12 November 1857

Walker, Theodore L., fl. 1857

Manuscript document

Title: Copy of certificates of Lieuts. Walker & Cummings, regarding the casks left by the "W.G. Lewis"

Copy of Walker's statement certifying that he saw about ten large casks which Captain Fredell said belonged to him "but that he did not want them." Fredell was the captain of the barque "William G. Lewis," a suspected slave ship captured by the U.S.S. "Dale." Attested to by A. B. Cummings and William McBlair (all three are clerical signatures). Title from docket. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," off the Congo River. Lt. Walker was in charge of the launch sent out to board the "William G. Lewis." Among the factors that led both Walker and McBlair to believe that the vessel was…

GLC00722.22

12 November 1857

Walker, Theodore L., fl. 1857

Manuscript document

Title: [Copy of a statement regarding capture of a slave ship]

Copy of a statement regarding a captured suspected slave ship. Certifying that "Mr. Curtis, the 1st mate of the barque 'Wm G. Lewis," stated that no one on board the ship had contact with the mainland. With the names of Theodore L. Walker, Hunter Davidson, A. B. Cummings, John S. Cunningham and William McBride (all five are clerical signatures). Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," off the Congo River. John S. Cunningham, a purser in the United States Navy, later rose to paymaster. Hunter Davidson, a lieutenant in the United States Navy, later served in the Confederate Navy.

GLC00722.23

November 13, 1857

Burgess, George F., 1827-1860

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Unable to furnish information regarding captured slave trading vessels. Letter written on board the H.M.S. "Hecate," off the Congo River. George F. Burgess was a Commander in the British Navy and captain of the "Hecate."

GLC00722.24

November 24, 1857

Duggan, John, fl. 1857-1858

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Duggan apologizes for his insubordination and asks to be discharged and left ashore, so that he can earn a living for his family. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale."

GLC00722.25

1858

Kennard, Joel S., 1819-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Kennard requests McBlair's permission to punish a sailor for insubordination. Letter written before March 1858, on board the U.S.S. "Dale."

GLC00722.26

September 1858

Meeuwsen, C., fl. 1858

Manuscript document

Title: [Listing ports of call and cargoes of a Dutch ship] [in Dutch]

Listing ports of call and cargoes of a Dutch ship, with prices in dollars listed as well. Items listed range from January through 2 September 1858.

GLC00722.27

9 January 1858

Goodridge, J. Jr., fl. 1858

Document signed

Title: to William McBlair

Regarding the arrest of Charles Campbell, a sailor from the "Dale." Campbell, who had deserted McBlair's ship, had been taken prisoner by Goodridge and his men when he was found hiding on a whaling ship. Written from the United States Consulate on Saint Helena. Multiple dockets. One on the verso, signed by W. Carrol, states that Goodridge will do whatever McBlair wishes with the prisoner. Second docket, on last page, seems to be a fragment of a separate note. W. Carrol was the United States Vice-Consul at Saint Helena.

GLC00722.28

February 4, 1858

Sullivan, Jeremiah, fl. 1858

Autograph document signed

Title: [Affadavit regarding his imprisonment]

Details events of his imprisonment on the African coast, along with Patrick Kelly and Manoel Ackmore, all sailors in the United States Navy. Affidavit relates the arrest of these three sailors after a scuffle with Portuguese soldiers and discusses their long imprisonment. States that William McBlair helped secure the sailors' release, but that Kelly died in the hospital while under arrest. Attested to and signed by McBlair.

GLC00722.29

February 28, 1858

Cunningham, John S., ?-1894

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

States reasons for non-fulfillment of an order. Explains that he did not appear on deck earlier in the day, because he believed the order to do so applied only to specific officers, and states he meant no harm with his actions. Apparently McBlair required a signed statement regarding even minor breaches of conduct. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale."

GLC00722.30

April 12, 1858

Duggan, John, fl. 1857-1858

Letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

John Duggan requests a discharge so that he can return home, his reasons being "the same as stated before." With signed attestation of Stephen G. King, Sail Master, stating Duggan's signature is true. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," at Porto Praya on Cape Verde.

GLC00722.31

April 13, 1858

King, Stephen G., fl. 1858-1859

Letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Requesting a survey of the ship's sails. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale." King was the Sail Master on the "Dale."

GLC00722.32

April 13, 1858

King, Stephen G., fl. 1858-1859

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

King reports that the ship's sails have been inspected, and that they are "unfit for further use." Instead he recommends "that they be used for parcelling." Signed by King, Davidson, and Cummings, and signed and approved by McBlair. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale."

GLC00722.33

April 23, 1858

Davidson, Hunter, 1827-1913

Manuscript letter

Title: Copy of letter to William McBlair

Copy of a "survey upon all the important iron-work of this ship." Reports that much of the ship's ironwork is "much worn and appear unsafe." With the names of Davidson, Cummings, and Dixon (all three are clerical signatures). Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," in Porto Praya, Cape Verde. Dixon was the acting carpenter on board the "Dale."

GLC00722.34

April 23, 1858

Davidson, Hunter, 1827-1913

Manuscript letter

Title: to William McBlair

Copy of a letter to McBlair, stating that some of the bolts, chains, and ironwork on board the "Dale" are "defective and unsafe." Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," at Porto Praya, Cape Verde.

GLC00722.35

May 2, 1858

Adams, John, fl. 1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Requesting permission to return to Liberia, John Adams states that he needs to return to personally report a death, or be liable for punishment under the laws of Liberia, of which he is a citizen. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale." Adams is not in the May 1857 list of crew members. Adams's name and the content of his note suggest that he was likely a "Krooman" - one of many native Liberians who were recruited by American and European ship's captains. The Kroomen were often expert swimmers and fishermen, and had valuable knowledge of local geography, language and customs.

GLC00722.36

5 July 1858

Dozier, J.D., fl. 1858

Document signed

Title: Report of prisoners confind on board U S ship Dale

Lists eight prisoners held on board the ship. Two were imprisoned for desertion, the rest for lesser, insubordinate acts. Dozier was Master at Arms for the U.S.S. "Dale."

GLC00722.38

August 4, 1863

Geary, John White, 1819-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edgar Cowan

Geary writes to Cowan, a United States Senator from Pennsylvania, in attempt to obtain a recommendation for his promotion to Major General. He cites his qualifications and the achievements of his brigades. He declares "I have received four honorable wounds, and have never left my command for a single hour (Except once when my left arm was badly shattered) to devote even one moment to my own private affairs, or like many that you and I could name, parade ... around Washington to make political capital and ensure promotion." Discussing his opinions on current policy, he states that "Patriotism…

GLC00673

February 4, 1860

Helper, Hinton R., 1829-1906

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Sherman

Helper, a Unionist and anti-slavery North Carolinian, writes to Sherman, an Ohio congressman, about his opposition to slavery as a "Southern Republican." He discusses his controversial book, 'The Impending Crisis of the South.' He writes "For good or for evil, the result of my labor in that regard is now before the public, and in the desire always to know and perform my duty I am not, in this matter, moved to any apology or regret whatever. As a Southern Republican, as far from apologizing for my opposition to slavery where it does exist (as well as where it has no existence) I frankly and…

GLC00657

January 14, 1863

Wise, Henry A., 1806-1876

Letter signed

Title: to Arnold Elzey

Retained copy of a letter to Elzey on which a pencil signature of Wise has been added by a secretary. General Wise (Confederate) describes a recent Union raid near White House, Virginia. He informs Major General Elzey, commander of the Department of Richmond, that during the raid, Union troops stole thirty cattle from William P. Taylor's farm. He discusses coordination with Colonel Tabb (possibly William B. Tabb) and Captain Wynn at locations such as Bush's Mill, N. Kent Court House, and the wharves at West Point in order to prevent further raids. He states "all the slaves of abandoned…

GLC00662

1855-1865

Header Record

Title: Two abolitionist letters and one newspaper [Decimalized .01-.03]

GLC00680

June 23, 1855

Stearns, George L. (George Luther), 1809-1967

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Johnson

Stearns, an abolitionist, asks if Reverend Johnson would like him to join him on a trip to Niagara.

GLC00680.01

November 28, 1863

Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Knight

William Lloyd Garrison informs Knight that he has "no autograph of the revered Wilberforce to send" but will instead send "one of George Thompson, whose long continued and wonderfully efficient labors in the cause of freedom and humanity you so fittingly eulogise."

GLC00680.02

23 June 1865

Newspaper

Title: Liberator. [Vol. 35, no. 25 (June 23, 1865)]

GLC00680.03

1865

Butler, George H., fl. 1865

Diary

Title: [George H. Butler's Diary for 1865]

Autograph manuscript signed of George H. Butler, who served in G Company, 12th Wisconsin Infantry, 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 17th Army Corps. Signed and dated 28 January 1865 on free front endpaper. Discusses the march through the Carolinas and the destruction it caused. Describes Negroes helping Union POWs (February 8); innocent Rebel prisoner shot in retaliation for Union death (March 2); mention of enemy in Union uniform (March 5); 300-500 "hombly" women in a cotton factory (March 11); Battle of Bentonville (March 20); rumors of Johnston's surrender (April 12, 15, 16); news of Lincoln's…

GLC00794

1861-1864

Figures, Henry Stokes, 1844-1864

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Henry S. Figures, F company, 4th regiment, Alabama, infantry] [Decimalized .01- .33]

Figures was a member of Law's Brigade, Longstreet Division, of the 4th Alabama Infantry. Letters mention prisoners from the "Star of the West," the Battles of Manassas, Yorktown, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, enslaved people, etc. Figures was killed at Battle of the Wilderness on 4 May 1864. Two of the letters (10 April 1861 and 25 April 1861) are on "Confederate States of America, War Department" stationery. Also includes 1867 burial card and a 6 page biographical manuscript (ca. 1890).

GLC00653.01