December 27, 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph note signed

Title: to Major John J. Key

A short note that reads, "The within, as appears, was written some time ago. On full consideration, I can not find sufficient ground to change the conclusion therein arrived at./A. Lincoln/Dec. 27. 1862.” Probably written in the Executive Mansion. This note was written on a partial sheet as one edge of the paper is rough.

GLC00496.045.02

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

11 May 1865

Jackson, William Hicks, 1835-1903

Document signed

Title: [Confederate prisoner parole document]

Also signed by Union Brigadier General Elias Smith Dennis. Jackson signed as Confederate Brigadier General. Partially printed parole of honor of Confederate soldier John L. Dismukes, 2nd Lieutenant, Company K, Nixon's Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers. Marked with no. 290. Printed on the other side of a blank receipt of Jennings, Dismukes & Woolwine Hat, Caps, Straw Goods in Nashville, Tennessee. Lower left corner is missing.

GLC00565

August 4, 1863

Custer, George Armstrong, 1839-1876

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alfred Pleasanton

Custer writes to his commanding officer to report that he has complied with his orders to send 800-1000 men. He notes that this will leave him in command of two batteries of Horse Artillery without support. He explains that he would rather see those two batteries go along than leave his train open to Confederate General John S. Mosby's attack. Written in pencil from the Headquarters of the 3rd Cavalry Division.

GLC00614

March 31, 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin L. Baker

Acknowledges receipt of his note delivered by Edwin's brother John. Refuses to let "Joe" [Joseph Baker] transfer to a higher position within the army and resign his present post because of the precedent it might set among the servicemen. "The objection is the setting of examples by which every body in all arms of the service, are set to studying whether they can not squirm round into a position more satisfactory to themselves. A rule, to cut off this, is a necessity." Written on Executive Mansion stationery. The envelope is free franked in Lincoln's hand.

GLC00622

1880

Johnston, Joseph Egleston, 1807-1891

Book signed

Title: The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies

Inscribed: "Lewis E. Harvie Esqe. from his friend Joseph Eggleston Johnston." The book was compiled by Robert N. Scott under the direction of the Secretary of War, with authorship attributed to the United States War Department. Published by the Government Printing Office. Series I, Vol. I.

GLC00628

May 16, 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles H. Russell

The letter is regarding raising 14 regiments and reinforcing Ft. Monroe. Marked "Private."

GLC00635

19 October 1861

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Notice of suspension of habeas corpus in Boston to Justin Dimick].

Scott quotes an Abraham Lincoln document suspending the writ of habeas corpus, countersigned by William H. Seward. Scott empowers Brevet Colonel Dimick to do the same in Boston. Also signed by Assistant Adjutant General E.D. Townsend.

GLC00638

March 29, 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin M. Stanton

The letter discusses false reports of the Siege of Vicksburg. "I fear --in fact, I believe--the dispatch you mentioned is utter humbuggery...."

GLC00639.20

5 May 1865

Ruggles, Daniel, 1810-1897

Autograph manuscript

Title: to William Terry and John Daniel Imboden

Order to Confederate generals Terry and Imboden to exchange federal prisoners. "The Commissary General of prisoners directs me to instruct you to parole all Federal prisoners of war now held within our jurisdictions, according to established forms, and to send them under flag of truce in charge of competent officers to the nearest accessible points in the Federal lines for exchange ... " Though unsigned, letter has a pencil endorsement signed by Ruggles, dated 1897, stating this is an original order in his own handwriting. Ruggles was serving as the commissary general of prisoners of war…

GLC00618

September 22, 1862

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William S. Rosecrans

Wishes to move on Tupelo, destroy the railroad there, and also destroy all enemy boats on the Yazoo river. Says he may move to Columbus to improve his communications.

GLC00624

February 5, 1864

Everett, Edward, 1794-1865

Header Record

Title: Speech given to the Putnam Phalanx accompanied by transmittal letter, for presentation at the 1864 Soldiers' Sanitary Fair [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC00633

November 30, 1863

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to J. J. Speed

General Grant praises Speed, President of a Louisville, who organized the Kentucky Fair to benefit widows and orphans of deceased Civil War soldiers. Expresses gratitude, through Speed, to the ladies of Louisville for "the patriotic steps taken by them to provide for the wants of those unfortunate women and children whos natural protectors have offered up their lives a sacrifice for the preservation of our free and united government." Updates Speed on recent Union success in the Civil War.

GLC00639.08

August 24, 1864

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Abraham Lincoln

Grant requests a promotion for Theodore S. Bowers, which Lincoln approves with his own signature. Grant wishes that Bowers be promoted from Lieutenant Colonel in the volunteer army to the Adjutant General's Department in the regular army. For this to be accomplished he must first be promoted to a lower post in the regular army, which Grant requests be done. Lincoln's autograph endorsement on docket reads "Let General Grant be obliged in the matter within," agreeing to the promotion. Also, signed and dated by Lincoln. Docket also includes an autograph signed endorsement discussing this…

GLC00639.09

March 18, 1865

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward O. C. Ord

"(Cipher)" written at top. In this telegram, Grant informs Ord that Sheridan reached White House, VA today; and tells Ord to hold crossings of the Chickahominy River and send a division of troops to meet Sheridan. Marked "Copied" on verso. Written on stationary marked Head Quarters Armies of the United States.

GLC00639.10

September 14, 1864

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George G. Meade

Grants signs as Lieutenant General. Writes to Major General Meade about enemy movements reported by General Benjamin Butler. Poses the question, "May it not be the enemy are massing everything on this right for an Attack?" Advises, "I think it would be well to push reconnaissance both West & South from our extreme left to ascertain if any movements are in contemplation." Asks Meade to telegraph him in Harper's Ferry.

GLC00639.11

January 15,1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of William L. King Jr., charged with arson, who had been admitted to bail in D.C. in March 1861, and who had failed to appear].

William L. King Jr was pardoned by Abraham Lincoln because he currently was "in military service of the United States in a distant part of the country and cannot be produced," because enforcement of the bond would impoverish his aged parents, and because this had been petitioned by citizens. Countersigned by Secretary of State William H. Seward.

GLC00589

1892

Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882

Photograph

Title: Albumen print of Lincoln & McClellan at Antietam [published by Gardner]

Print by Moses Rice, 1892. Reproduction from a negative by Alexander Gardner, 1862. Cf. Ostendorf 66.

GLC00591

21 July 1861

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

Document signed

Title: [Authorization for Senator John Sherman to visit General McDowell's headquarters]

Winfield Scott authorizes Ohio Senator John Sherman to visit the headquarters of General Irvin McDowell during the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas). Also authorized and signed by Edward Davis Townsend, Assistant Adjutant General.

GLC00593

February 6, 1865

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James B. Fry

Note to Provost Marshall Fry about verifying New York draft quota. Includes Lincoln's endorsement later that day recording a conversation with Fry that it cannot be done. Signed twice by Lincoln. Written on Executive Mansion letterhead.

GLC00596

May 12, 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph note signed

Title: to Edwin McMasters Stanton

On a small card, President Lincoln requests that Stanton, Secretary of War, "see Mr. Dole & others, about the first colored regiment. Please do the best for them you can." Location inferred from outside sources.

GLC00602

July 19, 1864

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George H. Thomas

Sherman writes to General Thomas, also engaged in the Atlanta campaign. He refers to a note from General George Stoneman endorsed by Thomas, which reported the advance of troops under the command of Confederate General John Hood. Sherman writes that he can not reconcile information in the note with what he has seen and heard. He thinks it is possible "that the Enemy is crossing in force at the mouth of the Sweetwater. I think it is the cavalry by way of diversion. Please send to Gen Stoneman again and see if he has ascertained the truth..." He writes that Stoneman and General Edward McCook…

GLC00583

June 1864

Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882

Photograph

Title: [Ulysses S. Grant and staff after Battle of the Wilderness]

Twelve men with Grant, in front of tent, holding map. At Cold Habor, Va. Meade is seated with map on knee. Sedgewick standing at right with map, with other staff members; he was killed shortly after this picture was taken. Also included in the photograph is Ely Parker. Col. Rawlins sits at far left, John G. Barnard sits with hands in lap at center near Parker. Published in William C. Davis Photographic History of the Civil War v.2 p.679. (Previously printed as The Image of War).

GLC00588

August 23, 1863

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frederick T. Dent

Written, most likely, to his brother-in-law, Frederick Dent. Replying to Dent's letter. Describes his feelings after capturing Vicksburg. States that he "wanted a little vacation" and that Julia, his wife, has to go to St. Louis. Comments that "[t]he health of my command is remarkably good considering all they have gone through" and responds to Dent's request for a position in the Army saying that "My staff is entirely filled up so there would be now place except as addition Aid and I do not suppose you would like such a position." Postscript states that he will apply for Dent to be assigned…

GLC00597

July 20, 1864

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James B. McPherson or John A. Logan

Also addressed to John A. Logan, commander of the 15th corps, Army of the Tennessee. Sherman explains his own position and the positions and plans of the divisions under the command of John McAllister Schofield, Oliver O. Howard, and George H. Thomas, as well as the location of the enemy. He instructs McPherson to attack Atlanta with 20-pound Parrotts. Written in pencil on stationery: "Headquarters, Military Division of the Mississippi." Written two days before McPherson's death.

GLC00607