circa 1860s

Engraving

Title: [Gideon Wells]

Engraving of Gideon Welles from a photograph by Brady. Seated in armchair.

GLC05603.01.22

18 September 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Thanks his sister for the package that she sent him. Inquires if she likes her new mother-in-law. Informs her that he will not be able to get a furlough this year and that he prefers it that way. Writes that he would prefer to wait until he can come home permanently. Believes that the running back and forth only makes "it so much worse than it otherwise would." Discusses a fight between a woman named Mary Gardner and two other gentlemen. Writes, "it is a bad thing to get wounded for ones feelings." The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.32.22

30 September 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Informs his sister that they might be heading up the river to Vicksburg, Mississippi. Writes that it has been raining for the last couple of days and the rivers are finally rising. Says that the rivers have been so low that several steamers have gotten stuck on the sand bars. Discusses a friend and says how she needs to get married before it is too late. Informs her that he received the stamps that she sent him.

GLC03523.32.23

28 October 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Informs his sister that they will be spending the winter in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Complains about not receiving letters from people back home. Writes that he is afraid that he might have offended a friend named Mill in his last letter because she has not written him for some time. Says that if so it cannot be helped now and that there "is no use in crying for spit milk." Inquires after friends and family. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.32.24

15 November 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Reports that a man named Eugene Thomas, along with the rest of the men, might have been taken prisoner while traveling home on a furlough. Writes that he has also heard the story is not true. Informs his sister that he sent both her and his mother a picture of himself. Writes about a friend who just recently died. Letter has an image and the words, "E Pluribus Unum."

GLC03523.32.25

circa 21 November 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Informs his sister that he will be sending some money. Reports that they do battalion drill everyday, dress parade afterwards, and that they have picket duty and camp guard duty. Writes about friends and family back home. Letter has an image and the words, "E Pluribus Unum." The month was taken from the date on the envelope.

GLC03523.32.26

4 December 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Writes to his sister from camp. Reports that his new boots and stockings fit perfectly. Discusses how long a man named Knap will be able to stick it out in the services. Believes that Knap will have a hard time getting out of the service once he is ready to quit. Writes of different people back home. Letter has an image and the words, "E Pluribus Unum."

GLC03523.32.27

8 December 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William P. Sayles

Writes to his father from camp. Informs him that he sent ten dollars home. Complains about how long it has been since he has received any letters from the Silases family. Writes that a man named Knapp is a fool for trying to recruit all the "little boys" into the army. Notes that he cannot wait for the war to be over and hopes that Wash never has to see it. Letter has an image and the words, "E Pluribus Unum."

GLC03523.32.28

22 December 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Writes to his sister from camp. Comments that she looked quite lean in her picture, but he has never been fatter. Reports that the lieutenant bet five dollars that the war will be over soon and that they will be able to go home by June and that most of the officers agree. Writes that they have more bread than they can eat. Informs her that he received a pair of socks in the mail. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.32.29

2 January 1864

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Writes to his sister from camp. Informs her that it rained and snowed on the last day of the year and that it has been cold. Describes having a "first rate" oyster dinner for Christmas. Notes that everything has been first rate since they have nothing to do but guard duty. Teases her about wearing the britches in the family and if she has had any "love spats" yet. Inquires after people back home. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.32.30

February 17, 1864

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Informs his sister that he is no longer with his company, that he has been detached to guard ordnance stores. Writes that he prefers it over staying with the company. Comments that he is not surprised that it takes two stoves to keep her and her husband warm since they are both very large and it probably takes a stove each to warm them. Complains about all the women getting married and says that there will not be any ladies left for the "poor soldiers." Discusses some of the men's drinking. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.32.31

4 March 1864

Sayles, Nelson, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Writes to his cousin. Informs her that his regiment is on picket duty. Reports that his colonel is the acting Brigade General and believes that if he tries hard enough, he will receive a star. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.32.32

28 April 1864

Sayles, Nelson, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his cousin

Reports that he has not heard from Sumner (likely his cousin Sumner Sayles) since he was in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Notes that his regiment received orders to go on a scout this Saturday. Comments that scouting is the fun part about soldiering. Writes that they are having cold weather for the time of the year. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.32.33

19 May 1864

Sayles, Nelson, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his cousin

Reports that they just returned from a scout where they were looking for "old forest" (General Nathan Bedford Forrest). Comments that they were close but he ran like a "white rabbit." Describes following General Nathan Forrest for 80 miles down into Mississippi then back up to Memphis, Tennessee. Discusses the war and what a great job General Ulysses Grant is doing in Richmond, Virginia.

GLC03523.32.34

14 June 1864

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Writes to his sister. Reports on the casualties they received during a recent battle. Discusses the various men that were either killed or wounded, including their colonel. Describes his colonel as being one of the best and that "some of the boys cried like babies when they heard that he was killed." Comments that the rough march up the Red River was nothing compared to this last march. Describes marching for two nights and one day without halting more than an hour at a time. Writes that he does not know how many men they lost but they "are cut to pieces pretty bad."

GLC03523.32.35

4 July 1864

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Writes to his sister. Mentions that the men are feeling rowdy for this Fourth of July. Comments that they want to have a good time while they have a chance to. Discusses how bad he felt when heard about Oney's (possible family friend) wife killing herself while Oney was in the army. Writes that it was especially bad since she had so many small children and now there is no one left to take care of them. Request that she writes him back with all the latest news. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.32.36

12 July 1864

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Writes to his sister. Inquires after the folks back home. Reports that his and another regiment might be put on provo duty. Comments that if they are put on provo duty they will be staying in place for a while. Speaks of friends and family.

GLC03523.32.37

31 August 1864

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Writes to his sister from camp. Mentions a lady, Mill, from back home being sour and pities the man who marries her. Inquires after the farm. Wants to know if his father will have a hard time working the farm this year. Letter has an image and the words, "E Pluribus Unum." Possibly written from Tennessee. St. Charles is listed as the city but the state is not given.

GLC03523.32.38

17 September 1864

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Writes to his sister from camp. Informs her that he received the stamps that she sent him. Mentions seeing her husband's cousin and that he sends his best. Reports that they are preparing for another expedition. Writes that he and the boys in camp think "old abe" (Abraham Lincoln) should be the next President. Comments that they would vote for him but they do not believe that they will be allowed to. Sends his best to everyone back home. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.32.39

2 December 1864

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Writes to his sister from camp. Mentions that he sent $50 home. Writes that they are building breastworks in case General John Hood attacks them. Comments that the general will receive a warm reception if he attacks for they have a large force of men and artillery. Teases about his health being affected because of a lady named Mill not writing him. Reports that the detachment that was with General William T. Sherman is now with them at their camp. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner. Letter has an image and the words, "E Pluribus Unum."

GLC03523.32.40

31 July 1861

Cash, Ellerbee Boggan, 1823-1888

Autograph letter

Title: to Brigadier General M.L. Bonham

Account of the victory at First Bull Run by a colonel in the 8th South Carolina Infantry. "The enemy now fled in the utmost confusion throwing away everything which at all impeded his flight...my Sergant Major...took as a prisoner Mr. Ely a member of Congress from New York who armed with a revolver had come upon the field to enjoy the pleasure of witnessing our defeat."

GLC09228

2-4 March 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Unidentified soldier of the 16th New Hampshire Volunteers in Mansfield, Louisiana, describes a prayer meeting at a black church, visits to New Orleans, and army life. "We are thinking that the Conscription Act will go rather hard with some of the patriotic(?) ones at home. I understand that if it has really become a law, that if we get home safely we shall not have to go again 'till all the rest have been'." Signed with sketch of an anchor, symbolizing virtue of hope.

GLC09231

1865

Broadside

Title: [South Carolina's 1860 Act of Secession]

Lithographic facsimile of South Carolina's 1860 Act of Secession. On March 3, 1865, a detachment of the 102 U.S. Colored Troops captured what they believed to be the original manuscript of South Carolina's Secession ordinance. (In fact, they had discovered a rare Confederate lithographic facsimile by Evans and Cogswell.) 1st Lt. George A. Southworth, upon returning to Michigan, arranged for the document to be reproduced, adding a printed inscription on the bottom, "This Scroll of 'Treason' was found in the house of Dr. Lamb, Secretary of State…," listing the companies and leaders who…

GLC09237

November 1863

Sickles, Daniel Edgar, 1819-1914

Manuscript document

Title: [Address at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art]

Address at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, mapping the path to Union victory. Powerful congressman in the New York Democratic Party, with ties to senior Union political and military leadership, assesses the war: "We cannot fail to see that our iron-clads and our victories have made friends for us in Europe. Let us remind my Lord Palmerston on New Year's Day that the concession of belligerant rights to the Southern insurgents was one of the instances in which the clever manager of European affairs made a blunder. Now is their time to undo this wrong.…Who believes that…

GLC09245

circa 1860-1869

Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882

Photograph

Title: [General Hooker's staff in mock battle]

Albumen print of Alexander Gardner photograph showing General Hooker's staff in mock battle. With notes by Capt. Benjamin H. Ticknor, 45th Mass. Infantry and 2nd Mass. Heavy Artillery, identifying "Mock fight over the body of A. R. Waud, artist" and "Col. Dahlgren & staff & [et]c." on the reverse side. Harper's Weekly field artist and photographer Waud was traveling with General Hooker at the time this photograph was taken.

GLC09247