2 March 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Wheeler writes that a new order has been announced in which deserters will be dealt with promptly, even with the punishment of death. He also reports that new regulations are in affect for furloughs and only a certain number of furloughs will be granted per company to the best men. Comments on the lightness of guard duties and writes that he's only been on picket and camp guard once.

GLC07460.019

1863

Nichols, Ambrose S., fl. 1863

Diary

Title: Diary belonging to a Civil War soldier

A war-weary soldier's diary provides contemporary eyewitness accounts of the entire Gettysburg Campaign, including the march from Maryland up into Pennsylvania, the battles at Brandy Station and Gettysburg, and the later push in pursuit of the Confederates. Nichols served in the 10th New York Cavalry. His entries are dated January 1-6 and April 12 - November 27, 1863, describing cavalry battles and engagements, the execution of deserters, and the horrors of battlefields during that critical war year. From Saturday, July 4, at Gettysburg: "They kept up the fite last nite till 10 o'clock and…

GLC09272

26 April 1865

Laurence, A.B., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Certification of authenticity of flag fragment]

Lt. Col. and Quartermaster of the U. S. Army 24th Corps certifies "That the accompanying is a fragment of the Rebel Flag that floated over the Capitol of the Confederacy in this city, and was taken by the troops of this command. The flag- made it is said of 'English Neutrality Bunting' - has been this day cut up and distributed as one of the most significant trophies of this terrible war; and the rope to which the flag was attached is left for the special service of Jeff Davis and all such traitors."

GLC09276.01

January 14, 1863

Higdon, John B., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Miller A. Wright

Higdon was an officer in the same company as Miller A. Wright. John informs Miller of the latest news of the regiment. Three men were caught trying to desert, and he is trying to get his troops ordered back to Georgia. He expresses frustration with Virginia, and Jackson's army. "I am heartily tired of this State service...I am willing to go anywhere so that we leave Jackson's Army, and Virginia...." Mentions another two men arrested and states "I would not be surprised if they were not shot."

GLC02691.11.032

1 December 1859

Broadside

Title: [Abolitionist broadside]

Abolitionist broadside endorsed "Distributed in the streets of Boston Thursday evening Dec.1, 1859, the day before the execution of John Brown." Bold text reads: "Let their epitaphs remain unwritten until the not distant day when no slave shall clank his chains in the shades of Monticello or by the graves of Mount Vernon." Brown was hanged on Dec. 2, 1859.

GLC09332

circa 1832

Broadside

Title: [Broadside condemning Andrew Jackson]

"Why did the Irishmen of Philadelphia, oppose the reelection of Andrew Jackson?" Broadside quotes the opinion of Daniel O'Connell, a prominent Irish leader, regarding Jackson: "he did not believe…it was expedient to clothe military men with civil power." Discusses the execution of British citizens Arbuthnot and Ambruster by Jackson during his 1818 expedition in Spanish Florida against the Seminoles. Also condemns Jackson for not supporting Irish immigrant canal workers.

GLC09341

22 June 1862

Jones, William B., fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Reeser

Jones writes from headquarters, Camp White House. Wishes Reeser well. Reports that he is within twenty miles of Richmond, Virginia and his company is fighting off Confederate guerrilla parties. Describes a skirmish in which the Confederates wounded twenty Union men, burned some hay and grain wagons, and stole mules. Jones's men took sixty Confederate prisoners. Describes confederate soldiers acting as "farmers and younian men untill we get out of thare site… we cant yet to do as we pleas or we wold not hav afarmer in Viriginey we wold kill them as fast as we cold find them… " Mentions…

GLC03523.43.02

29 August 1863

Engberth, Jacob M., fl. 1863-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Reeser

Comments on deserters being shot. Describes a deserter being led through camp behind his coffin, allowed to speak a few words, and "his leges wos tide up and kneeled becide his coffen and then thair wos twelve men shot at him…" Reports that two soldiers were shot from the same division, five were shot from 112th regiment, and three were shot from 12th Corps. Adds that five will be executed today in the army Corps. Mentions that the war will not last long once Charleston, South Carolina falls "it will strike tearer [sic] to the harts of all the Southren Soldier…" Mentions that General…

GLC03523.43.08

10 August 1863

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Writes to his sister from camp. Discusses the weather. Comments they have been living off of hard crackers for a week and are expecting bread tomorrow. Complains about the bread being sour and dirty. Discusses two new tunes that their band has learned. Writes about the ladies who come into camp and listen to them play. Reports that officers sent 15 to 20 deserters to a prison where they are to be court marshaled. Notes that this is one of the prisoners third time deserting and he is expected to be shot. Reports General Ambrose E. Burnside issued orders that anyone absent from regiment…

GLC03523.52.06

23 March 1864

Denson, Virginius S., fl. 1842

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Denson

Writes four miles from Richmond, near battlefield littered with skulls and bones. Discusses problem with sending and receiving mail. Also comments on furloughs, and mentions that some deserters will be shot.

GLC03135.02.04

February 26, 1962

Puslowski, Franciszek, fl. 1962

Typed letter

Title: to Guy Fenton

Written on mourning stationary. He spends most of the letter talking about wine.

GLC02766.022

February 22, 1862

New York Herald, 1835-1924

Newspaper

Title: The New York Herald [No. 9295 (February 22, 1862)]

One issue of The New York Herald newspaper dated February 22, 1862. Contains news on Civil War battles and current events. Of particular interest is a map of Fort Donelson and the areas surrounding. There are also mentions of the anniversary of President Washington's Birthday, and the text of the proclamation given by President Lincoln to celebrate Washington's birth. (see GLC06038) An article on the fourth page laments the death of Willie Lincoln. On the last page of the newspaper there is an article concerning Nathaniel Gordon's accused crime of international slave trade and his execution.

GLC09770

7 February 1862

New York Tribune

Newspaper

Title: New York Daily Tribune [ Vol. 21, no. 6,504 (February 7, 1862)]

One issue of New York Daily Tribune newspaper dated February 7, 1862. Contains news on Civil War battles and current events. Of particular note is an article on the fourth page stating, "The President in respiting the slaver Gordon for two weeks, notified him that the grace is extended only that he may have time to prepare himself for the fate which his crimes have merited, and that no further mercy is to be hoped for."

GLC09771

February 1967

Gottlieb, Gerard H., fl. 1967

Pamphlet

Title: Gerald H. Gottlieb on Capital Punishment

One pamphlet entitled, "Gerald H. Gottlieb on Capital Punishment," published by the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions dated 1967. This is a printing of an essay on the death penalty. It explores the legality of cruel terms.

GLC09640.019

circa 2 January 1912

Photograph

Title: Photograph of a man

GLC03579.02

circa 2 January 1912

Photograph

Title: [Photograph of a man]

GLC03579.03

14 November 1863

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

The Confederates had an internal battle on October 28: "One brigad[e] of them was determined to quit them and ground arms and come to our lines and they was silenced by their trusty troops which terminated in three hours fight killing eight hundred men." He saw two men shot to death for desertion yesterday.

GLC02739.086

1781

Autograph manuscript

Title: [10th Massachusetts regiment orderly book]

Details daily orders for the troops and assigns field officers and major of the brigades for each day. Many entries deal with supplying and ordering clothing for the soldiers. Reports the results of many court martials, most trying soldiers for desertion and sentencing them to death or 100 lashes. 20 April 1781 entry reports on the prevention of smallpox among the soldiers. Entry for 4 May 1781 discusses sending ranks to join the light infantry under General Marquis de Lafayette. Entry for 6 May 1781 mentions the problem of venereal diseases in the camp and orders the removal of all…

GLC01450.016.01

9 April 1847

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

Document

Title: General orders: No. 101

A free black man, Isaac Kirk, referred to as a resident and citizen of the United States, is charged, convicted of, and sentenced to death for rape.

GLC00911.02

8 September 1847

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

Document

Title: General orders: No. 281

Signed by H. L. Scott. Partial docket reads "General Orders, No. 281, Sept. 8th 1847, Proceedings of GCM." Colonel Bennett Riley, presiding, tries 29 privates for desertion in a general court martial and, finding them guilty, sentences them to be executed the next morning.

GLC00911.10

10 September 1847

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

Document

Title: General orders: No. 282

Signed by H. L. Scott. Partial docket reads "[Gener]al Orders, No. 282, [Sept.] 9th 1847, [Proceedings] of GCM, [illegible]." Announcement that the four convicted deserters herein mentioned will be hung tomorrow, as they were in transport when their fellow deserters were executed this morning (see GLC00911.10). Right margin cropped.

GLC00911.11

10 September 1847

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

Document

Title: General orders: No. 283

Signed by H. L. Scott. Partial docket reads "[General] Order, No. 283, Sept. 10-1847, [Procee]dings of a GCM, Cases of Desertion" and "Maj. Bonneville, Comd of 6th Infy." Brevet Colonel Garland, presiding, tries 36 privates for desertion in a general court martial and, finding them guilty, sentences them to death.

GLC00911.12

21 September 1847

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

Document

Title: General orders: No. 294

Signed by H. L. Scott. Partial docket reads "[General] Orders, [No.] 294, [Sept.] 21-1847, [Procee]dings of GCM." Summary of court martials of six soldiers, all found guilty of mutinous conduct and drunkenness on guard, and all sentenced to death.

GLC00911.19

6 November 1847

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

Document

Title: General orders: No. 340

Signed by H. L. Scott. Proceedings of court martials on charges of unsoldierlike conduct, drunkenness, sleeping on post, desertion, mutiny, and violation of the 50th Article of War, which carries a sentence of death. Note on back reads "Gen. Order, 340, Nov. 6th 47, Proceedings of a GCM, Rec Nov. 11th 47." Brevet Brigadier General P.F. Smith presiding.

GLC00911.31

circa 1776

Noyes, John, 1740-1784

Autograph letter

Title: to Mary Noyes

John Noyes writes to his wife in Newbury, Massachusetts. He discusses soldiers taken prisoners who will probably be put to death. States he has sent five dollars, and sends his love to his family. First page or pages are missing and the bottom right corner is cut out so there is no date or signature. Both are inferred from context and from other letters in the collection. Noyes was a soldier in the Continental army during the Revolutionary War.

GLC01450.056.10