November 6, 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin F. Butler

Seeking details about "free black labor" in Union-occupied Louisiana.

GLC01570

June 15, 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ulysses S. Grant

Lincoln writes to Grant prophesying Grant's victory. Very brief telegram: "I begin to see it. You will succeed. God bless you all." A very famous letter.

GLC01572

26 September 1864

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

Autograph document signed

Title: to William T. Sherman

In this telegram Stanton, Secretary of War, writes "The Richmond Enquirer of Saturday rejoices that 'Beauregard has been assigned to the Command of the Army in Georgia, that his star ever led to victory and his very name inspires confidence of success.' A report comes to the Navy Department via Memphis and Cairo that Mobile has surrendered. I do not credit it." Mentions Union General Philip Henry Sheridan's Campaign in the Shenandoah Valley.

GLC01583

July 18, 1864

Hooper, Samuel, 1808-1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Pitt Fessenden

Hooper, a United States Representative from Massachusetts, discusses the prospect of obtaining bank loans for the United States Treasury. He informs Fessenden, Secretary of the Treasury, that "... I have become strongly impressed with the idea that an appeal to the people would be cheerfully responded to and if encouraged by liberal subscriptions the banks would furnish more money…I do not regret your failure to make a negotiation with them in New York." Hooper notes that he will be in New York for a day and will meet with Mr. Cisco. Also discusses the death of Lt. Mason, evidently in…

GLC01596.01

January 1864

Sickles, Daniel Edgar, 1819-1914

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Birney

Discusses a congressional investigation into General George G. Meade for disciplining officers who testified before the Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War after Meade let Lee escape after Gettysburg. Tells Major General Birney to give his true opinion to Congress and that he will urge his contacts in the Congress and the Secretary of War to back off. Also mentions having dinner with President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln, where he also met Henry Halleck and Meade. Meade was later exonerated and received a vote of thanks from Congress.

GLC01599

March 16, 1863

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Stephen Augustus Hurlbut

Sherman writes about his surprise that General Hurlbut's nomination is being opposed in the Senate. He castigates the press, "I have been foolish to excite the animosity of the Newspaper fraternity ... but this class of men are so supercilious that whenever I come in contact with them I feel a natural repugnance which they are smart enough to see." Informs that he has been summoned to Young Point to meet General Ulysses S. Grant's boat. States he will leave tomorrow but cannot mention the exact route. Informs that the original plan to take Vicksburg, which he still feels is best, was to "form…

GLC01582

October 16, 1862

Arthur, Chester Alan, 1829-1886

Letter signed

Title: to Thomas Hillhouse

Arthur, writing as New York Quartermaster General, responds to a special order from Brigadier General Hillhouse by suggesting "that the proper transportation should be obtained from Major See at Elmira" for the 17th Regiment, because little of their route is in New York. Letter written on stationery of the New York State Quartermaster General's Department.

GLC01591

6 June 1863

Halpine, Charles G., 1829-1868

Manuscript document

Title: to William Watts Hart Davis

Halpine, Assistant Adjutant General to General [David] Hunter, relates orders to Colonel Davis. Instructs Davis to order Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, commander of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, "to embark on board the [Demole] ordered to Beaufort with the least possible delay." States that Shaw should bring two days cooked and ten days uncooked rations for his men. Instructs Shaw to bring his regiment directly to Hilton Head. Written on United States Military Telegraph stationery.

GLC01595.01

24 September 1864

Ullman, Daniel, 1810-1892

Endorsement signed

Title: [Document signed by Union generals Daniel Ullman, Michael K. Lawler, and Joseph J. Reynolds]

Signed in Louisiana on September 24 by Ullman; forwarded to Lawler, who signed on September 25; forwarded to Reynolds, who signed ion September 30. The verso is a note transmitting "a list of all officers and enlisted men of 62nd Regt U.S. Col'd Inf. absent from their proper commands on detached service," in compliance with instructions dated September 6 from the Department of the Gulf in New Orleans, Louisiana. Cut from a larger document, but complete within itself.

GLC01596.03

July 27, 1861

Pope, John, 1822-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara Pope

John Pope writes to his wife about family matters at length.

GLC01596.04

7 June 1865

Canby, Edward Richard Sprigg, 1817-1873

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Rejection of a Canby's resignation]

Canby, as Major General in command of the infantry in New Orleans, has his resignation rejected and returned to him in "the interest of the service." Made by order of the Secretary of War and signed by C.W. Foster, the Assistant Adjutant General of Volunteers. On stationery of the Headquarters, Department of the Gulf. Document is incomplete.

GLC01596.07

November 2, 1862

Greene, George Sears, 1801-1899

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin Denison Morgan

Greene writes to Morgan, the New York Governor, about the loss of all but one field-grade officer in Greene's brigade. Mentions the death of Colonel Goodrich. He recommends that Richard Edely, the current chaplain, be appointed colonel of the 60th Regiment of New York Volunteers.

GLC01597

July 20, 1862

Ricketts, James Brewerton, 1817-1887

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Lucas Hartsuff

A brief letter to Brigadier General Hartsuff about the need for a replacement for Major Gould.

GLC01598

6 March 1863

Stanford, Leland, 1824-1893

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Gilbert Witham, Captain, Co. M, 1st Cavalry, California Volunteers]

Partially printed document signed by Stanford as Governor of California and countersigned by California Secretary of State William H. Weeks, Adjutant General William Kibbe, and Deputy A.A.H. Tuttle. Sealed with the Great Seal of California (with bear, Minerva and gold-digger). With partially printed oath of allegiance signed by Witham on verso, dated May 16 at Stockton, California.

GLC01620

13 April 1861

Broadside

Title: [Broadside describing the Confederate attack of Fort Sumter, South Carolina]

Describing the first engagement of the Civil War, this broadside states "Washington in Danger! Rebel Victory! ... The Confederate Flag to Wave Over the Federal Capitol!" Includes various paragraphs regarding the Confederate victory. Contains reports on the engagement from Virginia, Rhode Island, Alabama, Massachusetts, New York, Georgia and South Carolina. Describes how President Abraham Lincoln heard news of the attack. A pencil note instructs "Keep Curio" and indicates origin in Marietta, Ohio. Docketed in pencil, possibly at a later date.

GLC01545.06

December 6, 1882

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Buel Franklin

Discusses the use of his Washington D.C. office by the National Home for Disabled Veteran Soldiers. Tells Franklin that he is changing occupations (he had been elected Governor of Massachusetts) and explains that he will need to redirect the rent money for the use of his Washington D.C. office, which was being used by the Home while Butler was president of its Board of Managers. Explains the financial arrangement he had and how he would like it rearranged so the Home could continue to use the office and the person managing it, Mr. Whitney, could receive a salary.

GLC01545.10

January 24, 1865

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph document signed

Title: to Gustavus Vasa Fox

A telegram in which Grant asks Assistant Secretary of the Navy Fox if he would like to accompany him from Fort Monroe to Fort Fisher. Grant suggests the use of a "Naval Vessel" for the journey. Marked "Cipher." Fort Fisher had been captured on 15 January.

GLC01554

3 April 1865

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Manuscript document

Title: [Telegram to Julia Dent Grant]

Telegram in clerical hand to his wife Julia Grant regarding military matters. Expects to be in Richmond next week and says Sheridan has "picked up 1200 more prisoners today." Sent by Grant from Southerland Station, Virginia, and written on "United States Military Telegraph" stationary, at "Head Quarters."

GLC01545.02

October 15, 1864

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Letter signed

Title: to J.H. Spotts

Letter written in clerical hand, but signed by Rear Admiral Porter as commander of the North Atlantic Blockade Squadron to Commander Spotts as commander of the USS "Pawtuxet." Says a steamship belonging to the navy left Point Lookout for Hampton Roads on October 8, 1864 in the midst of a gale from the northwest. It is assumed she was driven ashore on the Eastern shore of the Chesapeake or has foundered. Orders Spotts to search for her and to make inquiries with other vessels along the way. Wants to see him before he starts the mission. Commissioned in February 1864 as USS Malvern, she was…

GLC01545.03

April 21, 1865

Park, William E., fl. 1855-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: To Mr. Newton

Writes to his cousin about the Union soldiers' reaction to the assassination of Lincoln. States that "the boys are in for exterminating the Rebels altogether." He also writes that there are many men who would re-enlist now that would not have done so a week ago. Expresses his hope that President Andrew Johnson is capable of conducting public affairs and doesn't show any mercy to the traitors. Also appends a short note to his cousin Mollie stating that since the death of Lincoln, he feels like re-enlisting and "help exterminate those accursed Rebels".

GLC01545.05

September 17, 1864

Drayton, Percival, 1812-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to J. C. Palmer

Drayton served as captain of Admiral David Farragut's flagship, the sloop of war "Hartford," and also as fleet captain of the West Gulf Blockade Squadron. Tells Palmer, the fleet surgeon on board the "Pensacola," that he sent a box and small package by the "Sebago" for Confederate Admiral Franklin Buchanan. Wants Palmer to ask Buchanan when the 15 inch shot that almost penetrated the port side of the CSS "Tennessee" during the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864 was delivered. Both Buchanan and the "Tennessee" were captured during the battle -- Buchanan was wounded. Wants to know if anything…

GLC01545.07

4 July 1865

Geary, John White, 1819-1873

Document signed

Title: Order of the procession at the ceremonies of laying the corner stone of the monument in the Soldiers' National Cemetery, July 4, 1865.

Possibly the program of an 1865 celebration in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Ceremonies include speeches by President Andrew Johnson and Andrew Greg Curtin, Governor of Pennsylvania. Docketed by Major General Geary.

GLC01545.08

6 November 1863

Yeatman, James E., 1818-1901

Broadside

Title: [Appeal from the Western Sanitary Commission to President Abraham Lincoln regarding the condition of freedpeople]

The Western Sanitary Commission informs President Lincoln that many freed enslaved people in the Mississippi Valley have no provisions, clothing, or bedding, and little cooking supplies or knowledge as to using such. States that "To meet the present emergency and to prevent or lessen the sufferings of the coming winter and spring, we offer our humble but active services, asking no reward of any kind, but the opportunity and encouragement to work." Reports that the Commission's efforts would be a work of philanthropy and patriotism, "for it would remove an increasing reproach against the…

GLC01545.11

circa 1865

Pamphlet

Title: [List of forces and commanders involved in operations against Mobile, Alabama]

Full title is "Operations against Mobile, Ala.: Organization of the Union Forces (Commanded by Major-General Edward R. S. Canby) March-April, 1865." Contains a list of Union major generals, brigadier generals, colonels, captains, and other leaders who participated in the March-April 1865 Mobile Campaign under the command of Major General Canby. Lists all units, including the 96th and 97th United States Colored Troops. Includes a 5 cent Internal Revenue Certificate stamp, which was cancelled in 1866, on the last page.

GLC01545.12

April 1862

Farragut, David Glasgow, 1801-1870

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Battle plan and ship register for assault on New Orleans]

Document created during the battle for Forts Jackson and St. Philip, which took place 16-23 April 1862. One side has a list of ships involved in the attack -- the first and second divisions of ships and their captains as well as the first and second divisions of gunboats and their captains. Verso has a hand drawn map of the battle plan to attack Forts Jackson and St. Philip along the Mississippi River. Note below the map says most of the squadron is anchored on the left bank of the river and gives plan of attack after barricades in the river are breached. Farragut noted the breaching of the…

GLC01550