22 December 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document

Title: to the Army of the Potamac

Printed executive order congratulating the Army of the Potomac for bravery during the Battle of Fredericksburg. Lincoln writes that "Although you were not successful, the attempt was not an error, nor the failure other than an accident."

GLC03825

29 May 1865

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Broadside

Title: [Proclamation announcing North Carolina has a Republican form of government]

Proclamation announcing North Carolina has a Republican form of government, and appointing William W. Holden as provisional governor, who duty it shall be to subscribe rules and regulations for the purpose of altering or amending the U.S. Constitution. Signed in type by President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William H. Seward.

GLC03827

24 June 1880

Hayes, Rutherford B., 1822-1893

Document signed

Title: [Order to Secretary of State to accredit James Longstreet as Minister to Ottoman Empire]

President Hayes orders Secretary of State William M. Evarts "to cause the Seal of the United States to be affixed to envelope containing letter accrediting James Longstreet as Minister President to the Ottoman Empire." Longstreet, a prominent Confederate General and military advisor to Robert E. Lee, became a Republican after the war, angering the populace of the mostly Democratic South. His allegiance to the Republican Party earned him choice positions of patronage, including the ambassadorship to the Ottoman Empire. He only served for one year in Turkey before returning to America to take…

GLC03843

05 May 1958

Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969

Typed letter signed

Title: to William F. C. Ewing re gathering support for plan to modernize Defense Dept.

Typed on White House stationery and signed in initials, "D.E." Interestingly, Eisenhower compares the intended role for the Sec. of Defense to "corporate practices" and closes by noting "I am sending this letter, or one nearly identical, to a number of my good friends in the business world."

GLC03862

January 16, 1798

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Commissioners of City of Washington

Congratulates the board on obtaining a $100,000 loan from the state of Maryland. Referring to their activities superintending the construction of Washington, D.C., suggests the commissioners present a "full and candid statement on the whole in a Memorial to Congress."

GLC03865

6 July 1798

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Letter signed

Title: to the New Jersey Society of the Cincinnati

President Adams expresses gratitude for the New Jersey Cincinnati's memorial of support as the country faces imminent war with France. On July 4th Adams had announced his appointment of George Washington ("that renowned, Veteran, and beloved Chief") as commander-in-chief of the army being raised to defend the country. Federalist fear of internal dissent (alluded to here as "intestine divisions") led to the passage of the infamous Alien and Sedition Acts in the midst of the crisis.

GLC03866.01

4 July 1798

Dayton, Jonathan, 1760-1824

Autograph letter

Title: to John Adams

Date inferred from Adams' announcement of Washington as commander of Provisional Army on 2 July 1798. Also inferred from his response to this document, which was on 6 July 1798 (GLC 3866.01). Creator inferred from handwriting of Jonathan Dayton. New Jersey branch of Society of Cincinnati expresses "our entire satisfaction with his Administration of the Government, & in particular as it relates to the injuries & insults which have been received from the French Republic." Asserts that America needs be vigilant to defend its independence.

GLC03866.02

January 27, 1821

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William S. Cardell

Jefferson asks Cardell to thank the American Academy of Language & Belles Lettres for giving him an honorary membership. Comments on the role of language in the advancement of science, making references to England and France, and contends that language should not be static.

GLC03785

25 October 1866

Benjamin, Judah Philip, 1811-1884

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James M. Mason re: Jefferson Davis' imprisonment, his law career in England

Cross-written on p. 1. Benjamin mentions that Pres. Johnson is intimidated by the Radical Republicans from releasing Davis. He mentions his legal career in England and says he saw Slidell in Paris.

GLC03787

30 October 1862

Lovell, Mansfield, 1822-1884

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Lovell

Confederate Major General Lovell writes to his son concerning his belief that the Emancipation Proclamation would create dissension in the North and ultimately aid the Confederacy. "I think Lincoln's proclamation will produce dissensions and trouble at the North, and will thus indirectly benefit our Cause. The Democratic party there is not willing to go headlong into any abolition war." Comments on Joseph's improvements in arithmetic and tells him to be a good boy and take care of his mother.

GLC03790

8 May 1792

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Printed document signed

Title: An Act making certain Appropriations therein specified.

Act of Congress appropriating $34,497.90 to pay off various debts. The money is to come from either the Treasury or last year's surplus. Also sets aside funds for raising a regiment, and conducting foreign affairs.

GLC03813

07 July 1842

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Printed document signed

Title: [Printed engraving of John Quincy Adams with note].

Note on verso indicates date Adams signed the print. Numbered 983 (the previous number 1279 has been struck).

GLC03815

6 August 1863

Saxton, Rufus, 1824-1908

Broadside

Title: To the freedmen in the Department of the South

Circular declaring: "The President of the United States having appointed the 6th day of August, 1863, as a day of Public Thanksgiving and Praise for the glorious victories of our armies over the enemies of our country... Although you are still in the wilderness, your prospects for liberty were never brighter than now." Refers to the Emancipation Proclamation.

GLC03839

21 September 1812

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George G. Channing

Personal letter in which Ellery describes a man named Mr. Otis as "a mellifluous, pathetic speaker" and explains his views on the relationship between business activities and intellectual improvement as well as the proverbial saying "laugh and be fat." Discusses the current political climate, the non-importation act, relations with Britain, and duty collection. Mentions the alarm in Newport caused by the presence of three British frigates and the possibility of being attacked. Also concerns Ellery's uncertainty about the upcoming presidential election. Written shortly before the…

GLC03841

12 June 1789

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Cotton Tufts re: political matters: state debts, excise bill

Written as Vice President. In closing, Adams writes "[t]he Note inclosed in your Letter I burned as you directed as soon as I had read it: but not untill it had made too deep an Impression on my heart as well as Memory. -- What shall I do, with that tender hearted Fool?" Adams closes: "When will Mrs. A. come on? I suffer, very much for want of her assistance."

GLC03861

15 November 1775

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Henry Lee

Adams outlines the government that he envisions for America, that it should have executive, legislative and judicial branches, similar to the colonial government of Massachusetts. He also argues for a bicameral legislature and insists that judges not have overlapping offices in the other branches. Adams draws to an end with comments about human nature and tyranny. He concludes "if such a Trifle will be of any service to you or any gratification of Curiousity, here you have it...." On the evening of 14 November 1775, Lee, a delegate to the Continental Congress from Virginia, visited Adams…

GLC03864

2 April 1865

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Godfrey Weitzel

Grant telegraphs instructions for what he thought might be the final assault on the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia. "You need not assault in the morning unless you have good reason for believing the enemy are leaving. We have a good thing of it now and in a day or two I think I will be able to send you all the troops necessary." Weitzel, who commanded the XXV Corps of the Army of the James, comprising several brigades of U.S. Colored Troops, led the occupation of Richmond on the following day. Also addressed to A. James. Written in pencil on stationery of the Head Quarters Armies…

GLC03868

8 April 1833

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lewis Cass

Writes to Secretary of War Cass to inform him that the Reverend Mr. Campbell of the Executive Committee of the Board of Foreign & Domestic Missionaries, who delivered this letter, was coming to talk with Cass about extending their missions to the Indians west of the Mississippi. Indicates that he has already "made known to him, that the Government cannot give permission, this must be obtained from the Indians, & when this is done, we will freely give our assent."

GLC03870

18 April 1833

Taney, Roger Brooke, 1777-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nathaniel Williams

Informs that President Andrew Jackson is to assist in the laying of the cornerstone of a monument to the memory of George Washington's mother on 7 May. States that members of the President's cabinet are invited to attend. Asks if a case Williams is to handle will keep him in Baltimore that day, if so, the President will excuse him from attending.

GLC03545.08

1832

Faulkner, Charles James, 1847-1929

Pamphlet

Title: The speech of Charles Jas. Faulkner, (of Berkley) in the House of Delegates of Virginia, on the policy of the state with respect to her slave population

Faulkner's speech explaining the resolution he had recently proposed to gradually emancipate the enslaved people in Virginia. States that emancipation will benefit the state, and that it is inevitable, so should be accepted sooner rather than later. Believes that the majority of the population is opposed to slavery, and that it is an evil, and should be abolished. Of abolition says: "The people demand it. Their security requires it. In the language of the wise and prophetic Jefferson 'you must approach it---you must bear it---YOU MUST ADOPT SOME PLAN OF EMANCIPATION, OR WORSE WILL FOLLOW…

GLC03520

1862-1865

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Header Record

Title: Collection of Dolphus Damuth, D company, 29th regiment, Wisconsin, infantry [Decimalized .01-.86]

Damuth's letters include the following topics: Vicksburg, General Banks, black troops (of whom he approved), the presidential election of 1864 (pro-Lincoln), the Red River campaign. He also reports news from Chattanooga and Atlanta from afar.

GLC03523.14

1861-1865

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Andrew Knox, B company, 1st regiment, Connecticut, heavy artillery] [Decimalized .01-.23]

Knox served as Lieutenant in the 1st Connecticut Artillery. The letters discuss the sieges of Yorktown and Petersburg, support Lincoln's re-election, condemn McClellan's Peace Platform, and mention William, a freeman working for McClellan as a servant. States that William was the most consistent "Christian" he ever met.

GLC03523.20

1862-1865

Allison, Eben, fl. 1861-1865

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Eben Allison, A company, 15th regiment, Pennsylvania, cavalry] [Decimilized .001-.126]

Allison served in the 15th Pa. Cavalry, "Anderson's Cavalry." Allison's correspondence mentions Murfreesboro (Stones River), Chattanooga, second battle of Dalton (in Georgia against Confederate General Wheeler), Nashville, guerillas, the Presidential election of 1864, and Parson Brownlow. The collection also includes telegraphs, a rare broadside and a cardboard note to his father. Excellent battle and political content.

GLC03523.24

circa 1861-1865

Bradbury, John S., fl. 1861-1865

Header Record

Title: [Collection of John S. Bradbury, 3rd regiment, Iowa, light battery] [Decimalized .01- .10]

Letters from John S. Bradbury to his brother, Samuel, dating from 1861 through 1865. They include notable statements of support for Lincoln.

GLC03523.39

1816

Yeager, Joseph, fl. 1792-1859

Engraving

Title: Battle of New Orleans and Death of Major General Packenham

Hand colored engraving shows the battle from the British lines. With black and white bust of Andrew Jackson surrounded by flags in the center of the title. This copy is the first state of this print, showing the officer standing to the right of the recumbent Sir Edward Packenham covering his face with handkerchief. Outgunned, he moved against the city of New Orleans. After being knocked from his horse by a cannonball, Packenham took his aide's mount and was shortly thereafter shot in the chest and throat. He was transported to the rear of the British line, where this depiction…

GLC03529