October 25, 1834

Tyler, John, 1790-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McGill

In the letter, declines invitation to speak about public affairs. Docket has the name Thomas D. McGill.

GLC00496.092

circa July 1838

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Speech fragment on the proposed annexation of Texas]

Report of Adams to his constituents on events in the 25th Congress, intended for newspaper publication. Adams mentions the speech of Vermont Congressman William Slade, which so offended southerners that they walked out. Discusses annexation of Texas, abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, duplicity of administration and Southern slave states as well as the suspension of the rules of the House of Representatives for debate. Beginning on 16 June 1838, Adams filibustered Congress for three weeks, giving up the floor only when Congress adjourned for the summer recess. He spoke…

GLC00567

10 September 1840

Poinsett, Joel Roberts, 1779-1851

Printed document signed

Title: [Circular letter announcing the establishment of Smithsonian Institution]

Sends a copy of the constitution and by-laws of the National Institution for the Promotion of Science (the Smithsonian). Requests information on geography, natural history, and ethnology from the unknown recipient's area of the United States. Specifically requests information on Native Americans in the area.

GLC00573

1860s-1870s

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Header Record

Title: Group of Civil war stereocards including Brady, Anthony [Decimalized .01-.12]

Twelve stereocards from the War Views series. Many from Brady negatives and most with New York imprints.

GLC00561

1834-1866

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Header Record

Title: Collection of Paul J. Semmes, 2nd Regiment, Georgia, infantry [Decimalized .01-.38]

Documents relating to the arming of Georgia and Semmes's militia and early Civil War service. Most documents are housed together, although .4 and .18 are in oversize documents and .38 (button) is housed separately. Includes his Univ of Virginia instruction certificate, pre-war militia training, manuals.

GLC00572

21 April 1834

Partridge, N., fl. 1834

Document signed

Title: [Recommendation letter and certification of military instruction for Paul J. Semmes]

Partridge certifies that Semmes attended his course at the University of Virginia on military instruction "embracing the practical drills of infantry; permanent & field fortification; artillery; the attack & defense of fortified places; Ancient & Modern Tactics ..." Recommends Semmes and praises him as "attentive to the Instruction, correct in his deportment and his conduct that of the Gentleman and the Soldier." Docket crossed out on verso.

GLC00572.01

April 21, 1853

Gallie, John B., 1806-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Roswell Ellis

Addressed to Lieutenant Roswell Ellis, commanding officer of the Columbus Guard (Georgia). From Gallie as the Captain of the Chatham Artillery, W.H.C. Mills as the Captain of the Phoenix Riflemen, and C.A. Lamar as Captain of the Georgia Hussars. Invites the Columbus Guard to join the Oglethorpe Infantry of Augusta in a joint parade and picnic when they visit Savannah. Paul J. Semmes was the Captain of the Columbus Guard. Gallie reached the rank of major during the Civil War; he was killed in action at Fort McCallister in 1863.

GLC00572.02

30 June 1853

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph document signed

Title: Orders no. 1

Semmes's working draft of an order that gives instructions on baggage trains, ammunition and pitching tents for the move of the Columbus guard to Camp Montgomery. Possibly a draft as there are cross outs and insertions. By orders of Captain Semmes and Captain Cooper. Written from the headquarters of the Volunteer Battalion, Columbus, Georgia. On blue paper.

GLC00572.03

July 1, 1853

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Broadside

Title: Headquarters: Volunteer Battalion. Order no. 2. Camp Montgomery, July 1, 1853.

Orders for the daily schedule and other information for the volunteer battalion. Signed in print by Semmes as Captain of the Columbus Guard, A. H. Cooper, Captain of the City Light Guards, and T. Lomax, Adjutant. Semmes corrected version with autograph manuscript annotations and corrections, in his hand including an "s" after "Order." Written in Camp Montgomery

GLC00572.04

24 June 1858

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Printed document

Title: Orders, No. 26.

Printed orders for the Columbus Guard with three page autograph additions in Semmes hand, plus an autograph docket signed in Semmes hand on 25 June 1858. On blue paper. The orders concern assembling the company to celebrate the Anniversary of American Independence on 5 July 1858. Semmes's notes detail instructions for the day.

GLC00572.05

April 30, 1859

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tennent Lomax Sr.

Semmes's retained copy. Addressed to Captain Lomax in Montgomery, Alabama. Writes that he is pleased to announce the cooperation of the City Light Guards and gives some information on the parade of ceremony. Docketed and signed by Semmes on verso.

GLC00572.06

May 3, 1859

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the Columbus Guards

Paul Jones Semmes announces his resignation as Captain of the Columbus Guard after six years of service.

GLC00572.07

30 June 1859

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Broadside

Title: Orders No. 7.

Printed orders of the Columbus Guard, of which Semmes was Captain, detailing how his battalion will participate in the festivities honoring the Anniversary of the Independence of the United States. Signed in print by Semmes and by Lock Weems, 1st Lieutenant, Columbus Guard. On blue paper. Weems reached the rank of 1st lieutenant during the Civil War; he was killed in action at Cold Harbor in 1862.

GLC00572.08

May 23, 1860

Dixon, George W., fl. 1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Paul J. Semmes

Captain Dixon of the Auburn Guard asks Captain Semmes of the Columbus Guard if he can borrow tents for his company. Written and signed by Captain George W. Dixon.

GLC00572.09

June 27, 1860

Lomax, Tennent, Sr., 1820-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Paul J. Semmes

States that they are forming a volunteer regiment in Montgomery and that he expects to be elected Colonel. Asks Semmes's advice on the positioning of certain companies in parades and in order of battle. Hopes Semmes can help him as he is "anxious to be right on this delicate point of rank, about which military men are so prone to quarrel and disagree." Lomax was Semmes's former adjutant. Docketed by Semmes. Lomax reached the rank of lieutenant colonel; he was killed in action at Fair Oaks in 1862.

GLC00572.10

August 3, 1860

Bolton, H., fl. 1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Capt. Paul J. Semmes

Writes that he saw Semmes's letter to the New York Herald editor dated July 23 and published on July 30, 1860 in which he offered a copy of the rules written for the Columbus Guard to Captain Ellsworth. Elmer Ellsworth, the founder of the Chicago Zouaves, was a close friend of Abraham Lincoln and his family. On May 24, 1861, the day after Virginia voted to secede from the Union, Ellsworth led his New York Zouave regiment into Alexandria. He was shot to death after cutting down a large Confederate flag flying in that city, making him the Union's earliest martyr. He asks if Semmes could also…

GLC00572.11

August 7, 1860

Semmes, A.G., fl. 1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Paul J. Semmes

Writes to his brother to inform him that he has found a man, Major A. Kleber, formerly in the French army, who will suit his purposes. Paul Semmes was looking for someone to train the Georgia troops. States that this man organized the Zouaves company in New Orleans. Advises his brother to engage him soon or else he will be employed elsewhere. Docketed by Paul Semmes.

GLC00572.12

August 20, 1860

Kleber, A., fl. 1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Paul J. Semmes

Letter from a mercenary Semmes was considering hiring to train the Georgia troops. Kleber asks for $75 a month plus board and lodging. Also requests that his passage be paid and that he receive an $80 advance. Kleber was recommended by Semmes's brother (see GLC00572.12). Addressed to General Semmes and docketed by Semmes.

GLC00572.13

November 15, 1860

Bethune, James N., 1803-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Paul Semmes

Discusses the meeting of the legislature in Milledgeville, Georgia on the issue of secession. Writes that the general consensus in Milledgeville is one of resistance. States that Georgia Senator Benjamin Hill is demanding that Lincoln enforce the fugitive slave law. If the laws are not enforced, Hill will "help us dissolve the Union and we will all go together." Informs that "Many prominent men who have been here to force violent Union Men are now openly and strongly for immediate Secession." Written on blue paper. Georgia seceded from the Union on January 19, 1861. Bethune was a prominent…

GLC00572.14

November 17, 1860

Bethune, James N., 1803-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Paul J. Semmes

Informs that the Senate passed a bill calling for a secession convention in Georgia. Mentions the remote chance of war, "Amongst those who are doubtful or timid the feeling is getting out that they must take choice between the remote chance of a fight with the North and a fight at home..."

GLC00572.15

November 24, 1860

Williams, Charles J., fl. 1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Paul J. Semmes

Informs that the General Assembly has passed a bill appropriating one million dollars to buy arms for Georgia and that Governor Joseph E. Brown requests his help in carrying this out. Asks Semmes to go to New York or wherever he needs to in order to get the arms. Colonel Hardee will offer counsel. Stresses the urgency of this, stating that, "the importance of prompt action need not be urged on you. Your heart is in this matter of resistance and we must have the means of rigorous defense." Gives instructions for telegraphing reports. Year inferred from content. Williams enlisted as a colonel…

GLC00572.16

September 5, 1860

Clemons, W.G., fl. 1853-1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Paul J. Semmes

Discusses the hiring of a Major Kleber, a German mercenary, to train the Georgia troops. Advises that any information about training troops should be kept confidential and known only by those in the company. Relates that he is working on finding Semmes an overseer in time. Clemons, a member of the Columbus Guard, may have been the owner of a cotton gin company in Columbus, Georgia.

GLC00572.17

5 October 1860

Hambleton, James P., 1830-1897

Newspaper

Title: The Southern Confederacy. [Vol. 3, no. 30 (October 5, 1860)]

Articles on the 1860 presidential election, most focusing on Stephen A. Douglas. Also details the cotton crop in the south. Hambleton is listed as editor and proprietor.

GLC00572.18

December 22, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Brown

Retained copy, docketed by Semmes. Semmes writes to the Governor of Georgia enclosing a contract (not present; probably GLC00508.04) for the purchase of rifle cannon, projectiles, and lead. Discusses the pros and cons of different types of guns, shells and ranges. Letter has initialed postscript.

GLC00572.19

December 22, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Brown

Semmes's retained copy. Semmes writes to the Governor of Georgia enclosing a contract for the purchase of gun carriages and implements, battery wagons and implements, and other army supplies. Docketed by Semmes's on verso.

GLC00572.20