10 October 1864

Mussey, Reuben D., 1833-1892

Manuscript document

Title: [Report on the status of U. S. colored troops in the Department of the Cumberland]

Detailed account regarding recruitment, military efficiency, and attitude of whites toward colored troops in the Department of the Cumberland. Mussey has just suceeded Major George L. Stearns as "commisioner for organization U. S. Colored troops in the Department of the Cumberland," so his report focuses largely on his predecessors tenure. Gives a general history of Stearn's tenure. States public sentiment first opposed recruitment of colored troops, but that Stearns worked to improve attitudes. Colored soldiers have performed well in limited duty. Discusses success of recruiting in…

GLC08951

2 September 1843

Clay, Henry, 1777-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Calvin Colton

Suggestions for a pamphlet opposing Abolitionists. "Shew that the agitation of the question in free states will first destroy all harmony and finally lead to disunion. That the consequences of disunion - perpetual War - the extinction of the African race - ultimate military despotism...The slaves being free would be dispersed throughout the union; they wd. enter into competition with the American, the Irish, the German, and the free Colored; reduce his wages; be confounded with him; & affect his moral & social standing...Show...That the object is to unite in marriage the laboring…

GLC08952

May 1863

Calvin, Agnes, fl. 1863

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Petition of a free black to become a slave of a master of her choice]

Petitions for the right to choose her master. States that since she is "a free person of Africa descent" she is entitled to "choose a master for herself and two said children," and the "petitioner makes choice of J.S.H. Hossack to become her master." Though free, Calvin has been struggling so badly to get by that she is willing to have a master of her choosing in exchange for subsistence for herself and her family. Petition made "to the honorable B. W. Gray." Signed by Calvin wih her mark. For related documents see GLC03840, GLC06375, and GLC09123.

GLC08955

January 20, 1865

Pennsylvania State Equal Rights' League

Broadside

Title: Memorial of the Pennsylvania State Equal Rights' League, to the Legislature of Pennsylvania

Asks that the government force companies operating public trolleys to allow black passengers. Public trolleys run by private companies had been routinely barring black passengers from their cars. Signed in text by a number of citizens, including Jonathan C. Gibbs as chairman.

GLC08957

24 June 1865

Augustin, D., fl. 1865

Printed document signed

Title: [Certificate of amnesty]

Signed by Augustin as a United States Commissioner for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Also signed by Emmanuel Lebreton Deschapelles, who swears an oath of allegiance to the Constitution of the United States following the Civil War. Deschapelles vows to " ... faithfully support all laws and proclamations which have been made during the existing rebellion with reference to the emancipation of slaves." Contains a five cent stamp. Torn along two creases.

GLC02943.01

February 22, 1854

Gadsden, James, 1788-1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Cripps

Writes to his Secretary reporting that the treaty is before the Senate Committee of Foreign Relations and expects a favorable decision which he hopes will upset Ward. Recaps the road to their success but adds a few caveats relating to unwanted amendments to the treaty. Discusses the importance of keeping the people involved in the treaty process honest and why it is their duty to do it. Notes that they want to replace Black enslaved people and enslave indigenous and Mexican people. Mentions the inevitable possession of Cuba. Adds personal news. Postmarked 22 February, Washington, DC.,…

GLC03587.09

22 June 1901

Jackson, Giles B., 1853-1924

Typed letter signed

Title: to R. C. Burrow

Seeks information for the Negro Business League's attempt to document African-Americans who meet Virginia's voting requirements. Explains that "The Negro Business League of Va. is endeavoring to...assist the constitutional convention in deriving at a just and proper solution of the Negro problem in its deliberation." Asks Burrow, the Commissioner of Revenue of Virginia, for the names and addresses of all black businessmen in Virginia, and approximately how much they pay to the state in taxes and deeds. Signed by Jackson as secretary of the Negro Business League. Typed on stationary of the…

GLC08907

25 November 1860

Muggins, Pete, fl. 1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Abraham Lincoln

Intensely vitriolic letter sent to President Lincoln shortly after his election: "God damn your god damned old Hellfired soul to hell god damn you...Now you God damned old Abolition son of a bitch God damn you..." Attached to a board with a transcription and description dubbing this the "Hot stove" letter.

GLC08904

13 March 1838

Hopkin Brothers (firm), fl. 1819-1838

Letter signed

Title: to William B. Stone

Discusses debts and financial arrangements. Also comments on slaves being used as collateral: "We regret that you have had so much trouble with Keybird the lien on the Negroes is ample security for our debt." Hopkins Brothers was a commission firm founded by Johns Hopkins (who also founded the university named for him). Stone was possibly the William B. Stone who was a merchant merchant in Port Tobacco and Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

GLC08905

16-19 August 1856

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jason Brown and others

Discusses the fighting between pro-slavey and anti-slavery activists in Kansas. Explains that "Events of the most stirring character are now passing within hearing distance...more than 200 shots have been fired within the past half hour, and within a mile of our Camp. Have just learned that some 80 of our free state men have 'pitched in' to a pro-slavery Camp this side of Lecompton." Provides a rich description of both current events and happenings over the past month, both their own actions and those of the pro-slavey men. Recounts the capture of "The notorious Col Titus who only a day…

GLC08906

May 1864

Manuscript document

Title: [Pay and Muster roll with wages for former slaves]

Lists approximately 100 freedmen by name on the "Mdme. Rosts Hermitage Plantation, Parish St. Charles," Louisiana, who were under the charge of Federal officer Henry B. Fitch. Next to their names are their ages and wages. In some cases there are notes next to the entries; one is listed as a "Suckler" and one with "Child sick -deduct rations." The plantation was that of Pierre Adolphe Rost (1797-1868), a French immigrant, Louisiana judge, and Confederate diplomat. The Union army had seized the plantation while the Rosts were in Europe, and transformed it into a work colony where…

GLC08912

1865

Julian, George Washington, 1817-1899

Pamphlet

Title: Dangers and Duties. Reconstruction and Suffrage. Speech of Hon. George W. Julian, Delivered in the Hall of the House of Representatives, Indianapolis, Ind., November 17,1865, in Response to an Invitation from that Body

Published by Gazette Steam Print. Argues that although the rebel states have been defeated, the nation is still in a period of great uncertainty. Amongst other topics, Julian discusses punishment of rebel leaders, repudiation of the Union debt, and negro suffrage in Indiana.

GLC01265.41

1865

Chester, John, 1832-1910

Pamphlet

Title: The lesson of the hour : justice as well as mercy, a discourse preached on the Sabbath following the assassination of the President, in the Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, Washington, D.C. by John Chester

Published by Washington Chronicle Print. Blames Lincoln's assassination on the rebel Southern states, slavery, and those from the North that have aided and sympathized with the rebels. States that the "duty of the hour" is to make sure that the heaviest punishment is given to rebel leaders and instigators by the hands of the government.

GLC02913.06

February 11, 1866

Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Wilson

Replies to a letter Wilson wrote when Garrison discontinued publication of the Liberator, his anti-slavery newspaper. Writes that he so values Wilson's letter, he will ask his children to preserve it with other valuable autographs and memorials. Declares "I have certainly lived to see the most astonishing revolution in the feelings and sentiment of a people, of which history makes any record; breaking the yokes and fetters of millions... abolishing a system of oppression as seemingly impregnable as it was fiendishly cruel, abasing the proud and lifting up the lowly... For the humble share I…

GLC08888

1 January 1784

Harrison, Benjamin, 1833-1901

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Appointment of Commissioners for Augusta County, Virginia]

Harrison, Governor of Virginia, appoints Commissioners "for the purpose of trying, condemning and executing, or otherwise punishing and acquitting, any slave committing a capital crime within the said County..." Appoints James Powell Cocke, John Givens, John [Tatespin?], and Charles Cameron [spelled Cammeron] as Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer for the trial of slaves in Augusta County. Affixed to a cardboard page.

GLC08884

20 October 1855

Maitland, William G., 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James M. Maitland

Informs his brother that his nine year old daughter recently died, and many friends as well. Discusses the high price of corn. Also speaks of political matters, writing "I can feel as much for suffering humanity as any abolitionist at least, but I think we should be just before we are mercifull and ought not to degrade twenty five milion white men for the purpose of elevating three million blacks, God the creator has for some wise purpose placed unmistakeable marks of distinction between the two races, and we have not right to try to alter what he has done, again Bretheren who hold slaves (…

GLC03523.10.014

19 December 1859

Maitland, William G., 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James M. Maitland

Informs his brother that he has purchased a farm 300 acres from Blair County. States, "Now in regards to Politics: I am an administration Democrat Squatter...Sovernty I care nothing about...any political doctrine that will not suit East west north & South is not the National or Union doctrine...I believe the territory of the United States to be common..." Continues on to discuss the question of slavery and state rights, writing "I believe James Buchanan done just what any honest man would have done who regarded his oath to carry out the laws of the constitution Douglass, Garney, Hickman…

GLC03523.10.023

7 November 1862

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Damuth

Writes to let his family know that he arrived safely in Helena, Arkansas, and that the army has crossed the Mississippi River. Gives detailed description of setting up camp, pitching tents and preparing for guard duty along the river. Damuth is in command of twenty-seven men on the look out for guerrilla Rebel soldiers. Tells a story about a Black mule driver who was forced to give up his team and wagon to Damuth's colonel. Mentions that there are "20000 more [men] across the river at Helena and more coming every day." There are few other troops from Wisconsin. Rumors have been…

GLC03523.14.02

25 December 1862

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Damuth

Writes to his family on Christmas evening. Letter is a lengthy description of the events of the past few days. Damuth's camp has crossed the river at Helena after burning their old camping ground. Describes the lengthy process of crossing the river with mules, wagons and all of the regiment's equipment. The men are divided into squads of twelve. All the men must throw away their excess belongings, so Damuth gives a black man one of his cotton shirts, "it was the last thing I had that ma made for me." The soldiers board a ship to head to their new camp and are fired at by Rebel soldiers…

GLC03523.14.07

8 January 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Gives an account of his health. Despite recent illness, Damuth weighs 144 lbs, "more than I ever weighed in my life." He is in charge of rations for the company and encloses a slip of paper with a list of five days rations. The camp has a black servant who cooks for the men and washes their clothing. Discusses more camp health issues and assures his sister that although she might think "the Hospital is a dredful [sic] thing…it is not so here." Colonel Gill is under arrest after an incident in town. Six buildings, including a hotel and a store room of cotton, were set on fire and the…

GLC03523.14.08

25 March 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Describes springtime in Arkansas. The Wisconsin soldiers are nervous about the summer weather. Writes that Helena has been attacked "but it is all news to us we dident know any thing about it." Prisoners have been brought into the camp. Tells his sister that the government is "going to arm negros to send north to whip the Copper heads." Confesses that the men usually rest when they are supposed to be at drill.

GLC03523.14.18

8 March 1863

Maitland, James M., 1815-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph M. Maitland

Reports to son about the death of a family friend, Ben Morgan. Writes that "I asked him of his hope of Heaven. He said it was strong, strong enough to bear him over the Jordon of waters." Instructs his son to make himself acquainted with his officers, as it will be helpful later. States, "I am in favor of calling out a sufficient force to end the War at once for we have been having too much of a [temporising] policy. I am in favor also as the War has run into the Negro as strongly drafting every Negro in the North and then let those Ultra abolitionists go with them as officers see what they…

GLC03523.10.061

9 April 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Writes that the 29th Wisconsin plans to leave Helena tomorrow. Writes again on the 10 April as the 29th Wisconsin and 2nd Ohio Battery start out. Damuth is still uncertain of their destination. Mentions that his four months pay should be coming soon. Has considered joining one of the regiments of black soldiers.

GLC03523.14.20

11 April 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Written on board the steamer Charles Bowen. The regiment is heading toward Youngs Point, "oposit Vicksburgh." It is Damuth's birthday, he is twenty-four years old. Has been recommended by his colonel and General McGinnis for possible organizer of a "negro Regt." The pay is better, an obvious incentive for Damuth. He has just been paid $20 and sends half of it home.

GLC03523.14.21

1 October 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

The soldiers have been setting up camp in Berwick, tearing down old buildings and establishing their own quarters. It rains all the time and the men are woken in the night with their tents flooded, but they make the best of it. Damuth writes that he is only homesick when the weather is beautiful. He has been asked to name one of the children born into his family during his absence and suggests "if you want to name him after as great & good a man as ever lived call him Old Abe if after the meanest one call him after any Copper head." Of the next orders for the regiment, Damuth writes…

GLC03523.14.36