circa January 31, 1862

Barstow, Simon Forrester, 1817-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Hooper

Barstow, Captain and Assistant Adjutant General, writes to Hooper, a United States Representative from Massachusetts. Complains he is constantly interrupted while writing. States, "I regretted nothing more in leaving Washington than my inability to return your pleasant visits & to pay my respects to Mrs Hooper & your family. But the news came Sunday of the attack on Romney & I started at once to join Lander. Since then our experience has been varied. Shelled in one town, frozen almost in crossing the mountains, arriving in Romney in time to withdraw the troops, a twenty hours…

GLC04418

5 December 1826

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Newspaper

Title: [State of the Union address by John Quincy Adams]

President Adams' State of the Union for 1826 printed in an extra from the National Journal, a Washington, D.C. newspaper.

GLC04419

1860

Lincoln, Mary Todd, 1818-1882

Autograph letter

Title: to Abram Wakeman

Marked private. Requests that he call on Abraham Lincoln, her husband, today. Discusses someone referred to only as "E." Remarks "The game of espionage has been going on to a greater extent, than we have imagined - If the Heavens fall E shall never be restored - Nicoli - himself says that E's mind is positively deranged." States that, "I believe, if possible I shall love & venerate my blessed Husband more than ever." Tells Wakeman to burn this note and to report back to her after he sees "this person," possibly again referring to "E." Document is not dated but previous cataloging…

GLC04420

28 August 1790

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Robert Morris as judge of district court in New Jersey]

Countersigned by Thomas Jefferson. The words "By the President" are written in Jefferson's hand. Endorsed on verso by James Kinsey, stating that Robert Morris appeared on 10 September 1790 and took the oath of office as Judge of the district court of New Jersey. On parchment. Faded with ink decay at top. One black and white seated engraving of Washington included.

GLC04421

10 April 1863

Jackson, Thomas J. "Stonewall", 1824-1863

Manuscript

Title: [Account of Jackson's Valley Campaign]

Very detailed account of Jackson's Valley campaign of 1862. Written and signed by Chilton, with later additions in Jackson's own hand. Written at the Head Quarters of the Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia. Bound on top.

GLC04428

6 August 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of Charles Wallace who had abandoned his regiment in the Dakota Territory in October 1856].

Abraham Lincoln's 6 August 1862 pardon of Charles Wallace is on the verso of a letter to him from Dakota Territory representative J. B. S. Todd in Washington, D.C. dated 3 August 1862, which said he enclosed a letter to Lincon from Obed Foote of Yanktown, Dakota Territory (Foote letter is lacking). Wallace would be pardoned on condtion that he return to his regiment. Also on the verso is an endorsement by military surgeon Justus Townsend, dated 20 November 1862, stating that he has found Wallace unfit for military duty because of an injured hand that likely will require amputation, and a…

GLC04437

24 March 1776

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Josiah Quincy

Written just one week after Continental forces captured Boston. Thanks Quincy and the nation for their praise, saying "To obtain the applause of deserving men, is a heart felt satisfaction - to merit them, is my highest wish. If my conduct therefore...hath merited the approbation of the great Country, I shall esteem it one of the most fortunate & happy events of my life." Despite the joy of his victory, Washington cautions that the Americans must remain on guard. Worries about the British fleet at "Nantasket Road." But is more afraid of spies, "There is one evil I dread, & that…

GLC04442

8 June 1789

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Ebenezer Hazard

Washington requests a report on the general state of the United States Post Office from Hazard, the Postmaster General.

GLC04444

March 10, 1884

Photograph signed

Title: Chester A. Arthur

Hand-tinted cabinet size photograph.

GLC04446

11 May 1865 - 13 May 1865

Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869

Header Record

Title: Letter and two telegrams requesting prosecution of Horace Greeley [Decimalized .01-.03]

Edwin M. Stanton writes one letter and two telegrams to Edwards Pierrepont asking him to prosecute Horace Greeley, who Stanton claims has tried to incite others to murder him.

GLC04452

23 April 1811

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Written by Monroe shortly after he took office as Secretary of State to unknown recipient. Acknowledges recipient's letter of 15 April 1811. Was pleased with President Madison's offer of the job saying "it was addressed on such fair & liberal principles, proposing a cooperation of our labours & efforts to promote the publick welfare." His only concern about taking the job was leaving the office of Governor of Virginia after three months, but his friends supported his move to Washington. Says relations with Madison have picked up where they left off before. Expects more information…

GLC04453

17 October 1780

Paine, Thomas, 1737-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nathanael Greene

Begins by stating that he is thankful no one can publish his letters after his death since he does not write any. Discusses the treason of Benedict Arnold and the British spy John Andre. Comments on the capture of Andre and wonders why Andre was not able to escape as he was on horseback and the three Americans on foot. Remarks on Arnold's escape, "But why, if Providence had the management of the whole, did she let Arnold escape. Perhaps to be hung afterwards by the Enemy for some act of traitorship against them. In this case he will have no apology left and all Parties will call him what…

GLC04454

18 February 1778

Penn, John, 1741-1788

Autograph letter

Title: to Theodorick Bland

Written by Penn as North Carolina delegate to Continental Congress and Declaration of Independence signer to Bland as a Colonel of Virginia Calvary. Says nothing has happened other than General Sir William Howe's agreement to exchange prisoners of war. Since General Howe did not purchase clothing for American prisoners of war in Philadelphia he says Congress has resolved not to purchase "any necessaries for his prisoners with us." Says British prisoners will get same treatment as American prisoners. Claims that Howe praised General Washington, but castigated Congress. Washington defended…

GLC04455

20 December 1916

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of John J. Pershing to Major General]

Commission to begin on September 25, 1916. Countersigned by Secretary of War Newton D. Baker. Stamp indicating receipt by the Adjutant General's office dated 6 January 1917 and signed by H.P. Milam as Adjutant General. Dated when Pershing commanded the punitive expedition against Pancho Villa. Includes blue paper seal from the United States War Office.

GLC04460

February 23, 1861

Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893

Manuscript document

Title: [Beauregard's copy of an official letter relative to his resignation from the Army]

A copy in Beauregard's own hand of the letter stating "Your resignation has been accepted by the President of the United States." Pencilled docket, also in Beauregard's hand, states "Mrs. Slidell left Wash, Feby 26. 1861 to return to N.C. Mr. Slidell had arrived in N.C. the Saturday preceding, but what date?" The original letter of resignation from the Army was sent by E. D. Townsend from Washington, D.C.

GLC04462

25 July 1854

Cresswell, Samuel Gurney, 1827-1867

Book

Title: A series of eight sketches in colour (together with a chart of the route), by Lieut. S. Gurney Cresswell, of the voyage of H.M.S. Investigator (Captain M'Clure), during the discovery of the North-West Passage

Published by Day and Son. Includes four pages of text description with the sketches and chart. Sketches by Cresswell. The voyage was an attempt to locate Sir John Franklin's lost party and established the existence of Northwest passage (through the Arctic Ocean).

GLC04413

January 27, 1835

Dorr, Thomas Wilson, 1805-1854

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Metcalf Marsh

Requests Marsh's attendance at a meeting of the Rhode Island State Committee of the Constitutional Party for the purpose of nominating a ticket for the upcoming election. Dorr, who would lead the Dorr Rebellion in 1842, was then a state legislator.

GLC04416

28 March 1835

Dorr, Thomas Wilson, 1805-1854

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Metcalf Marsh

Discusses potential candidates for election (for Rhode Island's Constitutional Party). Dorr, who would lead the Dorr Rebellion in 1842, was then a state legislator. Year inferred from content related to another letter from Dorr to Metcalf (see GLC04416).

GLC04417

19 August 1776

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Holden Parsons

Written by Adams as a delegate to Continental Congress from Massachusetts to Parsons, who became a Brigadier General on 9 August 1776 and was to take part in the fighting at the Battle of Long Island on 27 August 1776. References Parsons's letters of 13 and 15 August 1776 and says his recommendations for appointments in the army will be considered by the Board of War, which Adams sat on. Also references Parsons observations of officers Patterson, Shepherd, and Brooks, but says he is unfamiliar with all of them. Says the issues of promotion make him "so vexed sometimes as almost to resolve to…

GLC04424

7 March 1799

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Samuel C. Crafts as Commissioner for fifth division of Vermont]

Countersigned by Secretary of State Timothy Pickering. Crafts was given power to act as one of the five commissioner in Vermont under "An Act provide for the valuation of lands and dwelling-houses and the enumeration of slaves within the United States." The act was passed on 9 July 1798 after the XYZ Affair became public and the public clamored for war. Five days later, on 14 July 1798, another act was passed to lay and collect a direct tax within the United States. The monies collected from this tax were designated to help arm the country for an impending war with France. Crafts was…

GLC04426

15 May 1864-18 May 1864

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Draft message to the Army of Northern Virginia prior to the Battle of Spotsylvania].

First draft of an address to the troops of the Army of Northern Virginia, written on the verso of (a clerical) telegram to Lee from General John D. Imboden at Sharpsburg. In an effort to rally morale, Lee recounts recent Confederate victories, reminds the men of the cause for which they have taken up arms and the gravity of the current situation, calls upon the memory of fallen comrades, and invokes God's blessing for their cause. Imboden's telegram relays news about engagements in the Shenandoah Valley, including Imboden's stop of General Franz Sigel's advance, which Lee mentions in his…

GLC04429

18 February 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Morris

Written by Hancock as President of the Continental Congress to Morris as a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania. Reports to Morris that Congress will return to Philadelphia, and suggests that its return may relieve some of the burden of Morris's work. Says he has sent his secretary to secure a house for him. Hancock also asks for wagons to transport the papers of Congress from Baltimore. Asks for four of them. Concluding with a kind postscript: "A number of friends... dine with me tomorrow, when we shall not be unmindful of our Philada friends." Free frank is in Hancock's signature on…

GLC04431

19 June 1788

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Resolution of Massachusetts Legislature]

Signed approved by Hancock. Also signed by Theodore Sedgwick, Speaker of the House, and Samuel Phillips, President. Certified as a true copy by John Avery as Secretary. Concerns levying taxes on the polls and estates in Worcester County, Massachusetts in order to discharge debts. One seated engraving of John Hancock included.

GLC04432

8 August 1816

Lee, Henry, 1756-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Carter Lee

Counsels his son, Charles Carter Lee, who was attending Harvard. Tells him to acquire knowledge from its foundation and not on the surface: "this last turns man into a puppet & the first fits him for the highest activity & the most lasting pleasure." On writing he says: "never mind yr style -- ony write yr first impressions quickly & clear & honestly. Style will come in due time, as will the maturation of judgement." Tells him to love virtue. Enjoins him to correspond with his parents. Written from the West Indies, where Henry Lee was attempting to recover his health.

GLC04434

21 May 1860

Seward, William Henry, 1801-1872

Letter signed

Title: to the New York State Republican Central Committee

Addressed to Charles C. Nott, William H. Ball, A. J. Williamsin, C.S. Spencer, and F. W. Shepherd. Thanks the members of the committee for their support. Expresses his disappointment at not receiving the Republican nomination for president but states that he is willing to support the Republican platform and Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin. "I find in the resolutions of the Convention a platform as satisfactory to me as if it had been framed with my own hands, and in the candidates adopted by them, eminent and able Republicans with whom I have cordially cooperated in maintaining the…

GLC04435