1859-1921

Beach, Elias William, 1841-1921

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Elias W. Beach] [decimalized]

Contains documents related to Beach, who served in Company F of the 50th regiment, New York engineers. Includes 16 autograph letters or autograph notes signed, 8 autographs from military notables, a land contract, a typed genealogical document related to the Beach family, a society medal, a photograph, a hand-drawn plan of a military camp, and an empty photograph album. Contains one envelope, previously numbered .24, addressed to Elias W. Beach from Bryant's Business College. Touches on patriotism during the war (GLC00919.25.17-.19) as well as African Americans in Chester, Ohio (GLC00919.…

GLC00919.25

1865

Map

Title: General Benham's winter camp near Poplar Grove Church, Va., with photo of troops

Printed map, "Winter Camp, Detachment 50th N.Y.V. Engineers" Brevet Colonel I. Spalding Commanding, near Poplar Church, Virginia, Army of the Potomac, 1865. Has been partially hand colored. An original albumen photograph of soldiers with musical instruments, standing in front of a church, has been mounted to the upper right corner of the print.

GLC00919.26

1787

M'Culloch, John, fl. 1787

Book

Title: Introduction to the History of America [first book printing of the Constitution]

Printed by Young & McCulloch. Student's textbook, heavily annotated. The Constitution appears in back with separate titlepage and pagination.

GLC00920

September 26, 1818

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Caesar Augustus Rodney

Letter discusses revolutions in South America, and mentions memories of James Otis. Rodney had just returned from South America

GLC00922

March 27, 1820

Williams, Eleazer, 1787-1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jasper Parish

Williams writes to Parish, an interpreter and Indian agent to the Six Nations, about a proposal to remove the Iroquois tribes of upstate New York to the Old Northwest. Discusses Secretary of War John C. Calhoun's intention to arrange for the move, which includes transferring land now controlled by other groups in the Northwest to the Six Nations. He indicates that the U.S. Government expects Parish's cooperation and will depend on his influence. Williams was a mixed blood Indian who later claimed to be the lost French Dauphin.

GLC00923

April 21, 1861

Bragg, Braxton, 1817-1876

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry J. Hunt

Bragg writes to his old friend and comrade about the turn of events their lives have taken over the last year and expresses is his regret over them being on opposite sides in the war. "How strange are the mutations of life! That we should be in hostile array against each other. A few short months since companions in army, and almost brothers in friendship, it is hard to realize the fact that we are in hostile array against each other." He believes that each of them will have to follow their own conscience but warns that every southerner is "united in the cause." States "we have asked for…

GLC00925.01

April 23, 1861

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Braxton Bragg

Hunt replies to Bragg's earlier letter (GLC00925.01) regarding their long time friendship and their now differing loyalties in the war. "How strange it is! We have been united in our views of almost all subjects, public and private. We still have, I trust, a personal regard for each other which will continue, whatever course our sense of duty may dictate, yet in one short year after exchanging at your house assurances of friendship, here we are face to face, with arms in our hands, with every prospect of a bloody collision. How strange!" He sympathizes with the south and his southern friends…

GLC00925.02

1798

United States. Congress

Broadside

Title: Resolution to amend Article II [Election of President]

Printed by John Fenno. The proposal was never enacted.

GLC00927.01

December 9, 1800

Maryland, House of Delegates

Broadside

Title: Resolutions for amending the Constitution on Election of the President

Docketed "N. Pinckney, Secretary;" also docketed on verso. Dated at top December 9; read to Senate December 10 and tabled; read to Senate again on December 19 and assented to.

GLC00927.02

March 13, 1856

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Brown

Brown wonders if a free state candidate from Kansas has been "allowed...a seat in Congress," since "that would set Kansas matters right at once." He reports that he has "again written Mr. [William Henry] Hurlbut of Connecticut about the battle." Discusses personal affairs and asks her to send more news. Also wrote to his children, some of whom are with Mary.

GLC00928

1856-1885

Header Record

Title: Letters by John Brown and John Brown Jr. [Decimalized .01-.02]

A letter by John Brown regarding pro-slavery laws and judges in Kansas, and letter by John Brown Jr. regarding publication of John Brown's personal letters.

GLC00929

November 20, 1863

McPherson, James Birdseye, 1828-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Marcellus Monroe Crocker

General McPherson (Union) discusses Confederate troop movements with General Crocker. He writes "Have you heard anything more definite in relation to the movement of Troops to the Vicinity of 'Tunica Bend' and the concentration of Cavalry in the lower part of the State? The information I have here, is that the Rebel forces occupy about the same relative position between the Big Black and Pearl Rivers, that they have done for the last six weeks." Relates that General Hawkins (possibly John Parker Hawkins) falsely predicted that 16,000 Confederate troops were marching to attack him. He hopes…

GLC00930.01

May 9, 1866

Sheridan, Philip Henry, 1831-1888

Letter signed

Title: to J. J. Crosby

Philip Henry Sheridan orders Colonel Crosby to inspect the steamer "Virgin" to see if it had been used as a slaver. Letter written on printed stationery of "Headquarters Military Division of the Gulf, New Orleans, La." "Mobile" has been crossed-out and the steamer "Virgin" has been substituted.

GLC00930.02

October 2, 1857

Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriet Weed

Greeley writes to the daughter of Thurlow Weed, a fellows journalist and founder of the Albany Evening Journal, about a meeting. He regrets that he could not visit sooner and arranges to have the meeting when he comes to Albany, New York. He mentions talking with her sisters, Maria and Emily.

GLC00930.03

September 18, 1862

Custer, George Armstrong, 1839-1876

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Colonel Colburn

Penciled letter written during the Battle of Antietam on stationary marked "Head Quarters, Army of the Potomac." He states "We have just captured one three inch gun and its Caisson on the road from the Hagerstown Pike to Sharpstown. Col. Hunt had better send out for it. We cannot take it with us." Note written just after Custer, without orders, led a company of men against a weak point in the Confederate line, routed them, and took a number of their cannons. While this action would prove irrelevant to the larger battle, it helped to establish Custer's reputation for bold action, a trait he…

GLC00932

November 20, 1861

Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry S. Randall

Greeley writes to Randall, a biographer of Thomas Jefferson, about the relative qualities of Jefferson, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and Alexander Hamilton. Expresses thanks for Randall's "vindication of Jefferson from the personal calumnies which had somewhat blackened his reputation." He expresses his reverence and love for Jefferson as the author of the Declaration of Independence but wishes Randall had "let him have some venial faults" to make him appear more human. He indicates that he has greater admiration for Hamilton, who he attributes greater responsibility "In building a…

GLC00935

January 14, 1863

Lee, Edwin G., 1835-1870

Printed document signed

Title: [Oath of allegiance to the Confederacy]

Oath reads in full: "I Edwin G. Lee aged 26 years 7 months, born in Virginia, appointed from Jefferson Co., Virginia, do solemnly swear or affirm that while I continue in the service I will bear true faith, and yield obedience to the Confederate States of America, and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against their enemies, and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the Confederate States, and the orders of the Officers appointed over me, according to the Rules and Articles of War."

GLC00938

September 20, 1863

Longstreet, James, 1821-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas C. Hindman

Writing in pencil, General Longstreet, commander of troops at Chickamauga, commends General Hindman on his troops' performance that day in battle. He instructs Hindman to "give them every encouragement and collect them as quick as you can." Referring to General Braxton Bragg, he writes "I have sent to Genl Bragg to ask him to send a Dvn to take your place When it reaches you you can retire to the road and prepare to renew the battle tomorrow." Envelope states "Kept and reserved by Maj. John C. Palmer staff officer of Gen. Hindmans now the property of Maj Palmers Grandson A. J. Gannon."

GLC00941

December 18, 1791

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt for a $50 donation]

Receipt for a donation to the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures.

GLC00945.01

1 September 1796

Adams, Samuel, 1722-1803

Printed document signed

Title: [Appointment of Lathrop Lewis as coroner of Cumberland County, Massachusetts]

Partially printed document signed by Adams as Massachusetts Governor and John Avery as Secretary. A note on the verso dated 7 March 1797 and signed by William Graham and Samuel Freeman attests that Lewis took the oath of office. Adams' signature is shakey due to his failing health. The "S" in Samuel Adams' signature has been affected by water damage. Includes a paper seal.

GLC00945.02

30 October 1800

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of John Millspaugh]

Appoining Millspaugh as a cavalry major in the New York state militia. Partially printed document signed. Affixed with the seal of the state of New York. Also signed by Daniel Hale as "Secretary."

GLC00945.03

February 11, 1803

Clymer, George, 1739-1813

Document signed

Title: [Promissory note from Henry Clymer]

Certifies that Henry Clymer promises to pay to George Clymer $1832 in sixty days. Docketed on verso H. Clymer, April 12, 1832.

GLC00945.04

12 May 1788

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Daniel Howard as state senator]

Appoints Howard as a Massachusetts state senator from "Plimouth" County. Partially printed document signed. Signed by Hancock as Governor. Countersigned by Avery as secretary.

GLC00945.05

27 November 1865

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

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: to David D. Porter

Autograph endorsement signed of Sherman to Porter on a letter of Lewis Wolfery, a resident of Louisville, Kentucky to Sherman dated 23 November 1865. Wolfery writes to General Sherman to inform him that, on the recommendation of Copperhead Representative Burwell Ritter, James Wheeler, a former Confederate guerrilla who was tried as a spy, had been appointed to Annapolis Naval Academy over "two true Union boys," Tommy David Jackson and James Gore. Wolfery claims that Wheeler was, " ... a rebel soldier, one of the meanest types that while belonging to the army was back in the State,…

GLC00947

March 8, 1859

Tyler, John, 1790-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Tyler

John Tyler writes a letter to his son in which he touches on the issue of slavery and the election of 1860. He discusses "Healy's portrait of me" as admirable and being "often mortified at the misrepresentations of me which are occasionally seen in the print shops." He discusses the plans and character of James Semple. In regard to current affairs he writes: "The Country, I fear, is in a bad state." He attributes the dissension among Democrats as "about a mere abstraction." He comments that "A cotton region will have slaves, while a grazing country [western territories] does not want them."…

GLC00948