battery). Also lists supplies lost, repairs made, patching up a Lieutenant Sheldon, and being left there "in care of the Boys." Mentions that General Alexander Hays has taken command of their corps and would not keep volunteer officers on his staff. Discusses "dressing our Boys wounds then...assisting to cut out Balls and dress the wounded Rebels." Comments that he "can do up wounds from shot or shell or Bullits quite like an M.D." and further claims that…

GLC03685

10 August 1862

Hayes, Rutherford B., 1822-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliakim P. Scammon

Discussing troop movement and requesting transportation for squad losing their team. Written at "Camp at Green Meadows."

GLC03687

12 September 1864

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

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Multiple endorsements on a letter to General William D. Whipple]

Endorsed 12 September by Sherman, who orders the recipient to report to Major General Howard (Oliver Otis Howard). Endorsed 28 August 1864 by General George Henry Thomas, who forwards the document to Sherman; endorsed and forwarded 25 August 1864 by General Jefferson Columbus Davis; endorsed and forwarded 24 August 1864 by General James D. Morgan; endorsed and forwarded 23 August 1864 by John Grant Mitchell, Colonel Commanding. Contains the endorsements of General Thomas E. G. Ransom and [Sam Lesaggart?], Assistant Adjutant General, regarding the relief of Lieutenant [Beens?]. Endorsed by…

GLC03688

February 22, 1862

Polk, Leonidas, 1806-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ulysses S. Grant

Polk, Confederate Major General Commanding, writes to Union General Grant requesting that families of officers captured at Fort Donelson, including General Simon Buckner be allowed to visit. Mentions that the Confederate forces allowed the families of Union officers to visit after the Battle of Belmont.

GLC03690

1863

Manuscript document

Title: [An Act of the Confederate legislature regarding the Confederate Navy]

Proposes a bill to be entitled, "An Act for the establishment & Equalization of the grades of Officers of the Navy, and for other purposes." Includes a three page section titled Explanatory Notes.

GLC03691

29 October 1863

Maury, William Lewis, 1813-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Matthew Fontaine Maury

Both pages have had portions of the name of the writer and recipient cut-out. Pertains to docking, capture of one ship & burning of another [names cut]. Year is inferred.

GLC03692

3 May 1865

Hunter, William W., fl. 1865

Document signed

Title: [Parole permitting William L. Maury to return home]

Signed by Hunter, a captain in the U.S. Army.

GLC03693.01

25 May 1865

Scoville, C.E., fl. 1865

Document signed

Title: [Certifying oath of allegiance taken by William L. Maury]

GLC03693.02

1861

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Asa Smith, K company, 16th regiment, Massachusetts, infantry] [decimalized]

The Asa D. Smith collection of Civil War correspondence includes letters written to his family in Massachusetts. Smith writes most of his letters from Camp Hamilton in Hampton, Virginia, with a few from Suffolk, Virginia as the regiment moves into battle in June of 1862. His letters describe camp life and second-hand stories of fighting around the Newport News, Virginia area. Smith himself does not enter battle until June 18, 1862, ten days after the last letter in the collection. His letters do not describe particular battles, but he does include details of smaller guerrilla skirmishes (#2,…

GLC03696

01 April 1861

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward D. Townsend re: reports for duty before being offered command of army

Written as Colonel in the 1st Cavalry. Lee was informally offered command of all US armies but refused in order to defend Virginia. He resigned on the 20th (that document is reproduced in Freeman's biography of Lee).

GLC03717

22 May 1863

Townsend, E. D. (Edward Davis), 1817-1893

Printed document signed

Title: [General Orders No. 143 regarding the organization of African American troops]

Establishes a bureau for organizing and recruiting African American troops. Issued by Townsend as Assistant Adjutant General based upon the orders of Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War. Excerpts include: "III. Boards will be convened at such posts as may be decided upon by the War Department to examine applicants for commissions to command colored troops, who, on application to the Adjutant General, may receive authority to present themselves to the board for examination. IV. No persons shall be allowed to recruit for colored troops except specially authorized by the War Department; and no…

GLC03721.01

26 May 1863

Townsend, E. D. (Edward Davis), 1817-1893

Document signed

Title: General Order #147 re: reversing dismissal, remitting death sentence of Private

Reversing a decision against Lt. John C. Walsh, 28th Reg. NY Vols.

GLC03721.02

25 June 1863

Townsend, E. D. (Edward Davis), 1817-1893

Document signed

Title: General orders no. 190

Order stating that "All men enlisting in the Regular Army for five years' service...shall receive a premium, advance pay, and bounty, of $402."

GLC03721.03

25 June 1863

Townsend, E. D. (Edward Davis), 1817-1893

Document signed

Title: General orders, no. 191

An order regarding the recruitment, enlistment , pay, and service of veteran volunteers.

GLC03721.04

28 May 1863

Townsend, E. D. (Edward Davis), 1817-1893

Document signed

Title: General Orders no.152

Appointing R. M. Scott as secretary to General in chief.

GLC03721.05

5 December 1864

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

Letter signed

Title: to Joseph Barnes

Addressed to the Surgeon General and marked as "Confidential Circular" at top. Instructs that the Secretary of War [Edwin M. Stanton] directs that all supplies for General William T. Sherman's army be sent to Hilton Head, South Carolina immediately.

GLC03749

12 July 1865

Lee, Stephen D., 1833-1908

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Oliver O. Howard

Howard was head of the Freedmen's Bureau. Asking for Howard's assistance in his pardon application. "I write this truly trusting the war has not changed your feelings towards me personally..."

GLC03722.01

22 August 1865

Lee, Stephen D., 1833-1908

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Oliver O. Howard

Howard was head of the Freedmen's Bureau. Lee reponds to Howard's letter (not present) of 26 July 1865 in which Howard declined to take an interest in his pardon application. He describes his motives in fighting for the Confederacy and refers to the South's failure.

GLC03722.02